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The redefining of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from an acute disease to a manageable chronic illness has reshaped the focus of care, emphasising clinical outcomes and sidelining the complex social barriers many people living with HIV (PLHIV) still face. This parallels changes in the location of HIV care in Australia, with many PLHIV seeking care from private general practitioners whose ability to address complex social issues is constrained by limitations of time and resources. In response, peer navigation has emerged as a model of care implemented by some HIV‐based community health organisations seeking to support PLHIV's biomedical and psychosocial needs. However, there is limited understanding of how peer navigation operates in community settings or of the way these programmes integrate with primary care. This paper is the first to explore peer navigation from the perspective of general practitioners (GPs), with experience in treating PLHIV, to understand the role they see for peer navigators (PNs) in supporting PLHIV. Semi‐structured in‐depth interviews were conducted with six GPs (11.5% of specialty HIV GPs in Queensland, Australia) to examine their views and experiences of peer navigation in the context of HIV care. GPs highlighted the complexities of care for PLHIV and the need for additional resources and supports for psychosocial care. GPs valued peer navigation as part of a patient support network and bridge to health and social care systems. PNs normalised HIV, alleviating fear and stigma, educating and translating clinical information for patients. However, a key challenge was the absence of direct communication pathways with PNs. Peer navigation has clear potential in supporting the care of PLHIV, to alleviate constraints in GP settings and expand HIV care beyond the clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study explored how counsellors who work with women currently or formerly involved in sex work perceive these women's future. From May to July 2016, we conducted semi‐structured interviews with 21 counsellors providing psychosocial services in Canadian agencies with recognized mandates to support such women. The interview protocol was based on the Possible Selves Mapping Interview, adapted to explore the counsellors' hopes and fears for these clients. We subjected the interview transcripts to an interpretive descriptive analysis. Our findings centred on three themes: the counsellors' hopes for their clients' future, in light of their personal and social resources; the counsellors' fears about the cumulative devastating effects that their clients' work environment might have on them; and the counsellors' fears that these women would lose hope for the future. This study clearly demonstrates the importance of addressing the safety and well‐being of women involved in sex work and of recognizing the impacts of social inequalities and structural barriers on these women's life paths. The implications of these findings for policies and practices are discussed at the end of this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the perception of family caregivers in the care process of patients with COVID-19. This study was conducted on 19 family caregivers, who were selected using purposive sampling from 2021 to 2022. Unstructured interviews were used to collect data. The data were analyzed using the Kyngas conventional content analysis approach. The analysis of data led to three main themes, including unremitting efforts in physical care in the light of traditional medicine, accuracy, and intelligence in psychological attention and trying to maintain environmental health. According to the results, family caregivers provide high levels of self-sacrificing, continuous, and comprehensive, combined with fear and loneliness care in different dimensions with little or no support from the family, community, and health team. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing body of research has highlighted the adverse impact of COVID‐19 stressors on health and social care workers' (HSCWs) mental health. Complementing this work, we report on the psychosocial factors that have had both a positive and negative impact on the mental well‐being of HSCWs during the third lockdown period in Scotland. Using a cross‐sectional design, participants (n = 1364) completed an online survey providing quantitative data and free open‐text responses. A multi‐method approach to analysis was used. The majority of HSCWs were found to have low well‐being scores, high levels of COVID‐19 stress, worry, burnout and risk perception scores and almost half of HSCWs met the clinical cut‐off for acute stress (indicative of PTSD). HSCWs with higher scores on adaptive coping strategies and team resilience reported higher scores on mental well‐being. HSCWs were significantly more likely to seek informal support for dealing with personal or emotional problems compared to formal supports. Barriers to formal help‐seeking were identified including stigma and fear of the consequences of disclosure. HSCWs mostly valued peer support, workplace supports, visible leadership and teamwork in maintaining their mental well‐being. Our findings illuminate the complexity of the effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic on HSCWs' well‐being and will inform future intervention development seeking to increase positive adaptation and improve staff well‐being. Addressing barriers to mental health help‐seeking among HSCWs is essential. The implications emphasise the importance of lessons learned across health and social care contexts, planning and preparedness for future pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) are affected by an array of health problems ranging from the weak infrastructure health system to the shortage of equipment and qualified personnel in hospitals and other medical facilities. This makes it difficult for health systems in these countries to withstand pandemics like COVID‐19 leading to a rapid infection of the population. This research study was set to explore the factors enabling the spread of COVID‐19 in the city of Harare. The study utilised an explorative qualitative approach (EQA). The study recruited 40 (N = 40) health professionals who worked for the private sector and the Ministry of Health. One to one semistructured interviews were used to collect data. The data were thematically analysed and presented. Ethical approval was granted by the Joint Research Council of Zimbabwe (JREC). The study found that the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), disregard for social distancing, lack of running water, shortage of clinical supplies, overcrowded living houses, selective enforcement of restrictions and corruption were factors that enabled the spread of COVID‐19 pandemic in the city of Harare. There is need for more hospitals to be built and fully equipped with the necessary equipment if health delivery and management of people affected by COVID‐19 is to be improved. More importantly, the health system needs to be supported by a robust health promotion initiative to enlighten communities on pandemics like COVID‐19 and the need to observe utmost hygiene in all spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID‐19 was first reported in China and later spread across the world causing panic because there is no cure for it. The pandemic has adversely affected frontline health workers and patients, owing to poor preparedness. The study explored the triggers of mental health problems among frontline healthcare workers during the COVID‐19 pandemic. An exploratory qualitative approach was utilised in the study. Forty individual semi‐structured interviews were held with frontline healthcare workers. A thematic approach underpinned by some aspects of interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) and the Silences Framework (SF) was utilised. The research found that triggers of mental health problems among frontline health workers in private care homes and domiciliary care agencies are fear of infection and infecting others, lack of recognition/disparity between National Health Service (NHS) and social care, lack of guidance, unsafe hospital discharge, death and loss of professionals and residents, unreliable testing and delayed results and shortage of staff. It is important to support frontline workers in private care homes and domiciliary care agencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COVID‐19, which is characterised by life‐threatening symptoms, difficulty in breathing, and pneumonia symptoms and requires global emergency intervention, may cause psychological problems such as phobia, fear and anxiety. This study aims to examine the psychometric properties of the Fear of COVID‐19 Scale (FCV‐19S) in Turkish people and to determine the level of fear of COVID‐19 among Turkish people. Methods: The research was carried out between March and April 2020. A Personal Information Form and the FCV‐19S were used to collect the research data. In the validity and reliability stage, 84 people were contacted randomly for data collection. After the validity and reliability analyses of the scale, a total of 431 Turkish people volunteered to participate in the study and answered the questions in the online questionnaire form using a convenience and snowball sampling method. Confirmatory factor analysis, item‐total correlation and Cronbach's alpha coefficient were calculated for psychometric evaluation. Bivariate analysis was applied to determine the level of fear of COVID‐19. Results: Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.89, which is stated to have high reliability. FCV‐19S scores of participants were determined to be 21.47 ± 6.28. FCV‐19S scores of females were determined as 20.48 ± 6.33 and FCV‐19S scores of males were determined as 19.78 ± 7.34 according to the bivariate analysis (p <.05). Age, marital status, having children and living alone or with others, tobacco use and anxiety about going to the hospital during the pandemic did not affect on fear of COVID‐19 (p >.05). Particularly being female, the presence of chronic disease requiring long‐term medication and rarely taking protective measures recommended by the Ministry of Health and having a chronic disease had a significant effect on higher levels of fear of COVID‐19 (p <.05). Conclusion: The FCV‐19S is a valid and reliable tool for determining the fear of COVID‐19. It was found that the fear level of COVID‐19 infection was high in Turkish people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to qualitatively explore factors related to fear of cancer recurrence in women who had a risk of cervical cancer relapse/metastasis and to identify the psychological effect of gynaecological examination and colposcopy in cancer survivors. We conducted the present descriptive study with a qualitative design based on the thematic analysis approach on ten women who under suspicion of new cancer and were admitted to the Gynaecological Oncology Polyclinic of Akdeniz University for colposcopy between July and October 2017 via in‐depth interviews. As a result of the interviews, we identified three main themes: colposcopy‐related fear, emotions associated with fear of cancer recurrence, and fear of being diagnosed with cancer. Moreover it was determined that women experienced a fear of death, fear of family being affected, fear of stigmatisation by society, and fear of not coping with the treatment process. We found that women with cancer history and undergoing colposcopy because of abnormal cervical cytology in routine oncology controls experienced a significant fear of cancer recurrence. We found that gynaecological examination and colposcopy caused anxiety in patients. Healthcare professions should be aware and help women to cope with the fear of cancer recurrence in the colposcopy process and should determine the social care needs of these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African migrants are underrepresented as blood donors in many Western countries, which can lead to shortages of specific blood types for transfusion. More insight in the reasons for this underrepresentation is required to improve blood donor recruitment and retention strategies. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore barriers and motivators for donating blood among migrants of African background. The research population consisted of first and second generation African‐Surinamese (n = 20) and Ghanaian (n = 16) migrants living in the Netherlands. In semi‐structured personal interviews performed in 2016 and 2017, their experiences and opinions regarding blood donation, barriers, and motivators to (not) become a blood donor and their suggestions to improve recruitment were explored. Data collection was continued until data saturation was achieved. The interviews revealed that although all participants knew about blood donation in general, only four had previously heard of the Dutch national blood bank organisation. Participants expected that if blood was needed, the blood bank would directly approach them, as in their country of origin. Other main blood donation barriers were fear (e.g., of needles, losing too much blood) and issues related to health and non‐eligibility to donate. Main motivators were mainly of altruistic nature (e.g., saving a life) and an increased awareness of the need via personal recruitment appeals. It is concluded that expectations regarding donor recruitment—derived from the country of origin—and unawareness of the need for blood can act as important barriers in blood donation among African migrants. Contrary to studies in the United States and Australia, perceived discrimination and social exclusion did not seem to be a donation deterrent among migrants in the Netherlands. Creating awareness of the need of blood by actively approaching, and informing migrants about the donation procedure in the host country, should be considered by blood banks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]