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Background/Aims: Under-representation of pregnant women, their partners and parents from minority ethnic backgrounds has been reported in research involving the perinatal period. This study's aim was to explore the experiences of parents from minority ethnic groups who participated in research during the perinatal period, focusing on barriers and facilitators to participation. Methods: In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted via Microsoft Teams by all three researchers with a purposive sample of 16 parents. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Seven overarching themes were identified: motivating factors; unique contributions; language, understanding and access; cultural values, beliefs and practices; lack of time and other commitments; facilitators for participation; and experience of the current study. Conclusions: Understanding motivation for participation is essential to developing recruitment strategies that promote involvement of parents from minority ethnic backgrounds. A clear understanding of research goals and perceived benefits, and maximising access to studies, is likely to result in improved recruitment. Implications for practice: Ways to encourage research participation from parents in minority ethnic groups include using a range of advertising techniques and venues, offering a choice of time and place for activities and alternative methods of data collection, and disseminating information on available studies in early pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This initial article delves into the methodology, methods and theories, while the subsequent article will centre on the discoveries, discussion and conclusion. The study aimed to address the research question: how do men perceive their engagement in the self-management of non-cancer-related lymphoedema? An interpretivist qualitative methodology was employed, utilising an online survey based on the validated lymphoedema quality of life tool (LYMQoL). The data underwent inductive narrative inquiry. The study incorporated theories such as hegemonic masculinity and the health, illness, men and masculinities (HIMM) framework. The findings will be detailed in the second article in this series. This article has delineated the objective, methodologyand methods, employing a qualitative interpretivist approach through narrative inquiry. The study incorporated masculinity theories, including hegemonic masculinity and HIMM. The second article will present the findings and their significance within the broader literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Professional guidelines recommend midwives and obstetricians actively involve women in making decisions about their care. To date, breech research has focused mainly on assessing the effectiveness of different management options. Aim: This research explores women's experience of breech presentation and their perception of choice and support in making decisions with regards to breech management. Methods: This study uses a phenomenological research design. Semi-structured interviews took place in hospital or women's homes. A total of six postnatal women who were diagnosed with breech presentation after 36 weeks' gestation took part in the study. Data was analysed using Colaizzi's method. Findings: A total of 84 significant statements were clustered into four main emerging themes. These include women's feelings, their healthcare expectations, their preferences and their values. Results: Breech discussions mostly occurred between obstetricians and women. These primarily focused on external cephalic version, Elective Lower Segment Caesarean Section and Breech Vaginal Birth. These options did not always become choices available to women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People experiencing homelessness often die young and without adequate support. In the UK, they fail to access palliative care services and their end-of-life priorities remain poorly understood. Aims: To explore the end-of-life concerns, fears, preferences and priorities of a sample of people experiencing homelessness in the UK. Methods: This is an interpretive phenomenology. Data collected through semi-structured, audio-recorded, face-to-face interviews with 21 homeless participants in the UK were analysed iteratively using thematic analysis. Findings have been interpreted through the lens of Merleau-Ponty's philosophy. Results: Eight themes are reported: spiritual concerns; practical concerns; fear of needing care; fear of being forgotten; preference for dying suddenly; preference for being somewhere comfortable where people know me; prioritising autonomy and self-determination; and prioritising authenticity. Conclusion: A strengths-based, trauma-informed, person-centred, collaborative 'compassionate community' approach to care is recommended for people experiencing homelessness at end of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aims: Post-stroke physical disability, cognitive impairment and emotional trauma can adversely affect the wellbeing of people who have survived stroke. Active participation in group exercise programmes has been advocated as an intervention to potentially enhance wellbeing. This study adopted a qualitative approach to explore the experiences of survivors of stroke who were participating in ongoing community-based group exercise sessions and their impact on subjective wellbeing. Methods: Interviews were conducted with 12 participants from four community-based group exercise sessions. Of these, 6 were survivors of stroke (44–60 years) and the remaining 6 participants comprised caregivers, group coordinators and/or instructors, who were closely involved with sessions attended by the stroke survivors. Results: Thematic analysis revealed that participation in community-based group exercise sessions offered survivors opportunities for building confidence; enhancing motivation; improving physical ability of affected limbs; enhancing interpersonal relationships; and providing support and knowledge. Participants all agreed that these physical and psychosocial benefits contributed to improved wellbeing and this supported previous research on the benefits of group work. Conclusions: Participants explained how community-based group exercise sessions had facilitated their recovery journey and hence it is recommended that such programmes are made available, accessible and affordable to survivors of stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: traditional health workforce roles are changing, with existing roles being extended and advanced, while new roles are being created, often undertaking duties previously completed by doctors, sometimes referred to as non-medical practitioners (NMPs). Aim: to investigate which NMP roles exist within the UK, mapping distribution, and explore factors influencing their development and recruitment. Methods: two descriptive, exploratory, online self-completed semi-structured questionnaires were used. One was sent to all NHS acute healthcare providers (n=156) and private/independent healthcare providers in England (n=90). A separate questionnaire collected data, using convenience and snowballing approaches, from NMPs across the UK. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive and frequency statistics. Qualitative data derived from open questions and comments were analysed using content and thematic analysis. Results: healthcare organisations in England returned 23/246 useable questionnaires; 115 NMPs returned responses, 19 did not meet the criteria, leaving 96 useable responses. Conclusion: seven NMP roles were identified, throughout the UK, with regional variation. Several factors influence the development and recruitment of NMP roles in England such as service delivery and national policies. Inconsistencies were noted in Agenda for Change pay banding. Many practitioners undertook NMP roles to progress their career clinically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Department of Health and Social Care has recently reiterated its commitment to improvement in the quality of end-of-life care and emphasised the importance of all patients having rapid access to medication. The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of clinical nurse specialists who are able to prescribe independently in their role in providing support for patients with palliative care needs within the community setting. Interpretive phenomenology was employed in order to understand and interpret the experiences of six nurse independent prescribers employed as community palliative care clinical nurse specialists. This purposive sampling was preferred with semi-structured interviews as the most appropriate data collection technique. This is the first of a two-part article. In this part, the authors describe how the study was undertaken. Part 2 will provide the results, outline the key themes that were extracted from the study, and discuss them. It will be published in the next issue of the Journal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nursing students often experience increased anxiety, lack of clinical skills and poor coping mechanisms when dealing with death and dying for the first time. Aims: To design, use and assess the effectiveness of high-fidelity simulation teaching versus classroom-based end-of-life care (EoLC) teaching for first-year nursing students on dealing with their first death experiences in clinical placements. Methods: A qualitative phenomenography approach was taken. First-year nursing students (n=187) were randomly allocated to receive either classr toom-based (n=139) or high-fidelity simulation-based EoLC teaching (n=48). When all participants had returned from their first clinical placement, 12 individual in-depth interviews were carried out. Data were analysed using framework analysis. Results: Comparative data analysis revealed four key themes as clinical outcomes: recognising death and dying; knowledge into practice; preparedness for clinical eventualities; and emotional preparedness. Conclusions: Despite the fact that both strategies improved students' knowledge of EoLC, simulation-based EoLC education was perceived as better in terms of enhanced practical skills and improved emotional experience in their first clinical placement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports on participants' experiences of facilitating advanced care planning (ACP) conversations in their clinical practice following an ACP study day. NHS Education for Scotland commissioned an educational package to be delivered by designated facilitators across all health boards in Scotland as part of the implementation of 'Living and Dying Well in Scotland' (2008). The reported impact of this programme on the practice of six nurses is the focus of this paper. Six nurses from both community (n=3) and acute care settings (n=3 ) were interviewed on a one-to-one basis 10-12 months after attendance at an ACP study day. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a comparative approach to thematic analysis. The training was found to have increased participants' awareness of ACP, validated their knowledge and skills, and in turn had a positive impact on their clinical practice. However, some barriers to providing this approach were identified, including time, planning and resource constraints. Educational programmes can be beneficial and impact on clinical care. However, education is only one way to encourage ACP in health care. The complex and transactional nature of ACP should be recognised, alongside the need to pace conversations about ACP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]