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There are two problems with the existing account of the relationship between newspapers and national identity in the UK. The first is that although it is widely assumed that the mass media are central to the reproduction and evolution of national identity this has never been empirically demonstrated. The second is that exactly what comprises the relevant‘national’ context in the UK is unclear. Content analysis of 2,500 sampled articles, together with qualitative comparison of different editions of the same newspaper titles and interviews with editors and journalists are used to show the extent and nature of‘national’ frames of reference in newspapers in England and Scotland. Paradoxically, devolution may have reduced the spatial diversity of news stories in the press in England and Scotland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Parent/carers of disabled children want timely and personalized support. Research suggests that technology may address some limitations associated with traditional methods of communication with therapists (e.g. letter, telephone). This exploratory study examined United Kingdom (UK) parents and carers views on the use of digital technology (i.e. computers/phones) in supporting their child and the potential for its greater use in the care of children with complex needs. Methods: An online survey was distributed via special schools and support forums/networks. Questions explored use of and attitudes to digital technology in the care of children with complex needs. Descriptive statistical analyses and content analyses were undertaken on the data. Results: Respondents were 43 parents/carers whose children used rehabilitation services prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority used digital technology frequently to support their child and saw the potential for greater use in rehabilitation services – provided this was not at the expense of in-person therapist contact. Conclusion: Parents and carers held positive views of digital technology as a tool to support their child and enhance rehabilitation services. Recommendations include regular service consultation on parental/child attitudes to digital service delivery and longitudinal studies to assess related health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper sets out a theoretical framework for analyzing board governance, and describes an empirical study of corporate governance practices in a subset of non-profit organizations (hospices in the UK). It examines how practices in hospice governance compare with what is known about effective board working. We found that key strengths of hospice boards included a strong focus on the mission and the finances of the organizations, and common weaknesses included a lack of involvement in strategic matters and a lack of confidence, and some nervousness about challenging the organization on the quality of clinical care. Finally, the paper offers suggestions for theoretical development particularly in relation to board governance in non-profit organizations. It develops an engagement theory for boards which comprises a triadic proposition of high challenge, high support and strong grip. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ageing population and an associated increase in the prevalence of dementia are of increasing concern in the United Kingdom and worldwide. Recently, the United Kingdom and other European countries implemented national dementia strategies to address this. This paper reports on the outcomes of a focus group study involving people with dementia and carers on their experiences of dementia care and support services in relation to government and third sector agencies’ objectives and recommendations. Three focus groups comprising carers and people with dementia (n = 27) were undertaken covering topics related to experiences, service receipt, information sharing and service development. Some participants experienced difficulties or delays in receiving a dementia diagnosis and in accessing appropriate care. The provision of training, timeliness of information, access to appropriate advice, and consistent and flexible services were deemed important. The findings suggest that some issues raised by participants were highlighted in earlier policy objectives and recommendations but remain of central concern. The projected growth in the number of people with dementia coupled with reduced availability of informal care and increased demand for services emphasises the need to transform dementia care in the United Kingdom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The demands of caring for a child with a life-limiting condition can have a profound impact on parents' health and wellbeing. Currently, there is no standard procedure for identifying and addressing the support needs of these parents. Aim: To assess the suitability of the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (CSNAT (Paediatric)) for use with parents of children with a life-limiting condition. Design: Secondary qualitative content analysis of two qualitative datasets exploring the health, wellbeing and experiences of support of mothers and fathers of children with a life-limiting condition. Setting: A total of 30 mothers and 12 fathers were recruited via four UK children's hospices and social media. Results: Parental experiences of support mapped onto the existing domains of the CSNAT (Paediatric). One aspect of their experience, surrounding their child's educational needs, went beyond the existing domains of the CSNAT. An adapted version of the tool CSNAT (Paediatric) should include this domain. Conclusion: The CSNAT (Paediatric) is a relevant tool for the assessment of parental support needs. Further research should assess the acceptability and feasibility of implementation of the broader intervention: CSNAT-I (Paediatric). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaving an abusive relationship is a difficult process for all survivors. For men, this can be particularly challenging due to the current knowledge and support for survivors being heavily influenced by a feminist discourse, despite a growing body of research that examines men's experiences. This raises concerns about how men make sense of abuse, where they seek support for injuries and psychological distress, and what services are available to them to help them move on from abuse. Narrative interviews with 12 midlife and older men (aged 45–65 years) who had experienced intimate partner violence from a female were conducted with the aim to explore their journey of leaving abuse. The men's stories revealed themes of how they made sense of what was happening to them (legitimacy as a survivor and self-help), their experiences of service readiness to respond to male victimization (discrimination from police, legal system set up to support women, and service readiness for males), and how men can leave abuse (post-separation abuse and support from friends and family). Implications of the findings demonstrate that many services are still not equipped to support male survivors. The men in our study found it difficult to comprehend their experience as abuse and this is negatively reinforced by ineffective services and stereotypical beliefs about abuse. However, informal support through friends and family is a powerful tool in supporting men to leave abusive relationships. More work is needed to increase awareness of male survivors and ensure that services, including legal systems, are inclusive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Within current research, little is known about the long-term outcomes of craniosynostosis. A priority-setting exercise by UK charity Headlines Craniofacial Support identified 2 key questions in this area: (1) What are the long-term physical and psychological effects for individuals with syndromic and non-syndromic craniosynostosis? and (2) Are individuals with craniosynostosis likely to suffer from mental health difficulties, or are they more resilient? The aim of the current study was to conduct an initial investigation of these priority questions. Methods: A comprehensive UK-wide survey consisting of 9 standardized psychological outcome measures and open-ended questions was distributed online. Thirty-six eligible adults (69.4% female) with a mean age of 30.8 years responded to the survey. Participants reported having single suture craniosynostosis (27.8%) or syndromic craniosynostosis (52.8%), with 19.4% being unsure of their diagnosis. Sample means were compared to published norms using independent samples t tests. Qualitative responses were analysed using inductive content analysis. Results: Compared to the general population, participants reported significantly less favorable scores related to appearance concerns, attachment in adult relationships, anxiety, optimism, and resilience. Self-worth, depression, and social anxiety scores were similar to norms. Qualitative responses provided additional insight into participants' satisfaction with appearance, physical health, medical treatment, employment, relationships, and recurrence risks. Few participants had accessed psychological support. Discussion: This preliminary study illustrates the potential long-term implications for individuals with craniosynostosis. Improved treatment protocols are needed to address physical health concerns in adulthood, while dedicated psychological resources are necessary to promote emotional well-being, social confidence, and resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: Caregivers may encounter, or inadvertently cause, refusals of care by a care recipient. Managing refusals of care can be challenging and have potential negative consequences. We aimed to examine caregivers' (care-home staff and family carers) experiences of managing refusals of personal care in advanced dementia. Research design and methods: One-to-one semi-structured interviews with 12 care assistants from six care homes and 20 family carers who were physically assisting a person with advanced dementia with their personal care in the UK. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim, with data analysed using qualitative content analysis. Findings: Core to the caregiver experience of refusals of care was knowing the person . This underpinned five key themes identified as caregivers' strategies used in preventing or managing refusals of care: (1) finding the right moment to care; (2) using specific communication strategies; (3) being tactful: simplifying, leaving, or adapting care; (4) having confidence in care; and (5) seeking support from others when safety is at risk. Discussion and implications: Different caregiver relationships with the person with dementia influenced how they managed refusals of care. Refusals of care can place caregivers in tough situations with tensions between providing care when it is seemingly not wanted and leaving care incomplete. Both caregiver groups require support such as coaching, mentoring and/or advice from other health and social care practitioners to manage difficult personal care interactions before crisis points occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most people in high income countries experience dying while receiving healthcare, yet dying has no clear beginning, and contexts influence how dying is conceptualised. This study investigates how UK physicians conceptualise the dying patient. We employed Scoping Study Methodology to obtain medical literature from 2006-2021, and Qualitative Content Analysis to analyse stated and implied meanings of language used, informed by social-materialism. Our findings indicate physicians do not conceive a dichotomous distinction between dying and not dying, but construct conceptions of the dying patient in subjective ways linked to their practice. We argue that the focus of future research should be on exploring practice-based challenges in the workplace to understanding patient dying. Furthermore, pre-Covid-19 literature related dying to chronic illness, but analysis of literature published since the pandemic generated conceptions of dying from acute illness. Researchers should note the ongoing effects of Covid-19 on societal and medical awareness of dying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Play is central to children's lives. Children living with palliative care needs experience disruption in their play. In this study, we sought to discover the characteristics and patterns of children's play when receiving care in children's hospital wards and hospices in Kuwait and the United Kingdom. Methods: A qualitative nonparticipatory observation design was used. Thirty-one children were observed, between the ages of 5 and 11 years, all diagnosed with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and receiving palliative care. The data were analysed using content analysis. Results: The children's illnesses were negatively impacting their ability to have typical play for their age and development. The children's interactive play was with grown-ups and very rarely with other children. This was associated with isolation precautions, the child's need for assistance and a lack of play resources that match children's physical and cognitive abilities. This gave rise to their engagement in more sedentary, solitary play. The findings of the study did not indicate significant cultural differences between the two countries. Conclusion: Children living with palliative care needs may be socially isolated due to their illnesses and their play participation can be limited. Understanding the influencing factors that determine these children's play is essential for implementing effective modifications to enhance their play routines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The mental health of the population has been negatively affected due to the pandemic. Frontline healthcare workers with increased exposure to COVID diagnosis, treatment and care were especially likely to report psychological burden, fear, anxiety and depression. Aim: To elicit how working as a health professional during the pandemic is impacting on the psychological wellbeing of frontline staff. Method: United Kingdom population of healthcare workers were approached by advertising the survey via social media, NHS trusts and other organisations. Open-ended survey answers were qualitatively explored using content analysis. Results: Survey collected data from 395 NHS staff was developed into three themes; (1) Despair and uncertainty: feeling overwhelmed trying to protect everyone, (2) Behavioural and psychological impact: affecting wellbeing and functioning and (3) Coping and employer support: getting the right help. Conclusion: NHS staff felt enormous burden to adequately complete their professional, personal and civil responsibility to keep everyone safe leading to negative psychological and behavioural consequences and desire for NHS employers to offer better support. As the pandemic progresses, the results of this study may inform NHS employers on how optimum support can be offered to help them cope with negative psychological consequences of the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the content of patient information leaflets about acupuncture. Methods 401 patient information leaflets were obtained from practising UK acupuncturists and subjected to content and thematic analysis. Results 59% of included leaflets were from NHS physiotherapists. Almost all the leaflets defined acupuncture and the majority explained how it might work, described the treatment process and placed it in a historical context. Most described possible benefits and risks of acupuncture and discussed contraindications and safety. Just under a third of leaflets (120, 30%) suggested conditions that might be helped by acupuncture, most commonly musculoskeletal pain, arthritis and injuries. By emphasising differences between individuals in acupuncture treatments and responsiveness, the leaflets fostered hope for positive effects without making any guarantees. Conclusions Information leaflets are broadly consistent with the evidence for acupuncture, but some claims are inconsistent with official advice from advertising regulators. An ethically sound, scientifically grounded and psychologically effective leaflet should accurately convey both benefits and risks of treatment, optimise patients' expectations and allay concerns about needling. This study suggests that acupuncture leaflets might achieve these multiple functions but care should be taken to ensure adequate coverage of risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Occupational therapists have an integral role in the treatment of people with functional neurological disorder, yet there is evidence of variable implementation of occupational therapy in community settings. This study explored the barriers and enablers to delivering community-based occupational therapy to people with functional neurological disorder in the United Kingdom. Methods: Community-based neurological occupational therapists (n = 10) with experience in functional neurological disorder were invited to complete semi-structured qualitative interviews. The interview schedule and analysis were based on the Theoretical Domains Framework, a behavioural science tool for investigating barriers and enablers to clinical practice. Data were analysed using a combined content and framework analysis approach. Findings: Important barriers to treatment included limited published information to guide practice, lack of professional role clarity and restricted multidisciplinary team working. Enablers included occupational therapists' dual training in physical and mental health and focus on activity engagement. Service provision, quality and access varied across geographical locations. Conclusion: Occupational therapists are uniquely placed to help people with functional neurological disorder; however, findings suggest that existing community service structures in many regions in the United Kingdom are inadequate and limit the quality of treatment that can be provided. Additional resources are required to support occupational therapy service provision in community settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many consider international human trafficking, or the transportation of children and adults across national borders for forced labor and services, 21st-century slavery. Academics, lawmakers and international bodies have developed a rich body of literature around trafficking in recent years, while documentarians, screenwriters and artists have placed it squarely in popular discourse. But little is known about how the press translates that knowledge to a lay audience. This study sets out to explore that question, asking how the world’s elite press framed trafficking and with whose or what agenda. The findings offer strong evidence for the US government’s role in framing the issue in the press largely as a sexual phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Events in 2005 such as the G8 Summit in Gleneagles and the Make Poverty History campaign have been successful in focusing the public's attention on the problem of world poverty. Despite these high-profile events and consistently high levels of public support for development assistance programmes, people's understanding of poverty and development issues remains shallow and levels of official development aid for many OECD countries fall well below the 0.7 per cent GDP goal. In this article we examine what factors drive individual-level attitudes of concern for poverty, how the media portray poverty in developing countries and how media portrayal affects individuals' concern for poverty. Drawing on extant literature on motivations for aid, we argue that individual concern for poverty can stem from self-interest or moral drivers. However, the implications of the different drivers do not appear to be well understood, yet they have important consequences for DFID and the OECD; strategies based on preference-accommodation rather than preference-shaping strategies may undermine rather than strengthen public concern for poverty. The data for the article come from DFID's 2005 Omnibus survey of public attitudes towards development and a content analysis of eight UK newspapers from January to December 2005. Using a binary logistic regression model we estimate individual concern for poverty in developing countries as a function of moral judgements, self-interest, awareness of poverty and assessments of achieving Millennium Development Goals, controlling for a host of demographic variables. Results from the content analysis show that economic and political frames dominate media coverage of poverty in developing countries. We find differential effects for moral and self-interested attitudes on concern for poverty; moral attitudes are positively related to concern, whereas self-interested attitudes are negatively related to concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Previous research has suggested that adults with a cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) may find their familial, friend, collegial, and/or romantic relationships impacted by their condition. Building on this prior work, this study examined the self-reported interpersonal experiences of a national sample of adults born with CL/P. Design: An online survey was designed by the Cleft Lip and Palate Association in collaboration with the Centre for Appearance Research. Data from 181 participants were included in the present study, collected between July and October 2018. Qualitative data were analyzed using inductive content analysis, while quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent t tests. Results: Most participants reported having good relationships with family members and existing friends with similar patterns of marriage as the general population. However, some experienced difficulties initiating new friendships and romantic relationships. Participants described bullying and discrimination in adulthood, most often in public settings and the workplace. Participants reported lower satisfaction with intimate relationships and less secure attachment compared to the general population. Concerns regarding the heritability of CL/P and its impact on the decision to have a family were also reported. Conclusions: Individuals with CL/P are at risk of negative social experiences, which if not appropriately addressed may impact psychological well-being in adulthood. The findings illustrate the importance of routine psychosocial support from childhood onward to help individuals with CL/P build social skills, self-esteem, and social confidence and to develop mutually fulfilling friendships and intimate relationships. Additionally, societal campaigns to raise awareness and target discrimination may be helpful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: While the Model of Human Occupation Screening Tool has undergone psychometric development and testing and is widely used in mental health practice, only a few small-scale studies to date have examined its use in clinical practice. Method: A national survey was conducted with United Kingdom occupational therapists working in mental health settings to evaluate the use of the Model of Human Occupation Screening Tool. The survey included the modified version of the Usefulness, Satisfaction, and Ease of Use (USE) questionnaire and two open-ended questions. The latter were coded through inductive content analysis and all responses were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software. Results: n =105 questionnaires were analysed. The Model of Human Occupation Screening Tool was found to be a useful tool, with most therapists scoring it favourably on the usefulness (74.7%), ease of use (76.1%), ease of learning (81.2%) and satisfaction (80.6%) subscales. It was praised as a valuable outcome measure, guiding interventions and providing a comprehensive overview of assessed individuals. Time consumption, inaccessible terminology and lack of sensitivity to change were indicated as possible downfalls. Conclusion: Therapists valued the Model of Human Occupation Screening Tool as an assessment tool, but more importance should be placed on training to overcome some of the limitations identified here. Also, its suitability to the setting in which it is used should be considered before implementation in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Adults with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) may report dissatisfaction with aesthetic and/or functional outcomes and express desire for further treatment. Although medical intervention can improve quality of life, surgical procedures require complex decision-making and can invoke psychological distress. The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of ongoing treatment-related support needs by examining self-reported treatment experiences of a sample of adults born with CL/P. Design: An online, mixed-methods survey was designed by the Cleft Lip and Palate Association in collaboration with the Centre for Appearance Research at the University of the West of England. A total of 207 eligible responses were received. Qualitative data were analyzed using inductive content analysis, while quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Although participants were satisfied with surgical and dental/orthodontic outcomes overall, many reported ongoing difficulties. Some stated they would seek further treatment while others felt conflicted about risks and benefits. Some had refused treatment, citing treatment fatigue, anxiety, and/or concerns that treatment would be unsuccessful. More than 40% of participants were unaware of their entitlement to cleft-related treatment provided by the National Health Service, and many others had experienced difficulties accessing care. Conclusions: Although advances in health care may offer opportunities for adults to improve their quality of life, treatment decisions should be weighed with the support of a clinical psychologist where available. Guidance for young adults considering future treatment is also recommended. Finally, training and resources for local practitioners may improve general awareness of CL/P services and increase access to specialist care for adults with ongoing CL/P-related concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines, with some reference to a content analysis of three British journals, the methodological orientation of current British sociology in order to argue that most graduate students as a consequence of their undergraduate socialization are unlikely to wish to take advantage of formal methodology courses at the graduate level, at least in so far as these are highly technical in content. Some of the implications of the argument for sociology in Britain generally, for undergraduate methods teaching and for the structure of graduate education are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Children born with a cleft palate ± lip are at risk of developing speech and language difficulties, which may require intervention from a speech and language therapist (SLT). To date, there is no strong evidence to support one approach to intervention over another, neither is it clear which approaches or methods of provision are commonly used. Objectives: To describe the range of speech and language therapy interventions being used with children born with cleft palate in the United Kingdom up to 5 years of age. To explore the different ways, interventions are being delivered. Design: A prospective study to conduct 9 semi-structured focus groups. Iterative content analysis was completed. Setting: Regional Cleft Lip and Palate Centers in the United Kingdom. Participants: Sixty-two speech and language therapy professionals from specialist cleft teams and community services. Results: Four main codes were identified: "intervention approaches," "service delivery models," "decision-making and rationale," and "patient-centered care." Participants frequently discussed how they adopt an eclectic style when delivering intervention, the importance of an individualized approach for each child and service delivery constraints, such as a lack of resources. Conclusion: Insight into the multitude of intervention approaches used by SLTs, aspects which influence their decision-making and the variability of service delivery models were gained. Uncertainty regarding which intervention approaches and methods for delivery are most effective provides rationale for future research, to improve the effectiveness of speech and language intervention for children with cleft palate ± lip. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The death of a child is acutely distressing. Evidence on the benefits and value to parents of spending time with their dead child have now been integrated into routine practice and is regarded as a bereavement support intervention. UK children's hospices have a tradition of using 'cooling facilities' (cold bedrooms, cooled blanket/mattress) to extend this period of time by slowing deterioration of the body. Aims: To describe: (1) type and use of cooling facilities in UK children's hospices, policies and practices regarding their use, and any changes over time. (2) Director of care's views on the purpose of cooling facilities and the rationale for hospice-specific practices. Methods: An explanatory mixed-methods design consisting two phases: a crosssectional survey of directors of care of UK children's hospices (n = 52) followed by semi-structured telephone interviews with a sub-sample of respondents. Survey data were analysed using descriptive statistics and interview data using directed content analysis. Results: 41/52 hospices completed the survey and 13 directors of care were interviewed. All hospices had cooling facilities. Some offered use of portable cooling facilities at home, though take-up appears low. Hospices differed in approaches to managing care and duration of use. Views on whether parents should observe deterioration informed the latter. Directors of care believed they provide families with time to say 'goodbye' and process their loss. Challenges for staff were reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Previous research in the field of cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) has indicated a high prevalence of common health concerns, functional difficulties, and additional conditions known to affect long-term physical health, cognitive development, and psychological well-being. The aim of the present study was to examine the self-reported physical health of a national sample of adults born with CL/P. Design: Drawing upon previous literature, an online, mixed-methods survey was designed by the Cleft Lip and Palate Association in collaboration with the Centre for Appearance Research at the University of the West of England. A total of 207 eligible responses were received between July and October 2018. Qualitative data were analyzed using inductive content analysis, while quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: A considerable proportion of participants reported one or more comorbid conditions, including common health concerns, difficulties related to language and/or learning, unresolved speech and/or hearing issues, problems with vision, breathing difficulties, and concerns related to eating and drinking. Many participants were unaware of their entitlement to specialist treatment, and some had experienced difficulties accessing specialist services through their general practitioner (GP). Conclusions: Individuals with CL/P may be at risk of physical health issues persisting into adulthood. The monitoring of physical symptoms from an early age is recommended, as is a routine physical assessment for adults returning to the CL/P service later in life. Education for both GPs and adults is warranted. Future studies could investigate the wider prevalence of comorbid conditions in CL/P, in order to better understand the longer-term health burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public trust in the criminal justice system in England and Wales has been low since the 1990s, and accusations that the system is arcane, lacking transparency, soft on criminals and removed from the society it serves are common. The government, together with many lawyers, journalists and experts, believes that lifting the ban on televising trials may enhance the transparency of the judicial system, and eventually lead to higher levels of public trust. Drawing on the most systematic content analysis of the coverage of this debate between 1984 and 2016, we analyse how this issue was debated in British national newspapers. In addition to examining how newspapers presented this policy debate, we also explore how the coverage discussed the impact that filming trials could have upon journalistic practice. Our analysis shows how metajournalistic discourse resorts to high-profile and celebrity cases when examining journalistic practice. Newspapers constructed this issue as a quandary between increasing the transparency of the judicial system, and the risk that justice would become sensationalised, ignoring key elements in the debate, and the role that journalists themselves may play in that process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Writing online narratives of postpartum psychosis allows both self-analysis and catharsis and can also be viewed as a type of sociopolitical expression. Eight narratives posted on the Action on Postpartum Psychosis website were analyzed using Burke's narrative analysis. This method focuses on a pentad of key elements of story: scene, act, purpose, agent, and agency. What drives this narrative analysis is the identification of problematic areas referred to as ratio imbalances between any two of these five terms. The ratio imbalance between Agent and Act appeared most often in these eight narratives. The agent was the mother and the act most often was either her hallucinations or delusions. The second most frequent area of tension was between Scene and Agent. Problematic scenes for the agent (mother) involved admission to the psychiatric ward, entering the electroconvulsive therapy room, or nighttime. These ratio imbalances pinpoint places where clinicians can target specific interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article considers the role of mosques in addressing domestic violence (DV) and honor-based violence (HBV) in the United Kingdom. Utilizing data extracted from interviews with 38 key agents and survivors, this article will highlight that some mosques can be difficult to engage with when attempting to raise awareness on violence against women (VAW). Participants explained that the patriarchal nature of mosques contributes to this difficulty together with their exclusion of women within organizational structures. Some mosques also deny that VAW is even a problem within their communities. This is a worrying trend as those on the pulpit often possess significant powers of influence across large congregations and are perfectly placed to help provoke dialogue on these issues. Furthermore, it adds yet another layer of inequality experienced by Muslim women that makes reporting abuse and seeking intervention that much more difficult. In the face of this resistance, this article will consider some ways in which mosques can raise awareness about VAW and where Muslim women can access support. It will also explore additional strategies and recommendations in relation to overcoming mosques unwilling to support VAW initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Previous research with adults born with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) has identified a range of concerns regarding mental health and quality of life, concluding that overall emotional functioning is poorer compared to the general population. The aim of the current study was to build on this previous work by investigating the self-reported emotional well-being of adults born with CL/P in the United Kingdom. Design: An online, mixed methods survey was designed by the Cleft Lip and Palate Association in collaboration with the Centre for Appearance Research at the University of the West of England. A total of 207 eligible responses were received between July and October 2018. Qualitative data were analyzed using inductive content analysis, while quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent t tests. Results: Almost half of the sample reported a diagnosis of a mental health condition. Scores on standardized measures indicated significantly lower global self-worth, higher levels of fear of negative appearance evaluation, and lower self-perceived job competence compared to normative data. Scores of overall body esteem were in line with the general population. Most participants had not received psychological support from their regional CL/P team and 41% were unaware of their entitlement to treatment from the National Health Service. Conclusions: Individuals with CL/P may be at risk of emotional distress persisting into adulthood. The integration of routine psychological support from an early age is highly recommended, as is information for young adults about to complete routine treatment. Comprehensive psychological screening for adults returning to the service later in life is also strongly advised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research ethics committees are commonly perceived as a 'barrier' to research involving seriously ill children. Researchers studying seriously ill children often feel that committees view their applications more harshly compared to applications for research with other populations. Whether or not this is the case in practice is unknown. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore committees' concerns, expectations and decisions for research applications involving seriously ill children submitted for review in the United Kingdom. Design: Content analysis of committee meeting minutes, decision letters and researcher response letters. Setting/participants: Chief investigators for National Institute of Health Research portfolio studies involving seriously ill children were contacted for permission to review their study documents. Results: Of the 77 applications included in this study, 57 received requests for revisions at first review. Committee expectations and concerns commonly related to participant information sheets, methodology, consent, recruitment or formatting. Changes were made to 53 of these studies, all of which were subsequently approved. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that committees review applications for research involving seriously ill children with the same scrutiny as applications for research with other populations. Yet, the perception that committees act as a barrier to this type of research persists. We suggest that this perception remains due to other factors including, but not limited to, the high levels of formatting or administrative revisions requested by committees or additional study requirements needed for research involving children, such as multiple versions of consent forms or participant information sheets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The importance of psychosocial aspects of care has received growing recognition in recent years. However, the evidence base for psychosocial intervention remains limited. Specialist clinicians working in cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) services hold a wealth of knowledge and experience yet to be elicited. The aims of this study were to identify common psychosocial challenges and potential risk and/or protective factors for psychosocial distress from the perspective of specialist clinicians and to establish the types of interventions currently being delivered in practice. Design: Individual interviews with 17 clinical nurse specialists and 19 specialist clinical psychologists, representing all 16 UK CL/P surgical sites. Data were analyzed using inductive content analysis. Results: Numerous psychosocial challenges affecting individuals with CL/P and their families were identified across the life span. Risk factors were predominantly contextual in nature, while protective factors appeared amenable to intervention. Participants drew upon a range of therapeutic models and approaches to guide formulation and intervention, while acknowledging the lack of evidence to support these approaches in CL/P populations specifically. Conclusions: Findings have important implications for the way in which psychosocial support for CL/P and related conditions is delivered and evaluated. A framework for the standardized assessment of holistic individual and familial well-being is proposed. Suggestions for increasing the evidence base for specific psychosocial interventions are made, including enhanced family functioning; social, emotional, and appearance concerns; treatment decision-making; and screening for psychosocial and developmental issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to contribute to the understanding of business news coverage of corporate social responsibility (CSR) within a comparative international context by investigating two business newspapers, The Wall Street Journal from the United States and The Financial Times from the United Kingdom. Drawing on the news framing research and the implicit and explicit CSR framework of Matten and Moon, this content analysis shows that business news coverage of CSR in the United States and in the United Kingdom differs in terms of news framing (thematic vs. episodic), motive attributions of CSR as a concept, motive attributions of referenced companies in relation to CSR, general tone toward the concept of CSR, and the general tone toward referenced companies in relation to CSR. Most significantly, findings suggest that business news plays different roles in constructing and legitimizing CSR in the two countries. In the United States, CSR's legitimacy and its conceptual positivity may be more implied through the coverage of singular events or actors (episodic framing), whereas in the United Kingdom, CSR's illegitimacy and its conceptual negativity may be more exposed for further discussion through the coverage of larger societal contexts (thematic framing). Other theoretical as well as practical implications are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) poses many challenges for those affected throughout the school years, with recent studies pointing to a trend in poor educational outcomes. Previous research has highlighted the important role that teachers play in supporting young people with chronic health conditions yet studies in the field of CL/P suggest that teachers may lack knowledge of the condition, and underestimate pupils' academic ability. Qualitative investigation of the impact of CL/P from the teacher's perspective may provide additional insight as well as potential suggestions for improving the school experience for affected pupils. Methods: Twenty UK preschool, primary, and secondary school teachers with experience of teaching pupils with CL/P completed an open-ended survey, eliciting qualitative data. Results: Qualitative content analysis was performed. Data were presented under 5 key headings: Knowledge of CL/P and its effects, perceived impact of CL/P on education, teachers' training needs, delivery of training, and impact of CL/P on teachers. Teachers were able to identify a number of potential social, emotional, and treatment-related challenges within the school setting, yet did not believe that CL/P would have a long-term impact on pupils' educational achievement. Participating teachers reported that cleft-specific training and access to relevant resources would be highly beneficial. Conclusions: Acting as a platform for future research, this exploratory study provides insight into the challenges faced by teachers and offers suggestions for how to improve teachers' understanding of CL/P, and their confidence in dealing with cleft-related issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explored health professionals’ views of implementing a systematic voiding program (SVP) in a multi-site qualitative process evaluation in stroke services recruited to the intervention arms of a cluster randomized controlled feasibility trial during 2011-2013. We conducted semi-structured group or individual interviews with 38 purposively selected nursing, managerial, and care staff involved in delivering the SVP. Content analysis of transcripts used normalization process theory (NPT) as a pre-specified organization-level exploratory framework. Barriers to implementing the SVP included perceived lack of suitability for some patient groups, patient fear of extending hospital stay, and difficulties with SVP enactment, scheduling, timing, recording, and monitoring. Enablers included the guidance provided by the SVP, patient and relative involvement, extra staff, improved nursing skill and confidence, and experience of success. Three potential mechanisms of consistency, visibility, and individualization linked the SVP process with improvements in outcome, and should be emphasized in SVP implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to describe the content of occupational therapy delivered in a randomized controlled trial of United Kingdom care home residents with stroke (The Occupational Therapy in Care Homes (OTCH) trial). The trial intervention aimed to maintain or improve residents' activity levels in relation to personal activities of daily living and mobility. Method: A qualitative design was adopted using content analysis to thematically code and analyse the occupational therapy notes of residents in the intervention arm of the trial. Treatment notes comprised of an initial assessment, a goal and treatment plan and a description of activities at each visit. A purposive sample of 50 sets of therapy notes was selected reflecting the geographical locations, care home types and resident characteristics observed in the OTCH trial intervention group. Findings: Occupational therapists individually assessed residents' function and goals. Planning was sometimes client-centred, but not all residents were able to share personal goals. Carers impacted on the success of the intervention. Treatment outcomes in relation to increasing functional activity were noted in some cases, but not always fully realized in this frail population. Conclusion: Increasing functional activity is challenging in care home populations; future studies should assess occupational therapy for residents in relation to leisure or social activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the content analysis methodology used for quantitative analysis of the 2015 election coverage by mass media in Great Britain, news websites in particular, using a content analysis software, Steno by the website, Election Unspun (electionunspun.net). Findings like representation of political parties in the press and charts on partisanship in the newspaper, “The Sun" are covered. The use of the firm, Ipsos-MORI to access the effect of mass media on public opinion is included.

The article presents information on the study of experiences and views of the stroke survivors and care-givers on the rehabilitation assessment process in stroke rehabilitation. Topics discussed include the several themes of the analysis including purpose of assessment, repetition of assessment, and feedback about assessment, and the result of the assessment which reveals that stroke service users needs specific objective and consistent information regarding stroke and their progress.

Introduction: In England, the Payment by Results reimbursement system was introduced for mental health services. Occupational therapists developed the indicative care packages for identified clusters endorsed by the system. This study sought to systematically gather and document occupational therapists’ viewpoints on the appropriateness of a range of therapy aims and, thereby, inform the creation of the occupational therapy indicative care packages. Method: This study is a descriptive, internet-based survey of therapists in six National Health Service trusts in the United Kingdom. Findings: A total of 262 therapists completed the survey for a response rate of 61.07%. Most were female (85.5%) with varying levels of experience (less than 5 years [33%]; between 5 and 20 years [54%]; over 20 years [13%]). Therapists evaluated the most appropriate aims specified for three occupational performance levels of service users and for six occupational areas. Additional aims were reported by therapists, and there was near-consensus for more than half of the aims, with over 75% of therapists agreeing on their appropriateness. Conclusion: Findings from experts’ empirical knowledge inform practice by providing evidence for specifying service outcomes that are theory based and occupation focused in guiding the development of recommended occupational therapy objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the use of Web 2.0 tools in constituency-level campaigns in the UK 2010 general election. Specifically it examines whether Web 2.0 use was undertaken with a goal of promoting interaction with voters or was simply a 'window-dressing' exercise. It does so using data from a nationwide survey of election agents, content analysis of a subset of campaign websites, and information collected through interviews with candidates. The results show that while campaigns are keen to adopt Web 2.0 technology, they have largely eschewed the interactive potential of Web 2.0, replicating previous UK web campaigns that have demonstrated limited interactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise in use of social media platforms as tools of communication has presented journalists with an abundance of opportunities and challenges in equal measure. These platforms have enabled journalists to engage directly with their readers and develop new forms of interactivity, both pertinent and banal in nature. By analysing the content of multiple social media profiles at two daily regional newspapers in the United Kingdom, it has been possible to determine how interactivity between journalists and readers is being shaped. This article has identified a spectrum of interactivity, which indicates that individual journalists are engaging with their readers in an informal, personal and reciprocal manner via social media platforms. This is in contrast to the formal approach being taken by their associated media companies that are transferring traditional top–down forms of communication from the offline world to the online world. Research for this article was conducted via interviews and content analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article investigates the verbal content of the 2010 prime ministerial debates using computer-aided text analysis ( CATA) and functional analysis. It seeks to provide reliable measures of what the leaders said, develop our theoretical understanding of televised debates in British elections, open up the 2010 debates for potential comparison with others, and provide additional evidence by which the democratic value of the debates might be assessed. The article demonstrates that the leaders focused more on policy than on personality, that most content was devoted to positive reasons for supporting parties rather than negative attacks on opponents, and that there was variation in the attention paid to general themes and specific issues and in the nature of the leaders' appeals to voters. The findings offer qualified support for issue ownership and functional theories, but knowledge of the specific political context remains necessary for understanding the content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assumption that Chinese young people are passive beings with little or no agency is a dominant theme within the academic literature. However PhD research findings demonstrate how British Chinese adolescents (aged 11-14) do exhibit varying degrees of agency in their lives. Here, agency is understood as individuals having the capacity to act, to interact, to make choices, to influence, and shape one’s life, especially in matters that concern the individual and the lives of others. Based on the accounts of 12 British Chinese adolescents, using repeat interviews over a 9-month period, this article adds to the current but limited understanding of British Chinese adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The financial crisis that began in autumn 2008 has attracted considerable attention in regard to the role of the media. This article examines both the audience and the content of the coverage of the crisis on the BBC News website, the largest online news provider in the UK. It demonstrates that online news was a significant part of the overall media coverage of the crisis. Online consumption patterns are very different from those of other media, but the claim that online audiences are ‘dumbed down’ or that they were not provided with a sophisticated range of information and analysis is critically examined. The study also questions whether the content of news coverage was as negative as has been suggested. The research is based on unique access to the BBC News web server-logs, which allow researchers to track audiences not only for the online site as a whole, but also for individual stories, and to match that to content analysis. It makes an important contribution to providing evidence-based research to examine the competing claims that have been made about the role of the business media in the financial crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the use of metaphoric language to convey emotion in interviews with people affected by motor neurone disease, a progressive neurological condition that sits between chronic and terminal illness. Methods: Secondary analysis of 46 interviews with people affected by motor neurone disease in the United Kingdom (35 individuals with the condition, 11 carers). Results: Metaphor and figurative language was used to communicate the intensely emotional experiences of being diagnosed with and living with motor neurone disease. We focus on three pervasive themes that were threaded throughout the interviews: battling and fighting; the self under attack and journeying through a physical and emotional landscape. Discussion: This secondary analysis of qualitative research interviews enriches our understanding of the articulation of emotion in motor neurone disease and adds to the literature on metaphor in chronic illness. Of particular interest is how the metaphors used contrasted with other conditions in the relative absence of metaphors of ‘fighting’ the disease. Furthermore, we analyse the ways in which participants used metaphors to give voice to emotions that are extremely difficult to articulate in ‘literal’ language, and how, in doing so, they blurred the distinction between ‘physical’ symptoms and ‘emotional’ states. Sensitivity to metaphors may help professionals communicate with people affected by motor neurone disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Summary: This article reports findings from an evaluation of the Volunteers in Child Protection (ViCP) pilot study commissioned by Community Service Volunteers (CSV) and conducted in two English authorities. The study examined expectations, experiences and identified benefits for three stakeholder groups – families, volunteers and social workers; and offered an opportunity to explore the implications of developing an expanded role for volunteers, within child protection services. The study sample comprised the first 14 families in the two authorities to be matched with a volunteer, and including the respective social workers and volunteers, in all 21 individuals were interviewed at two points in time.• Findings: Conclusions to be drawn are that the ViCP project was successful at recruiting and mentoring volunteers to work with families with complex needs; and their contributions suggest that local authority social work could draw on such initiatives to provide support functions. Its inputs could mitigate the negative effects of frequency of change of social workers, and help reduce the increasing dominance of a narrow model of child protection.• Applications: 1) There is an inevitable inter-dependent relationship between the culture of local authority children’s services departments, including the point at, and frequency with which, social workers can access supplementary family support services, from a voluntary sector agency such as ViCP. 2) A ‘shared ownership’ model of social work (Laming, 2009) is explored whereby mentored volunteers help to broaden and enlarge the evidence-base on families to enable improved decision-making and risk assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

New media technologies allow for unprecedented participation in the public sphere, with financial investments on a par with other mainstream hobbies. Citizen video journalists (VJs) are acquiring the technical, and in some cases, narrative skills needed to participate in online discourse. Yet citizen VJs lack the institutional authority enjoyed by professional journalists. This project compares the narrative strategies employed by professional and non-professional VJs to assert their authority. Practitioners were observed in a variety of professional and activist contexts in the UK and the USA over the course of two years and their stories were subjected to textual analysis. The project identifies emerging strategies used by citizen VJs to establish authority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine and compare doctors’ and nurses’ views and experiences regarding outcome measurement in palliative care, including patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).Methods: A web-based survey developed through expert review and piloting was conducted in Europe and Africa with palliative care professionals working in clinical care, audit and research.Results: The overall participation rate was 42% (663/1592) and the overall completion rate was 59% (392/663). Of these respondents, 196 were doctors (51% male, mean 47 years) and 104 were nurses (84% female, mean 45 years). Doctors’ most common reported reasons for not using tools were time constraints followed by lack of training. For nurses, it was lack of training followed by time constraints. Provision of information and guidance influenced willingness to use measures. For those that used tools, most reported favourable outcome measurement experiences. Both prioritized brief PROMs, and measures that included physical and psychological domains. For clinical purposes, the main advantage for doctors was assessment/screening, and clinical decision making for nurses. For research, doctors were most influenced by a measure’s comparability with national/international literature followed by its validation in palliative care. For nurses, validation in palliative care was followed by tool access.Conclusion: Overall these respondents shared similar views and experiences, and both were influenced by similar factors. Multidisciplinary outcome measurement education and training is feasible and required. Multidimensional and brief PROMs that include physical and psychological domains need to be prioritized, and access to freely available, validated and translated tools is needed to ensure cross-national comparisons and coordination of international research. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article takes a discursive approach to examine how Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder has been represented and debated in UK newspapers in the last decade. Two repertoires of ADHD were identified as the biological and the psychosocial. Subject positions such as problem child, abnormal or ordinary naughty child and ineffectual or neglectful parents are embedded in these alternative versions of ADHD. The biological repertoire justifies and encourages drug treatment for problem children while the psychosocial repertoire makes available the subject position of ordinary naughty child and supports moral judgements about poor parenting practices in a ‘sick society’. Such representations have challenged the media medicalization of ADHD common in a previous decade. Although the biological and the psychosocial repertoires are competing explanations for ADHD, they both perform a common function in representing families as in need of regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Research design has a notable impact on the nature of management and organizational research, and there have been numerous mentions, largely anecdotal, of differences in research design between journals published in the UK and USA. This article describes a systematic study of these supposed differences through content-analysis of 295 articles about organizational learning published in eight leading British- and US-based journals over the past 20 years. The results demonstrate substantial differences in data sources, data collection, and the scale of investigations. We discuss their impact on gaps in the study of organizational learning and offer our own thoughts on possible solutions (as well as challenges) for bridging these gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a detailed examination of the way in which the social response to epidemic disease in Early Modern England was constructed through discourse, and of how a matrix of meanings for the 'plague' was promoted to fill the conceptual gap between experience and social understanding. It analyses the variety of textual genres that were used to articulate this response, from the sermon tradition to prose pamphlets and the bills of mortality, and considers the dialogic nature of the interaction between these genres and how this facilitated the spread and generation of metaphoric associations for the disease. The article also considers the way in which this discourse itself is structured, and how it is marked by diversity and heterogeneity; it contends that rather than there being a clear hierarchy of dominant and 'alternative' discourses, it is more an unstable equilibrium of competing explanations. In part, this diversity is a result of plural and competing meanings being ascribed to the disease; in part, it is due to the range of different voices eager to promote their own opinion. This results in multiplicity not just of 'product', but also of 'process', with different genres and institutional centres of power (including the church, the civic authorities, the publishing industry) all claiming authority over the prescription of meaning. In this way the discourse itself becomes disordered, as there is no major controlling influence, and the structure of the discourse can be seen to reflect iconically the very themes that it articulates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crime of child murder is considered the most heinous and least comprehensible of all violent crimes. This study examines the visual representation of 12 high profile child abductions and murders in broadsheet and tabloid newspapers from two countries over a 70-year time frame. The body of coverage produced almost 1000 images and these were examined using a content analysis of the individual subjects of these photographs, followed by a qualitative analysis of the main patterns which emerged. The study produced two expected findings: that the coverage has become increasingly visual, and that the visuals were overwhelmingly ‘personal’. Within these overarching patterns, it was clear that the content of the visuals has changed over the three decades studied (the 1930s, 1960s and 1990s). In the earlier decades the visuals emphasized the role of the criminal justice system in capturing the perpetrators and bringing them to justice. In the 1990s there was a far greater focus on the victims' families, as well as the emotional responses of society as a whole: both grief for the child, and anger towards their killers and the authorities which ‘enabled’ them to offend. I explore these changes and the possible impact this visual coverage could have on public understanding of this crime, those who commit it, and how we treat them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diversification of African broadcast media into online services provides a vehicle for African diasporas to use not only for interactive communication but also for retrieving, sharing, displaying, and storing audiovisual information about their cultural practices and news about political and socioeconomic issues within their home and host countries. This study uses content analysis and audience survey to examine the content features of some African broadcast Web sites and their appeal to the African diasporas, on one hand, and to explore the awareness, motivation, and the content preference of the African diasporas on the other. It found little evidence of content differentiation between the Web sites and low audience awareness of their services but reveals a cluster of audience-preferred content features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]