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Clinical practice guidelines for paediatric neuromuscular disorders (NMDs) recommend timely provision of wheelchair equipment. The aim of this qualitative study was to understand healthcare professionals' clinical perspectives and practices when recommending wheelchair equipment for the first time, as well as perceived barriers and enablers to timely wheelchair provision. Twenty-one healthcare professionals (HCPs) from Australia and the United States participated in an interview (response rate: 88%, 16/21 women). Participants were from diverse disciplines, based in hospital or community health settings, and had at least one year of experience working in paediatric neuromuscular care. Child fatigue, falls and engagement in age-appropriate activity were common reasons for HCP's wheelchair recommendation. HCPs were acutely aware of parents' experiences of grief and loss throughout the wheelchair prescription process, and over half acknowledged the lack of psychological care available to families affected by NMDs. Multi-disciplinary collaboration, psychologically-informed care, and shared decision-making with stakeholders were perceived enablers of wheelchair transition. Barriers included limited access to equipment, lengthy funding processes and lack of funding for home and vehicle modifications. Integrated psychosocial care is needed to support families throughout their child's disease progression, including wheelchair transition. Implementation of readiness for change tools, and development of tailored informational resources is recommended. Improved access to equipment options and trials, and more efficient funding processes are highly likely to improve parental engagement throughout the wheelchair prescription process. Healthcare professionals express a strong demand for integrated psychosocial care within paediatric neuromuscular clinics to support families throughout transitions, including wheelchair introduction. Identifying parents' readiness for change can inform their information and support needs, strengthen their decision-making capacity and facilitate timely wheelchair introduction. Stronger collaboration between hospital- and community-based health professionals working in paediatric neuromuscular care is recommended to facilitate knowledge exchange and support families' transition to wheelchair use. Access to equipment options for extended loan or trial in the community can support timely wheelchair introduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schizophrenia is a global concern, and, this paper, describes the caring roles of health professionals who are mothers of adult children with schizophrenia. A thematic analysis of data from a doctoral study identified a blending of expertise into an informed care model. Caring roles included: constant carer; coordinator carer; watchful bystander carer; and life coach carer. Previous research has not explored these dual roles. This paper elucidates their responsive approaches and contributions to mothering and caregiving roles. Informed by a fusion of professional and mothering knowledges, their insights into mental health care have been forged by their experiences and is an untapped resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Talanoa is an established format for generating discussion about complex topics used throughout the Pacific. Pacific researchers use talanoa to gather data with migrant Pacific Island populations, in countries such as the United States of America, Australia, and Aotearoa/New Zealand (A/NZ). Using talanoa in this way, changes the way that the approach is used as, on the one hand it is out of its original context, and on the other hand, extends its use to gather data with Pacific Islanders. In this article, we discuss the implementation of talanoa in an explorative qualitative research project, and discuss its effectiveness and usefulness for getting to the heart of the story about Tongan interpretations of mental illness and distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]