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Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore and theorise about the desistance process of Maltese mothers who previously used drugs. The study unpacks how initial and continued desistance from high-risk drug use (HRDU) is impacted by being a mother within the Maltese context and identifies contingencies for desistance and examines how they are negotiated along the desistance pathways. Design/methodology/approach: The study adopted a symbolic interactionist-inspired career framework and involved in-depth exploration of trajectories of mothering and desistance of eight Maltese women with a history of HRDU. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews and analysis used an evolved grounded theory methodology. Findings: Four explanatory categories were identified in the interview data to document the role of mothering in the various pathways to desistance recounted by the women. These are: becoming a mother; differing pathways of desistance in relation to mothering; the lived experience; identity negotiation and transformation. This study highlights how identity fluidity and transformation is central to the desistance process. Practical implications: The paper aims to inform policy and practice with mothers who use drugs and their families and has important implications for the development and delivery of gender transformative interventions. Originality/value: This study challenges taken-for-granted beliefs about the influence of mothering on desistance and identifies the complexities involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Research has long focused on the notion of access and the trajectory towards a healthcare encounter but has neglected what happens to patients after these initial encounters. This paper focuses attention on what happens after an initial healthcare encounter leading to a more nuanced understanding of how patients from a diverse range of backgrounds make sense of medical advice, how they mix this knowledge with other forms of information and how they make decisions about what to do next. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing on 160 in-depth interviews across four European countries the paper problematizes the notion of access; expands the definition of "decision partners"; and reframes the medical encounter as a journey, where one encounter leads to and informs the next. Findings: This approach reveals the significant unseen, unrecognised and unacknowledged work that patients undertake to solve their health concerns. Originality/value: De-centring the professional from the healthcare encounter allows us to understand why patients take particular pathways to care and how resources might be more appropriately leveraged to support both patients and professionals along this journey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: People with mental disorders experience higher rates of disability and mortality disproportionately than the general population. Until recently, psychiatric palliative care (PPC) for people with serious mental illness (SMI) was not explored as a treatment option. This paper aims to explore the feasibility of PPC as a supportive care model for people with serious mental illness. Design/methodology/approach: Fifteen health-care professionals' in the USA and Europe participated in semi-structured phone interviews regarding PPC for people with SMI. The Qualitative Analysis Guide of Leuven (QUAGOL) was used to conduct thematic analysis of the data. Findings: PPC was identified as a supportive care model that could improve quality of life and enhance patient autonomy for people with SMI. While PPC was endorsed as a possible new standard of care, it is imperative that the model be piloted to determine its efficacy as a viable treatment option among adults. Originality/value: There are limited studies that investigate the perceptions of health professionals' regarding the use of PPC as a treatment option for people with SMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide insight into teachers’ practice in implementing school-based health promotion. Design/methodology/approach – This qualitative research was designed as a multiple case study. The study involved five schools, 233 pupils in the age 12-16 and 23 teachers. The primary data generation method were focus groups. Findings – According to the national guidelines the health education in primary schools in Denmark should be based on the critical approach to health education developed within the European Network of Health Promoting Schools. However, the study showed that teachers’ implementation of the guidelines in practice was closer to traditional health education, which focuses only lifestyle change, than to critical health education which also explores the underlying conditions for health. Research limitations/implications – The study explored teachers’ implementation practices, and the individual and institutional factors that influence the practice. This paper restricts itself to examining teachers’ practice against the national curriculum guidelines. Practical implications – The teachers were not sufficiently familiar with the curriculum guidelines or the critical approach to health education. The inclusion of the national curriculum and the principles of critical health education in the initial and in-service professional development of teachers is an urgent priority if this gap is to be reduced. Originality/value – This paper contributes to the debate related to the potentials and barriers for implementing of health promotion interventions in a school context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine differences in the experience of somatic symptoms by domain (exhaustion, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, heart distress) between psychologically abused and non-abused older persons, and to scrutinize associations between abuse and somatic symptoms while considering other factors (e.g. social support). Design/methodology/approach – The design was cross-sectional. The participants were 4,467 women/men aged 60-84 years living in seven European cities. The data were analysed using bivariate/multivariate methods. Findings – Psychologically abused participants scored higher on all somatic symptom domains than non-abused, and thus were more affected by the symptoms. The regressions confirmed a positive association between psychological abuse and most somatic symptom domains, but other factors (e.g. depression, anxiety) were more salient. Demographics/socio-economics were positively (e.g. marriage/cohabitation) or negatively (e.g. education) associated with somatic symptoms depending on the domain. Social support and family structure “protected” the experience of somatic symptoms. Research limitations/implications – The research focused on psychological abuse. It did not incorporate other abuse types calling for further research on the effects of other abuse types on somatic symptoms. Nevertheless, the findings indicate that psychological abuse is linked to somatic symptoms, but the role of other factors (e.g. depression, anxiety, social support) is also important. Practical implications – Improvements in the older person's situation regarding somatic symptoms need to consider psychological abuse, co-morbidities, social support and living conditions. Originality/value – The paper reports data from the ABUEL Survey, which collected population-based data on elder abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a research paper regarding the impact of 2007 financial crisis on commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) and how to reestablish the financial market in Europe. It uses a questionnaire to identify the views of research participants on the future of CMBS, while structured interviews were conducted with credit rating agencies to obtain their opinions on steps to improve business confidence. Results suggest that the revival of the market relies on the simplification of contract structures and transparency. It says that better and open risk assessment, improve information disclosure and due diligence are the top priorities in regulation of CMBS instruments.

The article discuses the research paper based on the study related to the development of leaders by organization according to need for the ensurement of sustainability of organization. It mentions the research format consisting of two phases including questionnaire survey on managers from various private sector companies in Europe, and interviews with 11 multinational companies from Europe. It highlights the finding related to the importance of reflexive abilities for the translation of individual into individual managerial behaviors, and informs the small size for the surveys and interviews as the major limitation of the research.

The aim of this paper is to discuss some of the underlying concepts and unique features of a major European study of industrial marketing and purchasing, being carried out by the IMP group of academic researchers. The paper is partly based on theory and cases which are more fully reported by the IMP in Industrial Marketing and Purchasing in Europe: An Interaction Approach, John Wiley (forthcoming). The focus of the research is upon the relationships between buying and selling companies in and between five European countries. One of the objectives of the research has been to make a comparative analysis of the operations, strategies and organisation structures of companies involved in export marketing to, and international purchasing from, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and the United Kingdom. The importance of analysing both sides of the buyer-seller relationship has been recognised and met by adopting an interaction approach to industrial marketing and purchasing. Instead of investigating general approaches to organisational buying behaviour and industrial marketing, over 800 specific inter-company relationships have been examined as a result of carrying out personal interviews in companies throughout Europe. The assumption that industrial markets are strongly influenced by technological factors has influenced our decision to obtain a systematic variation in the product and manufacturing technologies of supplier and customer companies respectively and permits an examination of the interaction processes between individuals and organisations concerned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to probe experiences of entrepreneurs in the social and health care service provision.Design/methodology/approach: Information was collected regarding entrepreneurs' views on the factors affecting the collaboration between public and private sectors. A sample of social and health care entrepreneurs was interviewed using open-ended questions. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using inductive content analysis.Findings: Three main categories of factors affecting the success of partnership were identified: the nature of partnership, business aspects and tension builders. Research LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: The research was undertaken in rural Finland and the sample consisted 13 entrepreneurs. The results must be considered as observations with more generalised conclusions. PRACTICAL implications - The results of this study support municipalities in their social and health care service strategy work and especially in consideration of how to also facilitate a fruitful public-private partnership (PPP)-framework, which will largely depend on mutual understanding and consensus.Originality/value: The reform of the social and health care system has raised intensive public debate throughout Europe. Key issues include the reorganising of social and health care processes as well as PPPs in provision of services. This study observes the views and experiences of private entrepreneurs and points out where some potential problems and solutions of social and health care PPPs are. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The spotlight has recently been placed on managers' responsibility for patient-centred care as a result of Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust failings. In previous research, clinicians reported that managers do not have an adequate structured plan for implementing patient-centred care. The purpose of this paper is to assess the perceptions of European hospital management with respect to factors affecting the implementation of a patient-centred approach.Design/methodology/approach: In total, 15 semi-structured interviews were conducted with hospital managers (n=10), expert country informants (n=2), patient organisations (n=2) and a user representative (n=1) from around Europe. Participants were purposively and snowball sampled. Interviews were analysed using framework analysis.Findings: Most participants felt that current levels of patient-centred care are inadequate, but accounted that there were a number of macro, meso and micro challenges they faced in implementing this approach. These included budget constraints, political and historical factors, the resistance of clinicians and other frontline staff. Organisational culture emerged as a central theme, shaped by these multi-level factors and influencing the way in which patient-centred care was borne out in the hospital. Participants proposed that the needs of patients might be better met through increasing advocacy by patient organisations and greater staff contact with patients.Originality/value: This study is the first of its kind to obtain management views from around Europe. It offers an insight into different models of how patient-centred care is realised by management. It indicates that managers see the value of a patient-centred approach but that they feel restricted by a number of factors at multiple levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This article aims to explore the perpetrators of abuse among older women living in the community. The study examines whether differences between the perpetrators of different forms of abuse, and for different groups of older women (e.g. by income or age groups) can be detected. Finally, it aims to investigate whether older women talk about the abuse to family or friends, or report it to an official or formal agency, in relation to different perpetrators.Design/methodology/approach - This article provides results from the prevalence study of Abuse and Violence against Older Women in Europe (AVOW-study). The study involved scientific partners from five EU countries: Finland, Austria, Belgium, Lithuania, and Portugal. In these five countries, the same study was conducted during 2010. In total, 2,880 older women living in the community were interviewed during the course of the study.Findings - The results indicate that 28.1 percent of older women across all countries have experienced some kind of violence and abuse, in the last 12 months, by someone who is close to them. The results offer specific figures for the prevalence of different types of abuse, i.e. physical, psychological, sexual, and financial abuse; violation of personal rights; and neglect. Furthermore, additional insights about the main perpetrators of abuse for different groups of older women are offered.Research limitations/implications - The article does not address the differences between the five countries. Further research could examine the between-country variations and identify possible country-specific explanations.Practical implications - The implications of these findings for the development of policy and practice are highlighted. Applying only a crime-focused approach on this topic is not sufficient. Health and social welfare sectors play a key role in ensuring dignity in, and quality of, formal and informal care and need to be supported to do so.Originality/value - The paper presents the findings of an extensive multi-national survey on abuse of older women in five European countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The increased number of Eastern European immigrants provides many opportunities to work with these immigrants and issues related to immigration. The purpose of this article is to examine Eastern European immigrants' adaptation patterns and provide recommendations for family therapy working with the group. Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 120 Eastern European immigrants. Data analysis was conducted using constant comparisons. Findings – Common immigration experiences illustrating the need for services have been identified, along with barriers that might prevent the use of social services. The results indicate similarities and differences among the different groups regarding their immigration experience and adaptation to the host society. Originality/value – Recommendations for overcoming the service-use barriers and conducting family therapy with these immigrants are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information about a summary of several studies concerning how business currently practice budgeting in Western and Central Europe. It mentions that the study uses survey research, wherein sometimes, it conducts panels of self-selected interviewees within a single country and used samples of small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) throughout multiple countries. Moreover, it notes that several tools are needed for improvement and simplication along with conceptual clarity on how to use them.