Support Skills Research Articles

A peer support training and supervision program for Veterans and families: Development and preliminary results

LAY SUMMARY Behavioural health peer support connects individuals to needed professional services (e.g., counselling) and provides benefits in groups of people that might face more challenges, like military Veterans. Different training exists for peer supporters, but not a lot of information is available to demonstrate whether these trainings, or checking in with trained peers, is helpful. This study took a peer support training program used in fire service and updated it to fit the needs of Veterans and Veteran family members (V/VFM) in Texas, United States. Texas has a lot of Veterans and lacks enough mental health providers (e.g., psychologists). In this study, V/VFM were trained in peer support skills and had six months of peer check-in calls after the training. The trainees completed a test before training asking about their engagement and confidence with helping others, as well as a test after training asking these questions again and assessing satisfaction with training. Results show training was appropriate and acceptable. V/VFM appreciated the check ins and showed increases in confidence in their ability to help others. They tried to help more peers and were more successful when they did reach out. This study describes one way peer support can improve mental health access.

Inequality in literacy skills at kindergarten entry at the intersections of social programs and race

Substantial education policy research focuses on economic and racial/ethnic differences in academic achievement. While previous research explores the extent to which educational disparities exist by one of these margins, little work documents how academic achievement varies at the intersection of economic insecurity and racial/ethnic identity. Using child-level data from Virginia, we document differences at these intersections for children in kindergarten, focusing on the link between social program participation (TANF, SNAP, eligible for free/reduced-price school meals) and literacy and phonological awareness skills, attending to variation between programs and by race/ethnicity. We first compare children in households receiving no, and relatively low, medium, and high support, finding literacy and phonological awareness skills are greatest among children that do not participate in any of the three social programs considered, followed by those who are only eligible for free/reduced-price school meals, and then those who participate in SNAP, and finally those who participate in TANF. These differences are likely to reflect differences in household resources. The primary objective of our paper is to examine the extent to which race modifies the relationship between program participation and PALS scores, and we find that it does; Black and Asian children who participate in public supports typically outperform similar program-participating White children, with Hispanic children lagging further behind.

Experiences of staff and the support received following incidents of high-risk behaviours in acute mental health inpatient wards: a qualitative exploration

Background/Aims Staff working in acute mental health inpatient environments are frequently exposed to patients who display high-risk behaviours. The aim of the study was to explore the experiences of staff working with patients with high-risk behaviours in acute mental health inpatient wards, and the support that staff receive following exposure to these incidents. Methods A total of 10 participants were recruited from two acute mental health hospitals in England. Data were gathered using semi-structured interviews and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results Three themes were identified: the direct impact of incidents; attempts to manage the impact of incidents; and current systems for managing incidents. Conclusions Overall, staff felt that support was lacking, and there was a fear that seeking support was a sign of weakness. Clear differences in staff reactions and responses to varying high-risk behaviours were revealed. Person-centred reflective support spaces, debriefing support, and skills training for staff, especially for self-harm and suicide, are required. Staff also require emotional support and emotion management skills.

Torn ties and waning morale: Unravelling the link between family incivility, employee engagement and perceived supervisor support

The present study extends family stress to the work domain and explains how family stressors impact job outcomes. The investigation examines the relationship between family incivility (FI), employee engagement (EE), and perceived supervisor support (PSS) in the context of government school teachers in the Indian subcontinent. The examination uses a time-lag method, collecting data in two phases. The first phase collected demographic and independent variable data, while the second phase collected moderator and dependent variable data after a three-week gap. The data analysis revealed that FI harms EE, supporting previous research on the detrimental effects of incivility on job outcomes. Additionally, the study found that PSS plays a moderating role in reducing the negative effect of FI on EE. The findings of this study have important implications for managing work-family conflict and promoting work-life balance. Organizations should prioritize creating a supportive work environment that addresses family-related stressors and provides resources for employees to manage FI effectively. Supervisors play a critical role in supporting employees facing FI, and training programs on emotion management and human psychology can enhance their supportive skills. While this study is limited to the Indian subcontinent, it has implications across sectors for effectively managing family-related stress. The study contributes to the literature on FI, EE, and PSS, expanding our understanding of the impact of incivility in the home domain on job outcomes. Future research can explore additional variables, such as peer incivility and co-worker support, to better understand the relationships between these constructs.

Skills in family support: content analysis of International Organizations’ Websites

The study is part of a comprehensive research project launched within the framework of COST Action “The pan-European Family Support Network: A bottom-up, evidence-based and multidisciplinary approach” (EurofamNet, code CA18123). In this project, an exercise of mapping international organizations on skills qualification in family support has been developed. The aim of this study was to examine the profile of organizations and analyze their web-provided content to identify, describe and catalogue available data on basic professional skills, promoted, developed, and applied in family support work. The final sample includes 88 international and European organizations working with families with children and youth in various fields (psychology, social work, health, law, etc.) identified by the snowball technique. Using the method of web-content analysis three interconnected maps of bodies in the field were developed, highlighting a general profile of the organizations, and a wide range of important professional skills of family support workforce were specified and ranked. Frequency analyses and contingency tables were carried out. The results show that most of the organizations in the field do not present a plain definition of skills framework listed generally or in a separate document; multidisciplinary approaches to family support skills are not yet common practice; and evaluations of skills or references to a standard framework are limited. Keywords: family support; skills; family support workforce; standards; content analysis. Studiul face parte dintr-un proiect de cercetare de anvergură, lansat în cadrul acțiunii COST – „Rețeaua pan-Europeană de suport pentru familie„ (EurofamNet, cod 18123). În cadrul acestui proiect a fost dezvoltat un exercițiu de cartografiere a organizațiilor internaționale privind calificarea competențelor celor care activează în domeniul suportului familial. Scopul acestui studiu a fost de a examina profilul organizațiilor și de a analiza conținutul paginilor lor de web, pentru a identifica, descrie și cataloga datele disponibile despre competențele (skill[1]urile) profesionale de bază, promovate, dezvoltate și aplicate în cadrul muncii de suport pentru familie. Eșantionul final cuprinde 88 de organizații internaționale și europene ce lucrează cu familiile cu copii și tineri din diverse domenii (psihologie, asistență socială, sănătate, drept etc.), identificate prin tehnica bulgărelui de zăpadă. Folosind metoda analizei de conținut a paginilor de web au fost elaborate trei hărți interconectate a organizațiilor din domeniu, punând în evidență profilul lor general, precum și o gamă largă de skill-uri profesionale importante ale forței de muncă de suport familial a fost specificată și ierarhizată. Rezultatele arată că majoritatea organizațiilor din domeniu nu prezintă o definiție clară a unui cadru de competențe nici la modul general nici separat; abordarea multidisciplinară a competențelor profesionale (skill-uri) de suport familial nu sunt încă o practică comună; evaluările skill-urilor sau referința la un cadru standard sunt limitate. Cuvinte-cheie: suport pentru familie; competențe (skill-uri); forța de muncă pentru suportul familiei; standarde; analiza de conținut.

The inflammatory bowel disease care manager: Italian state of the art.

In the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) multidisciplinary team, a key figure is the IBD care manager, usually an independent practice nurse, responsible for evidence-based assessment, care planning, treatment evaluation, and provision of practical information, health education, and emotional support to patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the profile of this figure in Italy. A team of experienced nurses created a questionnaire based on the Second N-ECCO declaration, which was administered to nurses who worked in an IBD unit for a period of at least 3 years. A definition of IBD care manager was provided to every participant. The questionnaire consisted of 3 sections: behavioral, knowledge and managerial skills that an IBD care manager should exhibit. Results were studied in relation to the benefits for the patient, organizational advantages, clinical advantages and Italian state of the art. Fifty-five nurses participated in the study, from 28 Italian centers. In the evaluation of behavioral skills of IBD care managers, "management and support of the pregnant patient" was the lowest scored item, while "patient privacy" obtained higher scores. In the evaluation of knowledge, "knowledge of intimacy and sexuality" obtained the lowest scores, while "knowledge of psychophysical and social impact of the disease" obtained a higher score. In managerial skills "management of pain" obtained the lowest scores. Our study confirmed that IBD care managers are invaluable nursing figures within the multidisciplinary team that cares for IBD patients, providing benefits to both patients' clinics and management.

Dandelions and Orchids: Finding Picture Books to Support Youth Facing Fear and Anxiety

Pediatrician and researcher W. Thomas Boyce described children as falling into two essential camps when it comes to anxiety—they’re either dandelions or orchids. Dandelion children, like the plant, are resistant to stress and anxiety and tend to thrive in variable conditions. Orchid children are more sensitive and need additional support and specific skills to flourish in various environments.Throughout the world, our collective society has been experiencing a state of insecurity, uncertainty, and grief, and millions of children are facing mental health challenges as a result. In this environment, even those resilient dandelion children can benefit from increasing their social and emotional literacy skills and developing coping techniques as levels of stress and anxiety continue to rise.

Women Participation in Entrepreneurial Activities in the Post COVID-19 Pandemic: Empirical Evidence from SMEs Sector

Entrepreneurs contribute to economic development regarding innovation, job creation and income generation. It is also effectively recognized as a fundamental part of economic development and vital in lifting countries from poverty. Women entrepreneurs organize and manage an organization, particularly a business. Women’s entrepreneurship has consistently expanded worldwide during the 20th and 21st centuries. Bangladesh will have a big number of young women and productive workers after the COVID-19 epidemic, allowing them to engage in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) sector. Women entrepreneurs can help in the elimination of hunger, the reduction of inequities, and the improvement of children’s nutrition, health, and school attendance. Also, it has been acknowledged as an important source of economic growth since it creates new jobs and provides society with various solutions to managerial, organizational, and business challenges. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to determine the impact of technological factors, parental support factors, municipal factors, knowledge and skills factors, psychological factors, and financial factors on women’s engagement in innovative business development in the context of Bangladesh’s SME sector in the post COVID-19 pandemic. This study included both statistical and discussion of the data. Data was collected from over 300 real Bangladeshi ladies using an online purposive sampling approach. To test hypotheses, the data were evaluated using descriptive statistics, collinearity statistics, and other regression analyses. As per study’s results, most variables, including administrative, scientific, and familial cooperation, knowledge and skills, psychological, and financial component, has both advantages statistically impressive relationship with women’s involvement in the context of the SME area in Bangladesh in the post COVID-19 pandemic. In the post COVID-19 pandemic, everyone from every sector will use the findings to encourage women’s participation in entrepreneurial activities in the context of the SME division in Bangladesh.

Identifying the Psycho-Social Support Challenges Faced by Sexually Abused Children Housed at Alpha Cottage in Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe

This study identified the psycho-social support challenges faced by sexually abused children at Alpha Cottages Children’s Home in Masvingo Province Zimbabwe. The objectives were to identify the psycho-social support challenges and possible mechanisms to address the challenges. Interview and Focus Group Discussion guides were used to collect data.It can be noted that sexually abused children suffer from stigma and discrimination from other children and caregivers. There is also lack of proper medical and psycho-social care. The following recommendations came out of the research, there is need to equip caregivers with psycho-social support skills. The government needs to second a resident nurse at every children’s home in Zimbabwe. Safe shelters must cater for various forms of vulnerability not to bunch them in one place.

The degree of readiness of students and their parents for the early implementation of basic life support training

Introduction: Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the most common causes of death in the world. Today, cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the prehospital phase, although crucial in the emergency care system, remains a weak link in the survival chain. Training in basic life support should begin in the school years in order to reach a larger population over time. The aim of the study was to assess the degree of readiness of students and their parents for the early implementation of training in basic life support. Materials and Methods: we surveyed 236 people, of which 118 students (group 1) of the primary school in Sumy and 118 - their parents (group 2). The survey was conducted anonymously. The questionnaire included 24 statements that determined the personal attitude to the need for early implementation of basic life support skills in primary school students, which later allowed us to determine the degree of readiness of students and their parents to solve this urgent problem for the world community. Correlation analysis was performed for groups 1 and 2 for more significant indicators. Results: the results of the study indicate that the level of readiness of students and parents contributes to the possibility of early implementation of resuscitation training in schools, which can help increase the number of people in communities who have basic life skills and will be ready to use them if needed. Conclusions: Thus, our research indicates that students and their parents are positive about learning basic life support in primary school and tend to think that mastering BLS skills will significantly increase students’ self-confidence when they witness an emergency. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 22 No. 01 January’23 Page : 145-153

Supporting Skill Assessment in Learning Experiences Based on Serious Games Through Process Mining Techniques

Supporting Skill Assessment in Learning Experiences Based on Serious Games Through Process Mining Techniques

Linkage between rewards and workspace morale in a hyperinflationary environment

The study presents a burden on theory and practice for discovering a reward criterion that achieves workspace morale in a hyperinflationary context. It aimed to determine the relationship between the individual components of rewards (extrinsic, intrinsic, and social) and workspace morale and the mediating role of employee engagement in a hyperinflationary context. The study applied a cross-sectional study. It employed a structured questionnaire as a study instrument. The target population for the study comprised 900 employees and managers of Bindura municipality in Zimbabwe. The study employed a sample of 269 employees and managers, and the methodology used was a case study. A total of 269 questionnaires were hand delivered after administering the ethical consent form. A total of 214 questionnaires were returned, and after preliminary review and cleaning, 17 questionnaires were found with missing values leaving 197 analyzable questionnaires thus, achieving a 73.2% response rate. The study used multiple regression analysis. The results reveal a significant direct effect of total reward, intrinsic reward, and social reward on workspace morale. The direct effect of extrinsic reward on workspace morale was statistically insignificant. It also reveals that the effects of total reward on workspace morale are mediated only partially by employee engagement. The study viewed employee engagement as a mediating force between rewards and workspace morale but did not examine the bond longitudinally. The study recommends exploring reward options, specifically supportive supervisory relations, work autonomy, role clarity, skill variety and regular feedback to improve workspace morale in hyperinflation. The results demonstrate the importance of practices that win employee hearts to enhance commitment instead of external motivation in an inflationary environment.

Do international resources configure SMEs' sustainable performance in the digital era? Evidence from Pakistan

This study examines the impact of international resources on sustainable performance through the mediating role of green entrepreneurial orientation. In emerging economies, the business sector, especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), has a number of obstacles, including a lack of resources, financial support, and professional skills. Furthermore, SMEs depend on international resources to compete in an unpredictable industry in the long term. A structured questionnaire survey was undertaken to collect data from 380 Pakistani SMEs in order to preserve the productive insights. For data processing, a hybrid partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) technique was used. The findings show that financial resources have a favorable and substantial influence on SMEs' long-term performance, but technical resources have no meaningful impact on SMEs' long-term performance. Furthermore, green entrepreneurial approach somewhat mediators the association between financial resources and long-term success while totally mediating the link between technical resources and long-term performance. Finally, we run a sensitivity analysis to confirm our results. The ANN design explains 71% of the suggested model's accuracy. This report offers significant advice to managers, politicians, and other stakeholders about the importance of international resources and competencies. It is advised that the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Authority (SMEDA) and the government of Pakistan concentrate more on these chances for long-term performance in order to compete in the worldwide market.

Okul Öncesi Çocukların Sosyal ve Duygusal Yeterliliklerinin Değerlendirilmesi

Gelişim, kalıtım ile çevrenin etkileşimi doğrultusunda devamlılığını sağlar. Çevreden gelebilecek tüm değişimlerin (olumlu-olumsuz), gelişimi etkileyeceği söylenebilir. Günümüzde yaşanan COVID 19 pandemisi de bu kapsamda önemli çevre etkilerinden birisidir. Bu araştırmada, pandemi kısıtlamalarının büyük bir bölümü kaldırılmış olsa da halen devam eden COVID 19 sürecinde 36-60 ay çocukların sosyal ve duygusal yeterliklerinin değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmaktadır. Nicel araştırma yöntemlerinden ilişkisel tarama modelinde gerçekleştirilen araştırmanın örneklem grubunu Denizli ili Pamukkale ilçesinde bağımsız anaokuluna devam eden 87’si (%51.2) kız, 83’ü (%48.8) erkek 170 çocuk oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmada veri toplama aracı olarak Okul Öncesi Sosyal Beceri Değerlendirme Ölçeği (OSBED), Duygu Düzenleme Ölçeği ve araştırmacılar tarafından oluşturulmuş Kişisel Bilgi Formu kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın sonuçlarına göre çocukların duygu düzenleme becerileri ile sosyal becerilerinden başlangıç becerileri, akademik destek becerileri ve arkadaşlık becerileriyle yüksek düzeyde olumlu yönde ilişkili olduğu görülmektedir. Çocukların değişkenlik/olumsuzluk düzeyleri ile sosyal becerilerden başlangıç becerileri ve sosyal becerilerinden arkadaşlık becerileri arasında ise olumsuz yönde anlamlı bir ilişki olduğu görülmektedir.

Time-to-Task in Interval Simulated Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training: A Method for Maintaining Resuscitation Skills

PurposeThe literature supports interval simulation training as a means of improving nurses’ cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills. The aim of this project was to improve the time-to-task skills in single-rescuer basic life support (BLS) in an outpatient surgery center through interval simulation training. DesignQuality Improvement project. MethodsTwenty-nine nursing staff were included in this pretest/post-test within subjects interventional design quality improvement project. A 2-minute pretest cardiac arrest simulation was performed in the outpatient surgery center where time-to-task and quality of CPR data were collected. The pretest was followed by a lecture and CPR training. Three months later, the simulation was post-tested in an identical scenario with measures of time-to-task and quality of CPR. FindingsThe mean times for code bell activation and initiation of CPR decreased significantly following the interval simulation training (P < .05). A clinically significant decrease was seen in the mean time-to-task placement of a backboard on code team arrival. ConclusionsInterval simulation training is an effective means of maintaining CPR skills in the outpatient surgery center setting.

Resilience in Wives with Homosexual Husband

Wives who find out their husbands are homosexuals often experience emotional surges such as disappointment, stress, depression and lead to meaninglessness of life, although in particular reason some are stood up from the sufferings. This study aims to determine the condition of resilience of wives whose husbands are homosexuals and the factors that influence them. Hope the results of the study will be useful for wives, families or households, especially in Indonesia, if they have problems with homosexual husbands. Some of them are able to develop resilience skills, at least they can be lesson for motivation and inspiration for wives, especially in Indonesia who are homosexuals in order to develop resilience skills. This research uses qualitative methods with a phenomenological approach. The participants of this study were two wives with homosexual husbands who lived in Central Java and Yogyakarta. Data collection was based on interviews and observations conducted directly at the participants' places, namely Jepara and Batang and through video calls. The results of this study showed that both participants were able to develop resilience after learning that their husband was homosexual. The stages are based on aspects such as emotional regulation, impulse control, optimism, causal analysis, empathy, self-efficacy and reaching out. Cultural factors, spirituality, social support and interpersonal communication skills were factors that influenced both participants in developing resilience so that they can go through the dark period of suffering to a life of light.

Efficacy of a breastfeeding support education program for nurses and midwives: a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundNutritional support influences the growth and development of late preterm infants (LPIs) and their long-term health status. However, healthy LPIs have a shorter hospital stay and may not receive adequate care after discharge. In this study, we developed and evaluated the effectiveness of an educational program for nurses and midwives to enable them to support breastfeeding of healthy LPIs.MethodsA randomized controlled trial was conducted in Japan from July 2018 to April 2019. The participant pool consisted of nurses and midwives working at midwiferies and obstetric centers in Tokyo, Japan. A total of 395 candidates were recruited for participation across 79 facilities. The final participants were assigned to two groups: the breastfeeding support for LPIs program (BSLPI group; n = 36) or the non-technical skills program (NTS group; n = 33). The measures included the Self-Efficacy of Breastfeeding Support scale (SBS), the Social Skills in Nursing Interactions with Mothers (SS) scale, and the Knowledge and Skills Necessary for Breastfeeding Support for LPIs test (K-S). Scores for each measure were collected before, after, and one-month after the intervention. Repeated-measures ANOVA was used to identify differences (main effects) according to program (BSLPI and NTS) and time (before, immediately after, and one month after intervention).ResultsAll 69 participants attended the program. Main effects of the program were observed only for K-S scores (F[1,58] = 78.57, p = 0.01). No significant differences were found for SBS (F[1,58] = 0.63, p = 0.43) or SS scores (F[1,58] = 1.51, p = 0.23).ConclusionsParticipation in the BSLPI was related to improved breastfeeding support knowledge and skills but was not related to improvements in nurses’ self-efficacy or social skills.Trial registrationRegistered 12 December 2018, https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000040145 (UMIN: UMIN000035227).

Professional Development Targeting Classroom Management and Behavioral Support Skills in Early Childhood Settings: A Systematic Review.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12310-022-09562-x.

Determining Counseling Self-efficacy of Indian Students of Speech Language Pathology.

Counseling self-efficacy is the view that counselors have of their capability to practice certain abilities that contribute to good clinical service. Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs) require to possess strategic counseling skills for effective service delivery. Although counseling is mostly considered an essential component during rehabilitation, many SLPs receive no explicit training on the same. The current study aims to explore self-efficacy measures in counseling among Indian students of speech-language pathology. The Counselor Activity Self-Efficacy Scales (CASES), which is a 6-point Likert rating scale developed by Victorino and Hinkle (2019) was adopted to assess the self-efficacy of 105 student clinicians (undergraduates and graduates) of speech-language pathology. The study comprised of two phases. Phase one included the administration of the CASES questionnaire on the target population, and Phase two included performing frequency-based analysis on Helping Skills (HS), Emotional Support Skills (ESS), and Session Management Skills (SMS) domains. The majority of participants felt somewhat confident over questions in the HS and ESS domain, while a large proportion felt very confident over the questions in the SMS domain. Although the student clinicians felt somewhat confident and very confident in most of the domains, none of the participants were completely confident in any of the domains. Having a counseling self-efficacy tool will help estimate the level of counseling competency one may possess. The results of the study can be used to design effective counseling-based training programs for student clinicians and practicing professionals, to achieve productive therapeutic connections with patients and caregivers.

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Basic Life Support among Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study in Malakand Division, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

OBJECTIVES To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding basic life support among nurses of three selected District Headquarter Hospitals of Malakand Division Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. METHODOLOGY A cross-sectional study was conducted using 210 nursing staff working in these three hospitals. Data were collected using questionnaire, adopted from American Heart Association guidelines 2015. Permission granted by the concerned university and hospital. Consent was taken from the study participants before collecting the data. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 24 for descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS More than half (52.9%) of the participants had moderately adequate knowledge regarding basic life support (BLS). Majority (60%) of the participants were not performing BLS voluntarily, 30% participants performed BLS but not voluntarily. Majority (82.4%) nursing staff had poor practices regarding basic life support. No significant association was found between the level of knowledge regarding basic life support, socio-demographic variables and participant’s practices regarding basic life support. CONCLUSION Overall, nurses had moderately adequate knowledge and poor practices regarding basic life support. Very less number of nursing staff performed basic life support throughout their working career. Majority of the nursing staff were not basic life support certified. Majority of the nursing staff were not able to handle any emergency situation due to their lack of knowledge related to proper skills of basic life support. Nurses’ needs to be properly trained and certified BLS.