Provision Of Support Research Articles

The experience of caregiving for children with rare musculoskeletal conditions: a qualitative study in arthrogryposis multiplex congenita

BackgroundArthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC) is a group of rare musculoskeletal conditions that is associated with complex healthcare needs and long-term follow up. The literature reports significant direct, indirect, and psychosocial costs for caregivers of children with neuromuscular conditions. Due to mobility limitations and frequent hospital visits, caring for a child with AMC is complex. Other challenges experienced by caregivers include financial strain, job changes, changes in interpersonal relationships and abandonment. This study was aimed at exploring the lived experience of caregivers of children with AMC.MethodsThe present study is part of a larger global mixed methods study. In the initial quantitative aspect of the study, caregivers (n = 158) of children and youths with AMC (aged 0–21 years) responded to a cost of care survey on an electronic platform. Of the 158 participants, 13 caregivers then further consented to participate in the qualitative aspect of the study in which a 60-min semi-structured, individual interview was conducted remotely. Open-ended questions were developed to gain a deeper understanding of the direct and indirect costs of care, their impact on the caregivers' lives and the quality of the care-giving experience. Interviews were transcribed, and a coding scheme was developed drawing from both the existing literature and the content of the interviews. A deductive and inductive thematic analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data using the NVivo® qualitative data analysis software.Results and conclusionFive themes describing the experiences of caregivers of children with AMC emerged from the analysis of the qualitative data: 1. Impact of the caregiving experience; 2. Cost of childcare; 3. Support system for care; 4. Managing and navigating care; 5. Supporting the child’s growth and development. In addition to the results of the thematic analysis, specific recommendations shared by the caregivers included the need for support groups and provision of support to youths to prepare them for adolescence. These findings will inform resource allocation, policymaking, and support services for children with rare conditions, their caregivers and families.

Exploring challenges of student support in foundation phase

This paper explored the causes of challenges of learner support in the foundation phase in Ekurhuleni South district. The goal of the study is to comprehend the fundamental causes of the challenges in delivering effective instruction to students. A purposive sampling technique was employed to choose fourteen teachers to participate in the study. Focus groups and semi-structured interviews were the two techniques employed to gather data. Moreover, data analysis was done using qualitative content analysis. Two factors that contribute to difficulties with student support are teacher shortages and crammed classrooms. Together, these difficulties show how important it is for teachers, department heads, and members of the community at large to work diligently and together to remove these obstacles and create an inclusive learning environment where every student has an equal opportunity to succeed. Teachers must complete inclusive education training to confidently carry out the SIAS policy processes, which include screening, identification, assessment, and the provision and monitoring of support during teaching and learning in the classroom. It is essential to provide adequate classroom space through infrastructure development and wise resource allocation to create an environment that promotes the hiring of student support instructors and the provision of the greatest possible help to students.

Identifying Credit Accessibility Mechanisms for Conservation Agriculture Farmers in Cambodia

As the expected cost of conservation agriculture (CA) inputs becomes an issue for farmers, financial institutions (FIs) play an essential role in promoting CA, a set of agricultural management practices with multiple positive effects. This research aimed to determine influencing factors, to rank challenges, and identify mechanisms for farmers to access agricultural credit for adoption of CA management practices in Cambodia. It was administered by conducting a survey of 242 randomly selected households for face-to-face interviews and conducting key informant interviews from purposive samples of 28 participants in Battambang and Preah Vihear provinces. The results indicated that influencing factors, including the family, adult labor and total farm size, had a positive relationship with farmers’ accessibility to agricultural credit, whereas age was negative. However, education year, farm size for main crops, on-farm income and farm experience were not significantly associated. High interest rates were the significant first-order challenge ranked, followed by document process complication, limited agricultural credit information, limited collateral security and a few other challenges. Support and improved process mechanisms to enhance credit accessibility are required to engage with multiple stakeholders, including farmers, FIs, non-government organizations (NGOs) and government officers. There has been a reduction in agricultural credit interest rates and incentives for importing CA inputs by the government, while provision of information support for agribusiness plans by NGOs which have implemented development project activities were considered as the main support mechanism. An improved process mechanism at the farmers’ level needs to include access to credit with low interest rates and a straightforward documentation process, whereas the FI level requires a business plan for lending decisions. It is evident that high lending rates hinder access to agricultural credit and the improvement of support and improved process mechanisms are necessary to better promote CA practices among farmers in Cambodia.

Patient Navigation for Lung Cancer Screening at a Health Care for the Homeless Program

People experiencing homelessness die of lung cancer at rates more than double those in the general population. Lung cancer screening (LCS) with low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) reduces lung cancer mortality, but the circumstances of homelessness create barriers to LCS participation. To determine whether patient navigation, added to usual care, improved LCS LDCT receipt at a large Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) program. This parallel group, pragmatic, mixed-methods randomized clinical trial was conducted at Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP), a federally qualified HCH program that provides tailored, multidisciplinary care to nearly 10 000 homeless-experienced patients annually. Eligible individuals had a lifetime history of homelessness, had a BHCHP primary care practitioner (PCP), were proficient in English, and met the pre-2022 Medicare coverage criteria for LCS (aged 55-77 years, ≥30 pack-year history of smoking, and smoking within the past 15 years). The study was conducted between November 20, 2020, and March 29, 2023. Participants were randomized 2:1 to usual BHCHP care either with or without patient navigation. Following a theory-based, patient-centered protocol, the navigator provided lung cancer education, facilitated LCS shared decision-making visits with PCPs, assisted participants in making and attending LCS LDCT appointments, arranged follow-up when needed, and offered tobacco cessation support for current smokers. The primary outcome was receipt of a 1-time LCS LDCT within 6 months after randomization, with between-group differences assessed by χ2 analysis. Qualitative interviews assessed the perceptions of participants and PCPs about the navigation intervention. In all, 260 participants (mean [SD] age, 60.5 [4.7] years; 184 males [70.8%]; 96 non-Hispanic Black participants [36.9%] and 96 non-Hispanic White participants [36.9%]) were randomly assigned to usual care with (n = 173) or without (n = 87) patient navigation. At 6 months after randomization, 75 participants in the patient navigation arm (43.4%) and 8 of those in the usual care-only arm (9.2%) had completed LCS LDCT (P < .001), representing a 4.7-fold difference. Interviews with participants in the patient navigation arm and PCPs identified key elements of the intervention: multidimensional social support provision, care coordination activities, and interpersonal skills of the navigator. In this randomized clinical trial, patient navigation support produced a 4.7-fold increase in 1-time LCS LDCT completion among HCH patients in Boston. Future work should focus on longer-term screening participation and outcomes. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04308226.

What are the experiences and psychosocial needs of female survivors of domestic violence in Afghanistan? A qualitative interview study in three Afghan provinces

ObjectivesThis study aimed to qualitatively explore (1) the experiences of female survivors of domestic abuse and mental health problems in Afghanistan; (2) how female survivors of violence and abuse, male...

Transitional experiences of Australian health science researchers: where is academic teaching preparedness?

Academic career development relies on a combination of teaching and research skills. In Australia, it is common for recent Doctor of Philosophy graduates to have a short-term post-doctoral research experience to build publication track-record and increase grant competitiveness, before securing a combined research and teaching or ‘academic’ role at a university. Other scientists work as full-time researchers for several years before transitioning to academic roles with expectations they can teach. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of health and biomedical science researchers transitioning into academic roles using a mixed methods design. Sixty-six participants working in health and biomedical sciences at over 20 Australian Universities who had been in an academic role for 5 years or less completed an online survey. Of 66 participants, 18 (27%) had never been in a research-only role before, while 48 (63%) had held a research-only role for up to 11 years before starting their current academic role. Findings showed most academics were not trained nor equipped to successfully undertake scholarly teaching. They reported a lack of awareness of teaching expectations, practical resources, and direct support provision at the start of their appointment. For former researchers specifically, these experiences led to low confidence and poor enjoyment in their academic role, with the potential to decrease overall teaching quality, student learning and student satisfaction. We postulate that these issues may be mitigated by the implementation of teaching-specific training programs catering for the research-only background of staff entering health and biomedical academic roles in the higher education workforce.

The relationship between healthcare satisfaction after miscarriage and perinatal grief symptoms: A cross-sectional study on Portugal residents

Objective15–20% of identified pregnancies result in miscarriage, which may lead to persistent symptoms of psychological morbidities in some women. Healthcare satisfaction is among the factors believed to influence such negative psychological responses. Here, we present the results of a study conducted in Portugal that analyzes the relationship between healthcare satisfaction, information and support provision and perinatal grief symptoms. MethodsIn a cross-sectional study, symptoms of perinatal grief, degree of satisfaction with healthcare received, and information and support provision data were collected through an online survey aimed at women in Portugal who suffered a miscarriage. 873 were considered eligible. Correlations were performed between perinatal grief scores and healthcare satisfaction rates. Finally, the proportions of information and support received were compared after distributing the sample in groups according to their perinatal grief levels. ResultsHealthcare satisfaction correlated significantly with perinatal grief scores, the latter increasing as satisfaction levels decreased. 61.1% of our sample received information about the physical consequences of miscarriage and showed a significantly lower rate of above-threshold perinatal grief symptoms in this group. 18.2% received information about its mental health consequences, with no significant differences in above-threshold symptom rates. 11.7% were offered or recommended mental health support, but no significant differences in above-threshold symptom rates were found. ConclusionHealthcare satisfaction and information on after-miscarriage physical changes correlated significantly with reduced perinatal grief rates after miscarriage. However, any effects of mental health information and psychological support provision need further studies. Training for healthcare providers dealing with pregnancy loss, implementing national guidelines that include follow-up on the parents' physical and psychological health, and including a specialized area in medical structures are advised.

Attachment Style Modifies the Effect of Spousal Support on Postpartum Depression in Women.

This study aims to examine the impact of spousal support on postpartum depression in women with different attachment styles and assessing if attachment style influences this effect. From March to May 2022, 96 couples with late-stage pregnant women were randomly selected from tertiary maternity hospitals in Shandong and Guangdong provinces for a prepartum survey. Psychological assessments were conducted using the Adult Attachment Scale, Dyadic Coping Inventory, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) Depression Scale. To examine the relationship between each variable and postpartum depression, univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were employed. Additionally, interaction analysis was used to analyze the interplay between different attachment styles and how spousal support influences women's postpartum depression. The findings revealed that even after accounting for confounding variables, prepartum spousal support was an independent predictor of postpartum depression (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.69-0.96, P = .015). Women with a secure attachment style showed a significantly lower incidence of postpartum depression compared to those with insecure attachment styles (24.2% vs. 46%, P = .037). In the secure attachment group, spousal support had a protective effect against postpartum depression (adjusted OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.36-0.91, P = .018), and attachment style emerged as a potential interactive factor influencing the impact of spousal support on postpartum depression (P for interaction = .029). The provision of spousal support, especially to individuals with secure attachment styles, plays a preventive role in postpartum depression. This underscores the importance of considering attachment styles in interventions targeting postpartum depression prevention.

Care burden and the predictive role of spiritual well-being and religious coping: A cross sectional study among Iranian family caregivers of patients with stroke.

The burden of care after a stroke is gaining recognition as a significant healthcare issue. Factors like religion and spirituality, encompassing religious coping and spiritual health, prove to be influential in anticipating the challenges faced by caregivers. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between care burden, spiritual health, and religious coping among caregivers of stroke patients. This cross-sectional research was conducted with the participation of 129 caregivers of stroke patients. The data was collected using the Ellison and Paloutzian spiritual well-being instruments, Pargament Religious Coping (RCOPE) brief version, and the Zarit burden interview (ZBI). Through a census, participants were recruited for the investigation. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (multivariate linear regression analysis). The study results indicate a strong and statistically significant relationship between the burden of caring and spiritual health (p < 0.001, β = 0.33). Furthermore, specific variables were identified as indicators of an increased burden of care, including positive religious coping (p = 0.04, β = 0.63), the familial relationship between the caregiver and patient, specifically as a child (p = 0.001, β = 29.26), and a sister (p < 0.001, β = 35.93). It is advisable to consider adopting and implementing appropriate support measures for coping strategies rooted in religion and spirituality. So, it is recommended to enhance the provision of comprehensive support, including psychological and religious interventions. This can be achieved through the collaborative efforts of support groups comprising psychiatric nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, and religious experts.

The place of the climate agenda in modern global communications

The subject of our research is the climate agenda as part of the environmental policies of states. The author's attention to this issue is due to the instability of the international system, which is influenced by current crises and conflict relations between countries. It was important for us to consider how strongly the processes of instability affect the fulfillment of their obligations by global players. We also identified key factors influencing the adoption of current strategic documents. We analyzed the main documents approved at the UN on climate change, adopted in 2021-2023. Scientific novelty manifests itself in several key aspects. First of all, decisions are considered from the point of view of making political decisions and building communication processes. The second aspect is related to the identification of factors influencing the implementation of environmental policy. And finally, we looked at how global crises affected the climate agenda and whether it was transformed on a global scale. The result of the study is the conclusion that the problem of climate change remains key. Moreover, attempts are being made to strengthen the “natural resources – climate change – responsibility” link, which is reflected in plans to introduce a complete phase-out of fossil fuels. Serious steps are being taken to involve developing countries in this process through the provision of financial and other support. Young people have been identified as the main driver of the fight against climate change, which indicates the long-term nature of key decisions. Moreover, international agreements involve further transformation of the existing system through adjustments to national goals, diversification of the energy sector, economic reforms and changes to existing financial systems aimed at achieving climate goals.

Systematic literature review of online academic student support in higher education

COVID-19 led to an increase in the provision of online higher education courses. Online academic student support is often provided to students to assist them in developing the skills and knowledge to successfully complete their course. However, it remains unclear whether online academic student support in higher education is successful, and if so, what makes it successful. This systematic literature review seeks to provide an overview of research on online academic student support in higher education. Out of 5385 initially identified publications from 2013 to 2022, 12 papers were included for review; seven studies were quantitative and five were mixed methods. The synthesis of the findings reported outcomes on students’ improved engagement, access to support and usage patterns, satisfaction, academic performance, motivation, creativity, self-efficacy, retention or course completion, and social benefits. This range creates a challenge for higher education providers who are considering implementing best practice in the provision of online academic student support in higher education due to the diversity of approaches. Future research, that is methodologically strong, is needed to demonstrate the impact of online academic student support detailing how higher education providers can improve the quality, learning outcomes, and retention

How are Conversations via an On-Demand Peer-To-Peer Emotional Well-Being App Associated with Emotional Improvement?

ABSTRACT Non-clinical, on-demand peer-to-peer (PtP) support apps have become increasingly popular over the past several years. Although not as pervasive as general self-help apps, these PtP support apps are usually free and instantly connect individuals through live texting with a non-clinical volunteer who has been minimally trained to listen and offer support. To date, there is little empirical work that examines whether and how using an on-demand PtP support app improves emotional well-being. Applying regression and multilevel models to N = 1000+ PtP conversations, this study examined whether individuals experience emotional improvement following a conversation on a PtP support app (HearMe) and whether dyadic characteristics of the conversation – specifically, verbal and emotional synchrony – are associated with individuals’ emotional improvement. We found that individuals reported emotional improvement following a conversation on the PtP support app and that verbal (but not emotional) synchrony was associated with the extent of individuals’ emotional improvement. Our results suggest that online PtP support apps are a viable source of help. We discuss cautions and considerations when applying our findings to enhance the delivery of support provision on PtP apps.

Continued professional development (CPD) provision for nurses: A qualitative exploration

BackgroundFor approximately 1.5 million healthcare practitioners working and registered within the United Kingdom there exists a mandatory requirement to undertake Continued Professional Development. Internationally, healthcare Continued Professional Development is fundamental for frontline staff to practice safely, effectively and maintain up to date skills combined with knowledge. A generally accepted purpose for these regulations is to help nurses and midwives maintain an updated skill set to care for patients safely and competently. This qualitative paper presents the findings from the first phase of, “Converting Willingness to Engagement” project conducting focus groups and interviews with stakeholder nurses in England, UK. This study used a phenomenological approach to draw on the lived experiences of the nurse participants who organise, manage and budget Continued Professional Development activities. ObjectivesTo explore ways to capture and retain nursing staff in postgraduate training and education to facilitate professional advancement, maintenance of registration and improve patient care. DesignPhase one involved a series of qualitative online (virtual) focus group discussions and interviews with stakeholder nurses who commission Continued Professional Development. SettingsA series of online (virtual) focus group discussions and interviews were then conducted between February and May 2021. MethodsA purposive sample was identified consisting of clinical service leads, advanced practitioners and matrons involved in workforce development as stakeholders. ResultsThree key themes were identified; the role of the healthcare providers in staff development, staff support provision requirements, and the university's provision including Continued Professional Development. ConclusionPartnership working allows academic partners in universities and healthcare institutions to support nurses in their endeavors to maintain their registrations, develop professionally through further education and Continued Professional Development.

Prioritizing solutions of green Reverse logistics barriers with Fuzzy DEMATEL – FUCOM – SWARA methods

Green Logistics (GL) and Reverse Logistics (RL) concepts are important for the sustainable development of logistics activities. Although the concept of RL seems to be a part of GL, it is not correct to consider all activities carried out within RL within the scope of GL and it is important to integrate these two concepts. To support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), these two concepts are discussed in an integrated manner in this study. The main objectives of this study are to find barriers in the RL and GL concepts, to cluster barriers, and to present solution strategies. In this study, 21 barriers to GL and 28 barriers to RL are determined by a detailed literature review under the categories of Management & Organizational, Economic & Financial, Social, Technology & Infrastructure, Environment, and Legal. GL and RL barriers are clustered and 17 solution strategies are presented within the scope of Green Reverse Logistics (GRL) with the support of a literature review and expert opinion. Developed solution strategies are examined by the Fuzzy DEMATEL, FUCOM, and SWARA methods. The solution strategies are assessed, and their impact levels are ranked through the applied methods. As a result of the study, it is seen that the strategies that affect all strategies the most are “Provision of financial, administrative, and infrastructure support” and “Increase of public awareness on environmental”. In the results of the research, it is determined that the four most effective solution strategies are “Increase of public awareness on environmental”, “Collaboration between functions & stakeholders”, “Provision of financial, administrative, and infrastructure support”, and “Benchmarking the practices”. Such a detailed study has not been found, and it is thought that the study will lead to the development of a sustainable understanding in terms of both addressing GRL problems together and developing solution strategies. Implementing the strategies in the order determined as a result of the study will support the effective removal of barriers to GRL.

Modeling Frustration Trajectories and Problem-Solving Behaviors in Adaptive Learning Environments for Introductory Computer Science

Frustration, an inherent part of the classroom, is routinely associated with negative stigmas, however, if appropriately managed it can be a highly effective tool for excelling students. Often referred to as eustress, it is the principle that follows the premise of introducing students to a topic they are not familiar with, causing frustration as they learn the currently unfamiliar topic. In the experiment, a correlating pattern involving behavior can properly monitor frustration in a way that remains productive to the student. This process can be emulated using artificial intelligence in schools (AIED) to create adaptive algorithms that provide students with unfamiliar topics until the point that said student becomes sufficiently frustrated, at which point the AI would slow down the curriculum. Through discernment patterns in learners’ frustration levels and problem-solving strategies, AI can dynamically adjust the difficulty of tasks to accommodate each student’s personal needs, as well as the pacing of instruction, and the provision of support. In doing so, AIED could mitigate the adverse effects of extreme frustration and reaping the benefits of frustration that pushes students to a farther level than our current educational system can provide. With AIED creating the ideal structure of adaptive scaffolded learning, students’ needs can be individually fostered in a way that most preferably suits them. This ability to push students into learning curriculum at such an intricate level will allow students to further develop their independence when solving future problems as the high difficulty will authenticate the student's ability to grasp the concept extensively. The intricate interplay between AIED and frustration models is crucial for advancing the frontiers of human knowledge and pushing students to achieve their full potential.

Telephone consulting for ‘Personalised Care and Support Planning’ with people with long-term conditions: a qualitative study of healthcare professionals’ experiences during COVID-19 restrictions and beyond

BackgroundPersonalised Care and Support Planning (PCSP) replaces conventional annual reviews for people with long-term conditions. It is designed to help healthcare professionals (HCPs) and patients engage in conversations as equals and collaboratively plan actions oriented to each patient’s priorities, alongside biomedical concerns. Little is known about how the shift to remote consulting initiated with COVID-19 restrictions has impacted PCSP.AimTo investigate HCPs’ experiences of conducting PCSP conversations remotely and consider implications for the fulfilment of PCSP ambitions as remote consulting continues beyond COVID-19 restrictions.Methods19 semi-structured interviews with HCPs in England and Scotland; interpretive analysis.ResultsHCPs’ accounts made clear that COVID-19 restrictions impacted multiple aspects of PCSP delivery, not just the mode of conversation. Broader disruption to general practice systems for gathering and sharing information ahead of PCSP conversations, and moves to ‘wide window’ appointment times, made it harder for patients to be prepared for PCSP conversations. This constrained scope to achieve PCSP ambitions even with the best professional communication skills. Most remote PCSP conversations were conducted by telephone. In the absence of visual communication with patients, it was sometimes harder to achieve the ambitions of PCSP conversations, including to balance patient and professional agendas, fulfil key planning activities, and foster a relational ethos of equal, collaborative partnership. The challenges were particularly severe when working with new patients and people with complex clinical and social problems. Although options for telephone appointments now offer valued flexibility, sustained experience of struggling to achieve PCSP ambitions via remote consulting led some HCPs to lower their standards for judging a “good” PCSP conversation, and to diminished professional satisfaction.ConclusionsThere are significant challenges to fulfilling the ambitions of PCSP via telephone, especially when preparatory support is limited. This study provides grounds for scepticism about how compatible telephone appointments can be with this person-centred model of working, especially for people who are socially disadvantaged and live with complex health conditions. These threats to the provision of person-centred support for people with long-term conditions warrant careful attention going forward if the PCSP model and its benefits are to be sustained.

"It's a Postcode Lottery": How Do People Affected by Dementia in Wales Experience Their Diagnosis and Post-Diagnostic Support, and How May These Be Improved?

National dementia strategies are government policies that guide the provision of appropriate support for people living with dementia. These strategies, developed through extensive stakeholder engagement, should be tailored to the cultural and demographic needs of a country. Using a mixed methods survey design, this study explored the aims of the Dementia Action Plan (2018-2022) for Wales (UK) around assessment, diagnosis, and post-diagnostic support, and assessed whether these are being realized. Further, it sought to gain insight from people living with dementia and their carers around how the experience may be improved for others in the future, as the development of the next iteration of the Action Plan is anticipated. Respondents included 71 people, affected by typical and rarer types of dementia, living in both rural and urban areas. Findings suggest both positive and negative experiences, reflecting a 'postcode lottery' of service provision. Attainable recommendations for improvement were made by respondents, which would ultimately likely be cost-effective and reduce strain on formal services. The findings reported in this paper concur with those reported by people living with dementia in other countries, indicating their relevance for policymakers beyond Wales.

CONTENT AND FORMS OF SOCIAL WORK WITH THE FAMILIES OF MILITARY SERVANTS

The review article is devoted to highlighting the results of scientific research on finding out the content and forms of social work with the families of military personnel, because it is this category of people today that faces many difficulties and therefore needs special social, psychological and pedagogical support. Social work with the families of military personnel is an important area of social work, as it is aimed at support and assistance in solving problems that arise in the families of military personnel as a result of their service. As a result of the search, it was found out that the main problems and needs of families of military personnel determine the content of social work with this category of clients and include: post-traumatic stress syndrome; economic difficulties; problems in family relationships; medical and psychological assistance; access to education and professional training, etc. The key goal of social work with family members of military personnel is comprehensive support of their well-being, providing access to various services and resources aimed at improving the quality of life. Each family of a military man has its own unique needs, so approaches to the use of various forms of social work should be individual. The main forms of support for the mental and social well-being of family members of military personnel include psychological support (various types of psychological therapy, counseling, training in coping and self-regulation, development of communication skills, psychological work with traumatic experiences) and social support (provision of information and resources, social services , support programs, legal advice, creation of communities for communication). The perspective of further research on the topic of the article is a further theoretical and empirical study of the achievements of domestic and foreign scientists and the substantiation of the scientific foundations of social work with the families of those military servicemen who took part in the armed military conflict.

Bridging distance: Transnational and local family ties in refugees’ social support networks

Abstract This study examines the familial ties in the social support network of refugees in Germany. It investigates whether distance to family plays a role in the provision of emotional and informational support and how this relationship is moderated by social network services (SNS). Using data from the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Survey of Refugees (N = 5237), the paper provides evidence for a family-centred network. Increasing distance to family is generally negatively associated with receiving support. However, the strength of support from the partner and sibling is less affected by distance than support from parents. Findings indicate that emotional support can generally be conveyed across greater distances, while informational support, often entailing location-bound aid, is not as easily transmittable. This study contributes to the understanding of refugee networks as transnational families with intergenerational differences in support. It also refines the depiction of support dynamics as being multifaceted and potentially limited due to fragmented contacts.

Nurses’ self-regulation after engaging in end-of-life conversations with advanced cancer patients: a qualitative study

BackgroundSelf-regulation is crucial for nurses who engage in in-depth end-of-life conversations with advanced cancer patients, especially in cultural contexts featuring death taboos. An improved understanding of the self-regulation process of nurses can help them address negative emotions and promote self-growth more effectively. Therefore, this study aimed to explore nurses’ self-regulation process after end-of-life conversations with advanced cancer patients.MethodsThis study employed a descriptive, qualitative approach. Seventeen nurses from four hospitals and a hospice unit in mainland China were interviewed between September 2022 and June 2023. Data were collected through face-to-face semistructured interviews. A thematic analysis method was used to analyse the data following the guidance of regulatory focus theory.ResultsThree main themes were developed: self-regulation antecedents include personality, experience, and support; promotion or prevention is a possible self-regulation process for nurses; both self-exhaustion and self-growth may be the outcomes of self-regulation, as did seven subthemes. Personality tendencies, life experience, and perceived support may affect nurses’ self-regulation, thereby affecting their self-regulation outcomes.ConclusionsNurses exhibit different self-regulatory tendencies and self-regulation outcomes. The provision of peer support and counselling support to nurses is highly important with regard to achieving good self-regulation outcomes.