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Copyright of European Journal of Social Work is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

For the career development of postdocs in academia, universities in Germany are offering mentoring programs to postdocs. They aim to encourage, support and mentor the postdocs toward professorship via face-to-face mentoring, workshops, and networking support. The mentoring programs are carefully designed; however, their success is dependent on multiple factors. The study explores the communication patterns in mentoring between professors and postdocs, and its impact on their professional development. Data was collected and analyzed using Grounded Theory. The data was collected from twenty-five semi-structured in-depth interviews with professors and postdocs across Germany. Classicand Constructivist Grounded Theory was used for data analysis. The paper presents a Communication in Mentoring Model for the professional development of postdocs. The model can be used as a tool to ensure successful communication for better professional relationships in mentoring as well as in professional environments. The paper recommends a longitudinal study to further explore Communication in Mentoring and its impact on postdocs over a period of time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assuming that policy design can impact gender equity in caretaking, this paper examines how expectant mothers and fathers understand and respond to specific parental leave policy elements when shaping their parenting practices. Taking Germany as a case study, this research draws on semi-structured interviews conducted between October 2019 and March 2020 with 18 couples, who were expecting their first child at the time of the interview. Germany's parental leave policy has shifted substantially since 2007, most notably with the establishment of non-transferable parental leave months for fathers. Exploring the link between policy design at the macro-level and parental involvement at the micro-level, this paper focuses on how mothers and fathers make sense of their leave entitlements when dividing leave, which (policy) aspects they consider as helping or hindering an equal leave division and how mothers and fathers anticipate using parental leave benefits. Results indicate that the current parental leave policy design enables greater equity in caretaking by normalizing some leave-taking by fathers. However, by providing an option for fathers' leaves to be split and to be taken concurrently with mothers the policy limits fathers' solo parenting responsibility and consequently prevents a transformation of gendered parenting practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collaboration among health care providers is intended to dissolve boundaries between the sectors of health care systems. The implementation of adequate augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) care of people without natural speech depends highly on collaboration among multiple stakeholders such as speech and language pathologists, teachers, or physicians. This paper examines existing barriers to and facilitators of collaboration from a stakeholder perspective. Five heterogeneous focus group interviews were conducted with N= 32 stakeholders including speech and language pathologists, AAC consultants, teachers, employees of sheltered workshops, parents, and relatives of AAC users, and other educational professionals (e.g., employees of homes for persons with disabilities) at three AAC counseling centers in Germany. Interview data were analyzed by structured qualitative content analysis. The results show very different experiences of collaboration in AAC care. Factors were identified that can have both positive and negative effects on the collaboration between all stakeholders (e.g., openness toward AAC, knowledge about AAC, communication between stakeholders). In addition, stakeholder-specific influencing factors, such as working conditions or commitment to AAC implementation, were identified. The results also reveal that these factors may have an impact on the quality of AAC care. Overall, the results indicate that good collaboration can contribute to better AAC care and that adequate conditions such as personnel, and time-related resources, or financial conditions need to be established to facilitate collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the findings of a qualitative study comparing social work and human service practice with people who have sought asylum in Germany and Australia. Globally social workers are concerned with the record high of people forcibly displaced worldwide and the Global North host-nations' increasingly hostile, discriminatory and restrictive policies towards people seeking asylum. This policy context is antithetical to the professional values of social workers and human services practitioners. The findings of this study reveal how the policy directly impacts social work and human service practice, creates unique ethical challenges and dilemmas and, subsequently, diverse practice responses. The paper also suggests that the country of practice influences how practitioners perceive and respond to ethical challenges and dilemmas. Through doing so, the findings challenge traditional understandings of critical practice theories that suggest that practice focused solely on the individual level is inadequate for work with people seeking asylum. Due to the diversity of contexts and their influences, we encourage social work and human services to view practice on a personal-political continuum when working with people seeking asylum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transparency has occupied a central place in the marketing management literature since the early 2000s, and its rise relates closely to the paradigm shift in corporate marketing, from consumer seduction to consumer engagement. In this paper we address the concept of transparency from the perspectives of law, communication science, and corporate marketing. Given that it is unclear how transparency can be achieved in practice, we conducted a qualitative empirical investigation among stakeholders of the transparency of legal information written by businesses for consumers, which has been an essential part of EU consumer legislation since the 1990s, with a view to further refining and concretizing this concept. We carried out 75 interviews with stakeholders in Germany, the largest national consumer market in the European Union. The results reveal the principles and benefits of transparent online consumer information according to these stakeholders and provide guidance for businesses and marketing professionals who wish to improve the clarity and accessibility of their online disclosures. The study concludes with an annotated, actionable definition of the transparency concept in corporate marketing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on research undertaken as part of the EU funded EPPIC project, this paper aims to update and elaborate on the relationship between drug use and offending behaviours by exploring variations within a cross-national sample of drug-experienced young people in touch with criminal justice systems. Adopting a trajectory-based approach, interviews were undertaken with 198 young people aged 15–25 in six European countries (Austria, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Poland, and UK). Data were analysed by applying the Bennett and Holloway categorization of the drugs-crime link, with a focus on the concept of social exclusion as developed by Seddon. Three main types of mechanisms (economic, pharmaceutical, and lifestyles) are used to interpret the data, showing how the relationship between drugs and offending can vary according to type of substances and over time. Furthermore, it can be associated with very different degrees of social exclusion and needs. The results suggest that while economic inequalities still play key roles in explaining drug use and offending, both behaviours can originate from a state of relative deprivation, resulting from the contradictions inherent in 'bulimic societies' that raise aspirations and desires while providing young people scarce opportunities for self-realisation and social recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper argues that acquiring competencies in different approaches and procedures in qualitative or interpretative social research provides a strong foundation for case analysis in professional social work practice. When students of social work become familiar with such research and are encouraged to engage in their own supervised projects they develop skills for a circumspect and sensitive practice with clients. The paper reports on work with students of social work in Germany, which can be described as an attempt to help them to become self-reflective ethnographers in their own affairs, of their own emergent social work practice. It spells out different phases of a process in which they learn to make their own practice strange. This process consists of developing different competencies in observing, analysing and writing, and requires a setting in which students' written observations and reflections can be shared and discussed by their peers in a critical, egalitarian and supportive manner. The author thinks that such a critical and self-critical discourse which addresses professional issues in general, as well as the individual student's (or practioner's) experiences and reflections, can have important implications for the collective development of social work and its relationship with other professions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on school improvement processes in the context of weekly curricular-based teaching and learning activities outside the classroom - known as Draußenschule or ‘outdoor school’ - in three German primary schools. Qualitative interviews were conducted with three teachers two years after implementing the ‘outdoor school’. The teachers’ experiences show that the implementation and (ongoing) development of an outdoor school affects (1) teaching as such; (2) the school staff, and (3) the entire school as an organisation. The three areas are interlinked in different ways and the school improvement process cannot be approached from the perspective of any one area alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: There is a growing consensus worldwide that palliative care needs to be both more inclusive of conditions other than cancer and to improve. This paper explores some common challenges currently faced by professionals providing palliative care for patients with either cancer or dementia across five countries. Method: One focus group (n = 7) and 67 interviews were conducted in 2012 across five countries: England, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Norway, with professionals from dementia, cancer and palliative care settings. Results: The interviews revealed five common challenges faced across the five countries: communication difficulties (between services; and between professionals, and patients and their families); the variable extent of structural/functional integration of services; the difficulties in funding of palliative care services; problematic processes of care (boundaries, definitions, knowledge, skills and inclusiveness) and, finally, time constraints. Conclusion: These are not problems distinct to palliative care, but they may have different origins and explanations compared to other areas of health care. This paper explored deeper themes hidden behind a discourse about barriers and facilitators to improving care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we explore the risks associated with direct payments to users enabling them to purchase social care. These payments are intended to enable people with disabilities to make choices and increase their autonomy. However, there is little evidence in the existing literature about the risks involved in direct payments as seen by service users. In this paper, we draw on data from a qualitative study of direct payments for people with disabilities in a federal state of Germany. We interviewed 37 individuals involved in direct payment schemes including individuals receiving payments, care assistants, members of organisations providing care and the administrative officers of the local authorities between December 2011 and January 2014. In this article, we use a governmentality perspective to explore how individuals who received the payments saw and sought to manage the risks associated with the scheme. We found that while users reported that direct payments reduced the risk associated with being directly dependent on the care providers and hence increased their desired self-determination, they identified new risks linked to their liability for the transferred money, problems associated with their liquidity and cash flow, challenges presented by budget cuts, and sanctions resulting from violation of norms of ‘appropriate use’ and the difficulties of negotiating with the funders. To manage these perceived risks users indicated that they had subjected themselves to a new way of active self-control and self-management, normalising their behaviour. We note that risk to service users has been neglected in policy design and should be acknowledged more explicitly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates how small sports clubs (SSCs), the foundations for sporting excellence and significant contributors to the social capital of society in the face of continued financial difficulties, can maximise their fundraising activities. A conceptual framework for investigating the traditional fundraising planning process in the unique context of SSCs is developed and a qualitative methodology is utilised via 19 in-depth interviews in Northern Ireland and Germany to test this model. The findings of this study question the applicability of generic fundraising planning processes for SSCs and emphasise the previously under-realised central role that individual personal competencies play and argue for the application and practice of social entrepreneurship in order to ensure the long-term survival of SSCs. This study makes a contribution to the developing literature on sports marketing and to the important issue of strategic fundraising in the context of SSCs. It highlights the informal, ad-hoc nature of fundraising in many SSCs and provides some direction for how they could become more professional in how they fund their activities and plan for the future development of the clubs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Traditional broadcast technology is being replaced by information technology-based systems. Due to their complexity, these systems' implementation requires a sophisticated project management approach. The current methods applied by the public service broadcasting organizations in Germany do not seem sufficient for these new requirements. Our paper analyses the management of technical projects in broadcasting organizations considering the technological change. The analysis is based on the basic principles of project management with its institutional, functional and instrumental aspects. An explorative and qualitative analysis of 13 interviews with managers from six (out of eleven) public service broadcasting organizations identifies deficiencies in defining objectives, communication and project evaluation. Approaches for improvements include training for project managers and adapting the project to meet increased requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper re-conceptualizes the adjustment of expatriate spouses during overseas assignments and explores various factors influencing the level of spousal adjustment. It does so by using a combination of qualitative data, collected through interviews and group discussions with expatriate spouses, and quantitative data, gathered by means of a questionnaire survey of American expatriate spouses in Germany. The results support the existence of a hitherto neglected facet of spousal adjustment, designated 'role adjustment', and highlight some important antecedents of spousal adjustment. The implications of the results for research and the practice of international HRM are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

People receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) endure long phases of therapy and immobility, which diminish their physical activity (PA) level leading to physical deconditioning. One of the reasons is a lack of clarity on the part of those who work in oncology clinical settings of their role in assessing, advising, and referring patients to exercise. Therefore, our study investigates reported physical activity counseling behavior of health care professionals (HCPs) and the patient perspective on this topic. Physicians (N = 52), nurses (N = 52) physical therapists (N = 26), and patients receiving HSCT (N = 62) participated in a nationwide cross-sectional online-survey. Patients' preferred source of information concerning PA was determined. We examined HCPs self-assessed PA counseling behavior and patients' PA recall by assessing the use of the 5As (Ask, Advice, Agree, Assist, Arrange). Analysis of survey responses was descriptive. Univariate multinomial logistic regression examined whether sociodemographic factors and patient characteristics influence the response behavior. Physicians and PA specialists were patients' preferred source of information regarding PA. A large discrepancy between HCPs' perception and the degree to which HSCT patients recall advice became apparent; profound counseling steps like making referrals were less often recalled in our patient sample. Inactive patients reported to receive less basic PA counseling by physicians. Future research should identify the requirements to increase patients' recall concerning PA counseling in the setting of HSCT. Important messages about PA need to be made more salient to those who are less active and less engaged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the methodological issues encountered in a comparative case study, which investigated how discourses shaped and legitimated policy maintenance and policy change in Germany before and after unification. The research strategy involved discourse analysis of party political and parliamentary documents, integrating detailed textual and contextual analysis of the institutional framework within which discourses were articulated. The paper examines the possibility of using comparative case studies to develop concepts, and reviews the relationship between concepts and context in qualitative comparative research. A critique is then offered of the process of analysis, ranging from the initial data analysis using NUD*iST, to the re-contextualisation of the textual analysis, and the reintegration of context, theory and textual analysis in writing up the research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Role expectations of physicians providing health care for hunger strikers have been discussed in the context of prisons and detention centres. Ethical guidance for physicians in these situations is codified in the Declaration of Malta. In the last years, new forms of collective, public hunger strikes of asylum seekers have occurred. We have aimed at reconstructing the experiences of health-care personnel involved in one of such cases. Semi-structured interviews with nine participants (physicians and paramedics) that had been involved in a public collective hunger strike of asylum seekers in Germany were conducted. We identified three health-care provider groups: voluntary physicians, emergency service providers and medical consultants for the authorities. Role conflicts arising from multiple loyalty situations with obligations towards different stakeholders (e.g., strikers, employers, authorities) were perceived as the greatest challenge especially for voluntary doctor and emergency service provider participants. Such conflicts culminated in feeling instrumentalized for political goals. The results illustrate that professional challenges in the health care during a public collective hunger strike differ in various aspects from those described in the literature on custodial settings. We recommend expanding and adapting the medico-ethical guidance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interprofessional teamwork often suffers from the existence of negative stereotypes. To combat their prevalence, interprofessional education (IPE) activities are being implemented worldwide. The aim of this study is to inform IPE developers of the prevalence and content of interprofessional stereotypes in the workplace in Germany and similarly structured healthcare systems. We surveyed health professionals with several years of work experience as nurse, midwife, or therapist concerning their attitudes toward their own professions and those of doctors using an established trait rating measure and a qualitative approach. Stereotypes of respondents (N = 129) were mostly related to (1) academic, medical competence (being perceived as lower than that of doctors) and (2) the traditional role relationship (strict hierarchy, dependence on doctors) that guides a lot of behavior, such as the little participation of nurses, midwives and therapists. Despite profound structural differences in the education and healthcare systems, our analyses further revealed similar topics for further IPE activities as in international research, such as the general demand to convey knowledge about the roles, skills and responsibilities of the other professions. The demand to improve the teamwork skills of all health professionals and empower them to be full and equal members of the healthcare team was also evident. Thus, a more reflective approach to stereotypes and their impact on interprofessional teamwork is indicated, particularly in workplace-based interprofessional learning activities. More generally, to counteract stereotypes a more widespread adoption of IPE in pre and post licensure health professions education and continuing professional development in Germany is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We qualitatively match new economic geography (NEG) to stylized facts on German economic integration after 1989. We find that NEG may explain German integration reasonably well. Germany may currently be close to the peak of the bell curve, which describes the long-run relationship between integration and agglomeration in Germany. As a consequence, further economic integration between the two parts of Germany may eventually foster redispersion of economic activity toward East Germany. We also identify limitations of NEG for explaining German integration, most notably the analytical complexity of multi-region models and its neglect of knowledge spillovers and labour pooling. RÉSUMÉ Nous établissons une correspondance qualitative entre la nouvelle géographie économique (NEG) et des faits stylisés sur l'intégration économique allemande après 1989. Nous découvrons que la NEG permet d'expliquer raisonnablement bien l'intégration allemande. En fait, l'Allemagne est sans doute proche du sommet de la courbe en cloche, décrivant les rapports de longue durée entre l'intégration et l'agglomération en Allemagne. Donc, la poursuite de l'intégration économique entre les deux parties de l'Allemagne pourra favoriser une re-dispersion de l'activité économique envers l'Allemagne de l'Est. Néantmoins, nous identifions des limitations de la MEG pour expliquer l'intégration allemande, notamment la complexité analytique des modèles multirégionaux et la négligeance des retombées des connaissances (knowledge spillovers) et le groupement de la main-d'œuvre. ExtractoEmparejamos cualitativamente la Nueva Geografía Económica (NEG) con hechos estilizados de la integración económica alemana después de 1989. Descubrimos que la NEG puede explicar la integración alemana razonablemente bien. Actualmente, Alemania podría estar cerca de la cumbre de la curva de campana que describe la asociación a largo plazo entre integración y aglomeración en Alemania. En consecuencia, una mayor integración económica entre las dos partes de Alemania podría fomentar últimamente la re-dispersión de actividad económica hacia la Alemania del Este. Además identificamos limitaciones de la NEG para explicar la integración alemana, consistiendo principalmente en la complejidad analítica de los modelos multirregionales y en su preterición de los desbordamientos de conocimiento (knowledge spillovers) y de la concentración de mano de obra cualificada (labour pooling). 摘要:我们将新经济地理(NEG)和1989年德国经济统一后的典型事实进行定性比较。我们发现NEG可以很好地解释德国统一。德国现在非常接近钟形曲线的峰值, 意味着德国经济会长期呈现融合和聚集并存。因此, 东西德之间进一步的经济融合将最终促进经济活动流向东德。我们还找出了用NEG解释德国统一的局限性，尤其是多区域模型分析的复杂性以及对人才流失和劳动力储备的忽略。 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Germany, two-week clinical clerkships in university-associated general practices have existed since 2002. Approximately 10,000 medical students participate in these decentral clerkships each year. Empirical information on quality management strategies in decentral learning environments is sparse. This nationwide study aims to describe the current quality management efforts of German family medicine departments in response to negative events. A nationwide three-part mixed methods study on the quality management of family medicine clerkships was conducted. First, individuals from n = 37 family medicine departments involved in the organization of family medicine clerkships were interviewed. Interview transcripts were analyzed with qualitative content analysis. Second, a questionnaire on quality management of decentralized learning environments based on the categories of the analysis was developed and sent to the departments. Three negative event cases in family medicine clerkships were included in the questionnaire. Third, interview and survey data were integrated based on respondents' process descriptions of how each department handled the cases. Of the 37 contacted departments, n = 12 (32%) performed an interview. Major categories of negative events included problems in the student-teacher interaction, didactical challenges, and problematic student behavior. Twenty departments answered at least one questionnaire (54%). Most respondents indicated that their department conducts quality management in decentralized teaching. Negative events in decentral family medicine clerkships occurred at a rate of 66.4 to 179.5 events per 10,000 Students per semester. The mixed-method analysis showed that departments are conscious about quality management issues in decentral learning environments but adhere to heterogeneous local standards. Negative events occur regularly in decentral learning environments. Local quality management processes exist but lack national harmonization. Further outcome-based research is needed to explore the effectiveness and feasibility of quality management strategies. This will become increasingly relevant with an expected upscaled family medicine content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Prior research provides limited information on the roles that leisure can play among Western international students studying in Eastern countries. Exploring this directional difference can provide its implications for Western international student support. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore leisure behaviours and leisure benefits associated with acculturation among Western international students residing in South Korea.Method: Using a purposeful criterion sampling strategy, a total of 18 participants (7 males and 11 females) were recruited. This study employed semi-structured in-depth interviews and a content mapping and content mining question strategy was incorporated.Results: The following core themes were associated with the health benefits of leisure activities experienced by international students living in South Korea: (a) promoting mental health, (b) experiencing dynamics of inter-and intra-group friendships, and (c) facilitating acculturation.Conclusions: The findings showed that participants developed friendships with the host individuals and other international students, became well acculturated into a new culture and experienced benefits to their mental health, indicating that leisure participation can be instrumental in improving social and psychological wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the possible contributions of capability, opportunity, and motivation for explaining long-term physical activity among people with multiple sclerosis and to report the results of a German survey study. The questionnaire, which was based on an expert interview study and behavior change theory, was structured and detailed applying the Theoretical Domains Framework. A total of 1027 people with multiple sclerosis provided data on sociodemographics, disease-related characteristics, and a set of constructs possibly related to long-term adherence. Participants were assigned to three groups: not regularly active, currently regularly active, and long-term regularly active. Eta squared was calculated to assess the magnitude of differences between groups using ANOVA. Moderate or large differences between groups were identified for many domains within capability, opportunity, and motivation. For the following theoretical domains, large differences (η2 ≥0.140) were observed: Intention, Behavioural Regulation, Beliefs about Capabilities and Goals. Our results suggest that capability, opportunity, and motivation should be targeted simultaneously when designing future interventions. Inactive people with multiple sclerosis might benefit most from interventions increasing action self-efficacy and intention. Boosting autonomous motivation, goal setting, action planning as well as maintenance and recovery self-efficacy could have a positive effect on long-term adherence. This study applied the COM-B model and Theoretical Domains Framework to identify a set of constructs for explaining long-term physical activity among people with MS. Behaviour change and maintenance interventions for people with MS should include techniques that foster intention, perceived self-efficacy and self-regulatory skills, and promote goal setting and autonomy of motivation for regular physical activity. Although barriers of the physical and social environmental context did not seem to be that important in our sample, scientists should consider addressing them in interventions for inactive and more disabled people with MS. Information about the benefits of physical activity should be regularly provided in MS rehabilitation, while further research should explore the relevance of information provision and knowledge for behaviour change in different groups of people with MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of European Journal of Social Work is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The usage of smartphones and apps to communicate, retrieve information, locate places, and entertain is a norm today. However, to this day, many users are unaware of, or indifferent to, how smartphones (and other mobile devices such as tablets, fitness trackers, or smartwatches) could possibly breach their mobile privacy. This case study investigates and compares mobile privacy behavior and attitude of library and information science students from the School of Communication and Information, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, U.S.A., with library and information science students from the Berlin School of Library and Information Science, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Germany. Qualitative ethnographic research methods such as interviews, participant observation, and an experiment were conducted between 2017 and 2018 both in Germany and the U.S.A. The findings reveal that there are nearly no cultural differences in mobile privacy behavior and attitude between participants. In fact, this study discovers and discerns different mobile privacy typologies. These typologies, ranging from "mobile privacy objection" to "mobile privacy learned helplessness" reveal how they impact German and American students' privacy behavior and attitude in a similar fashion. The lack of significant differences between German and American library and information science students suggests that more could be done to raise privacy awareness, especially for mobile computing and emergent technologies such as facial recognition and A.I. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted in a home-based context where trained occupational therapists delivered progressive physical exercise training and home modification intervention for preventing falls, namely the FIT-at-Home intervention. We assessed the feasibility of the intervention's content and mode of delivery from the occupational therapists' perspective as well as the feasibility of study procedures. We used a mixed-methods approach, which generated qualitative data from 14 OTs' after delivering the intervention via interviews and quantitative data of the study procedures via questionnaires and documentation sheets. In total, 16 of the 17 older people completed the intervention. Of 9 recorded falls, no serious physical problems occurred. Qualitative data suggested that the intervention content and mode was feasible. Only minor adaptations to the program are needed based on the users' feedback. The main benefit was seen in the fact that simple exercises can be integrated into everyday life for older people with restricted mobility. The FIT-at-Home intervention comprising lifestyle-integrated balance and strength exercises and home safety is feasible for occupational therapists to deliver. The findings will help to further refine the intervention and study procedures. Falling is a frequent and serious health problem for many community-living older people, and the incidence of injurious falls increases with advancing age. Home visiting programs comprising physical exercise training and home modification appear to be beneficial for older people with poor health, functional limitations, and limited mobility. This study indicates that it is feasible to introduce lifestyle-integrated balance and strength exercises, performed as part of daily routine for older people at risk of falling. Behavioural self-management strategies have the potential to improve the implementation of exercises during the course of rehabilitation treatment and afterward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Good physician-patient communication is an important aspect of patient-centered care and contributes to positive health outcomes, however, there is a lack of standard European Union (EU) communication training policies for physicians. This study explores the barriers to good communication for both physicians and patients across four EU countries as part of the EU-funded project, Health Communication Training for Health Professionals – H-COM. Method: Focus groups were conducted with 31 patients and 38 physicians from Germany, Greece, Spain, and Cyprus. Two separate discussion guides were constructed for each target group around three themes: perceptions of, barriers to, and needs for health communication. Thematic analysis was used. Results: Commonalities and differences between countries and target groups were identified, with participants discussing attitudinal, emotional, educational, and systemic barriers to good communication. Participants indicated a significant gap in health communication knowledge, skills, and training for physicians, with regional differences. Conclusion: The results imply that there is a need for EU-wide communication training for physicians that would be best addressed by common themes and tailoring to specific regional differences. The results also imply that effective training should encompass a blend of theory and practical methods, and should be delivered via an e-learning platform for maximum accessibility. Training programs that adhere to these suggestions can begin to address the gaps in patient-centered care in the EU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at qualitatively exploring the development of a sense of coherence (SOC) among systemic family therapist trainees (FTT) over a 3-year period. It was conducted in a private family therapy training institute in central Germany. The sample consisted of 66 trainees. The components of SOC and their general health played an important role in the development of FTTs throughout the three training years. Findings show that the SOC component of meaningfulness (motivation) was most frequently mentioned and most important to participants' personal and professional development, followed by comprehensibility (understanding of self, others and the context) and finally by manageability (coping with challenges based on personal, social and professional resources). The three SOC components fostered a positive self-care approach in FTTs and improved health and well-being over the 3 years. Visions of FTT at the end of the training show that they aim at personal and professional growth and development in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with the political context of social work practice with refugees. Specifically, it addresses the ways politics and policies that derive from them, interplay with social workers' perceptions and constructions regarding their daily practice. It is based on findings from a qualitative study that included 22 in-depth interviews with Israeli and German social workers who work with refugees. Working in a 'highly political' field meant that practitioners encountered xenophobia and racism, reinforced by the negative public discourse surrounding refugees, and faced the outcomes of exclusionary state policies towards service users and social services. The article demonstrates that working under challenging political circumstances, enhanced social workers' political awareness, termed politicisation, in that they became more attuned to their identities in relation to practice, to user-worker power imbalances, and to the ways politics and policies influence service users' well-being. Politicisation included social workers highly emotional involvement, which motivated them to take action towards social justice, as well as enhanced the risk of being overwhelmed and experiencing 'political fatigue'. The article discusses implications for the 're-politicisation' of social work research, practice and education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes the status quo of qualitative methods in economics. While a majority of economists consider knowledge of empirical research methods to be of considerable importance, it must be noted that qualitative research methods are scarcely implemented in economic publications. Given all the advantages of qualitative research methods, the reasons and processes responsible for the rejection of qualitative research methods in economics must be empirically identified and further discussed. To gain insights into the perception and application of qualitative research methods in economics revealing the status and representational patterns in qualitative social research. I addressed professors, editors of economic journals, and postdocs from Germany to access economists' functional orientations and interpretative patterns, in order to establish preliminary indicators with regard to the subject-specific perspectives and the underlying scientific conceptions of economists. My findings reveal a fundamental rejection of qualitative research methods in economics due to methodological critique, a nomothetic world view and missing career opportunities. The article intends to initiate a discussion about the missing opportunities of the methodological contraction in the economic profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This article describes the main results of an empirical impact analysis of a music therapy model project for the prevention of violence in schools, developed and investigated by the author. Methods: Based on the investigation of research hypotheses, the assumed effects of the program were explored in a quasi-experimental evaluation study. The study was carried out in two regular secondary schools (middle schools) in the 5th year level. Results: The experiment showed significant but heterogeneous effects. Of 42 time-by-group interaction effects tested, 21 were significant. In one of the two project classes (treatment groups), the positive effect of violence prevention through the project model was confirmed by the research results throughout. In the other project class, the research hypotheses were predominantly rejected with the exception of a highly significant decrease in the category of aggressive acts. Discussion: The results are analyzed and evaluated in terms of class and project variables. For this purpose, interviews with experts are methodically evaluated in a qualitative analysis, which was carried out after completion of the project work. On the basis of the summaries of these research steps, knowledge is obtained indicating which conditions promote preventative effects, such as relations between the students or common interest in the project work, and under which conditions steps for modification of the program are required, such as little willingness to show consideration for others or a sudden decrease in motivation due to a lack of immediate success and a lack of common interests and goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study describes the psychometric testing of the Achondroplasia Personal Life Experience Scale (APLES): a new disease- and functioning-specific health-related quality of life instrument for young people with achondroplasia, which was developed based on the International Classification of Functioning–Children and Youth Version. Method: The qualitative analysis of focus group statements from German patients and parents using the International Classification of Functioning–Children and Youth Version yielded 59 items, which after cognitive debriefing were included in a pilot-test. Psychometric performance was cross-culturally examined in a field- and re-test in Germany and Spain. Results: Cognitive debriefing and pilot-test results suggested to reduce the 59-APLES version to a 35-items version. Field-test data showed acceptable reliability and validity, which further improved after the APLES was shortened to 21 items. Conclusion: Developing a disease-specific instrument within the framework of the International Classification of Functioning allows the universal assessment and comparison of perceived health. Psychometric analysis showed that the APLES fulfills psychometric quality standards and provides a way to assess health-related quality of life from self- and observer report in young persons with achondroplasia. Further studies may use the instrument in clinical research and practice to understand perceived burden and to optimize care. Health-related quality of life instruments are useful tools to include in clinical research and/or practice to evaluate treatment effects directly from the patient's perspective. Cross-culturally developed health-related quality of life measures that are based on the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health provide the opportunity to assess the health status in a standardized language and to compare it across countries and health professions. All four components of the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health – Child and Youth Version ("Body Functions & Structures", "Activities and Participation", "Environmental Factors", and "Personal Factors") have been shown to be relevant in assessing health-related quality of life and functioning in young achondroplasia patients. Results underline the important aspects associated with disproportionate short stature, emphasizing the benefits of a disease-specific instrument. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports on the developmental patterns of /ʃC/ clusters in 145 normally developing monolingual German-speaking children between 2;00 and 2;11. All children completed a picture naming task to allow a systematic qualitative analysis of the production patterns. Children's reductions of target /ʃC/clusters are examined and are evaluated with respect to two models, 'factorial typology' and 'headedness', to account for them. The results reveal expected patterns of C2 retention for '/ʃ/+[-continuant]' (e.g. '/ʃ/+stop' and '/ʃ/ +nasal') targets, and a rather indeterminate pattern for /ʃl/ and /ʃʁ/. The results for /ʃv/, a clear-cut preference of C2 retention, were rather unexpected, as the C2 is a [+continuant]. The explanation offered for the retention of /v/ is related to a place constraint. The study also examines the data from children who reached an advanced stage of cluster formation with differential targets. More specifically, in several children, one target, /ʃv/, is found to have stayed behind in the reduction phase while all others have advanced to the 'cluster stage'. Neither the type nor the token frequencies seem satisfactory in accounting for the specific behaviour of /ʃv/. The explanation offered for the uniqueness of this target may be its non-abidence to the Sonority Sequencing Principle (SSP) because of its flat sonority and the Obligatory Contour Principle (OCP) [continuant], because of the unchanging 'continuance' which is demanded by the OCP. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patient organizations (POs) represent patient collectives in health care policy. The inclusion of people with a ‘neuro-psychiatric’ condition poses a particular challenge for the organizational processes and political representation of such collectives. In recent years, new POs (POs of) have been established in the field of autism spectrum disorder and dementia that advocate a different agenda and have a different organizational structure than traditional POs (POs for). The divide between these two types of POs indicates a different standpoint with regard to who should be included on an organizational level, which voices are accepted and who should represent these voices on the political level. The inclusion and exclusion of voices needs to be normatively justified in order to be regarded legitimate representation of such a collective. With the help of Miranda Fricker's theory of epistemic injustice, we scrutinize whether and, if so, which types of epistemic injustices (wrongdoings to a person as a knower) can be found within POs' practices and the political field in which they operate, by analyzing 37 interviews with PO representatives, their members and policy makers. Our in-depth analysis indicates that persistent stereotypes hamper the inclusion of affected members both within POs and on the health political level. Being affected causes distrust in having the ‘capacity to know' in a two-fold way; it is assumed that those who can represent themselves are “not affected enough” to present valuable insights into the condition and those who have difficulties to express themselves due to their condition are excluded because of their affectedness. We conclude that our analysis of the epistemic practices of POs serves as a good starting point to address these shortcomings from a theoretical and practical perspective and offers a valuable starting point for bioethics to understand unjust structures in the health political context. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Mass media shape not only public, but also healthcare professionals' attitudes towards individuals with a mental illness. This study investigates how watching a movie about schizophrenia affects stigma-related attitudes of rehabilitation science students, who are likely to work with affected individuals. Participants watched an entertainment movie portrayal of schizophrenia. Stigma-related attitudes and social distance were assessed one week before watching the movie, directly afterwards, and one week later. No significant differences in stigmatization emerged between viewers and non-viewers. Enjoyment, appreciation, and general movie evaluation mediated viewers' transportation into the story on changes in stigmatization. Results are discussed with respect to media effects on stigma-related attitudes and their implications for mental health nursing practice and education. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective:This study aimed to explore medication adherence among adherent and non-adherent persons suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A special focus was put on the reasons accounting for successful medication adherence and on potential barriers or facilitating factors. Design:A qualitative study with semi-structured interviews was conducted. Eighteen participants were recruited through stratified purposive sampling according to their medication adherence level. Interviews were analysed by interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results:Medication adherence behaviour was described on a continuum ranging from non-adherent to adherent. Participants’ current adherence level was represented as a result of inner negotiations between a variety of influential factors and the successful application of a range of strategies. The influential factors were: experiences with medication, outcome expectations, knowledge of therapeutic options, the traits ‘openness’ and ‘conscientiousness’, belief in medical progress, characteristics of the medication, level of trust in one’s physician, and perceived autonomy. Facilitating strategies were: establishing routines, using social support and the deliberate suppression of information about potential adverse events. Conclusion:The experience of and the reasons for medication (non-)adherence from the perspective of people with RA were explored comprehensively. Participants’ ongoing negotiations between adherence and non-adherence emerged as a key finding with implications for health service providers. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose: The objective of this study is to determine whether persons with neuropsychiatric disorders experience a common set of psychosocial difficulties using qualitative data from focus groups and individual interviews.Method: The study was performed in five European countries (Finland, Italy, Germany, Poland and Spain) using the focus groups and individual interviews with persons with nine neuropsychiatric disorders (dementia, depression, epilepsy, migraine, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, stroke and substance dependence). Digitally recorded sessions were analysed using a step-by-step qualitative and quantitative methodology resulting in the compilation of a common set of psychosocial difficulties using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) as a framework.Results: Sixty-seven persons participated in the study. Most persons with neuropsychiatric disorders experience difficulties in emotional functions, sleeping, carrying out daily routine, working and interpersonal relationships in common. Sixteen out of 33 psychosocial difficulties made up the common set. This set includes mental functions, pain and issues addressing activities and participation and provides first evidence for the hypothesis of horizontal epidemiology of psychosocial difficulties in neuropsychiatric disorders.Conclusions: This study provides information about psychosocial difficulties that should be covered in the treatment and rehabilitation of persons with neuropsychiatric disorders regardless of clinical diagnoses.Implications for RehabilitationEmotional problems, work and sleep problems should be addressed in all the treatments of neuropsychiatric disorders regardless of their specific diagnosis, etiology and severity.Personality issues should be targeted in the treatment for neurological disorders, whereas communication skill training may also be useful for mental disorders.The effects of medication and social environment on patient’s daily life should be considered in all the neuropsychiatric conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In a qualitative elicitation study with 61 cancer patients, a broad range of attitudes toward physical activity could be obtained, especially negative attitudes among insufficiently active patients. Based on these results, a second quantitative study was conducted; 64 patients [40 men; 42% insufficiently active (<150 minutes/week)] completed a Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) questionnaire. Regression analyses revealed that different variables of the TPB are relevant for explaining the intention to exercise for physically active (subjective norm) and insufficiently active (attitudes) cancer patients. Health professionals should adapt their support to the special needs of insufficiently active and active cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study shows how different phonetic productions of the same word pair perform different actions in conversation. The German words for “yes” and “but” share the same vowel at the word boundary:ja aber. Data from naturally occurring talk show that German speakers exploit this property of their language to differentiate betweenja aberandjaber.The phonetic distinction co-occurs with a distinction in how actions are formatted. Inja aberturns,japerforms a separate action, often as a second pair part, providing an elicited confirming response. The action initiated byaberis typically disaffiliative and done for the first time. In contrast,jaber-fronted turns are rarely second pair parts and perform one single disaffiliative action, which is a redoing of a previously accomplished or attempted action. The frequent occurrence ofjaberin the corpus suggests that the item is being used as a wordlike entity similar to a discourse marker. The findings reveal that for participants the local requirement to manage action boundaries is more relevant than linguistic word boundaries that may exist outside the interactional context. Data are in German with English translation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Previous research has noted that the transition to primary school is important for future school success. As a result, an inclusive transition process to school has become increasingly important. However, this process is particularly difficult for socio-economically disadvantaged children in Germany. The study considers parents’ views and actions in their children’s transition, especially with regard to parent–professional cooperation. Over a period of 36 months (18 months before and 18 months after school entry), 89 qualitative interviews with parents were conducted. Although five of the 16 children were affected by selective mechanisms, all parents emphasised the importance of their child’s regular school entry and assumed active roles in their child’s education. The findings suggest underlying selective structures that undermine the development of inclusive transition structures. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: To ensure the highest quality of education, medical schools have to be aware of factors that influence the motivation of teachers to perform their educational tasks. Although several studies have investigated motivations for teaching among community-based practitioners, there is little data available for hospital-based physicians.Purposes: This study aimed to identify factors influencing hospital-based physicians’ motivations to teach.Methods: We conducted 3 focus group discussions with 15 clinical teachers from the Medical Faculty at Hamburg University. Using a qualitative inductive approach, we extracted motivation-related factors from the transcripts of the audio-recorded discussions.Results:Three main multifaceted categories influencing the motivation of teachers were identified: the teachers themselves, the students, and the medical faculty as an organization. Participants showed individual sets of values and beliefs about their roles as teachers as well as personal notions of what comprises a “good” medical education. Their personal motives to teach comprised a range of factors from intrinsic, such as the joy of teaching itself, to more extrinsic motives, such as the perception of teaching as an occupational duty. Teachers were also influenced by the perceived values and beliefs of their students, as well as their perceived discipline and motivation. The curriculum organization and aspects of leadership, human resource development, and the evaluation system proved to be relevant factors as well, whereas extrinsic incentives had no reported impact.Conclusions: Individual values, beliefs, and personal motives constitute the mental framework upon which teachers perceive and assess motivational aspects for their teaching. The interaction between these personal dispositions and faculty-specific organizational structures can significantly impair or enhance the motivation of teachers and should therefore be accounted for in program and faculty development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) constitute one of the fastest-growing categories of disease in Germany, including among people with a background of migration. Although a growing number of epidemiological studies attempt to explain the course of migrants’ health, the extent to which cultural factors affect individual patients’ perception of and strategies for prevention of CVD (as a primary deterrent) remains clearly understudied. This pilot study describes the results of a qualitative research project based on content analysis that explores Turkish migrants’ understanding and perception of health and disease prevention and the degree to which they take advantage of health-related social services as they pertain to CVD. An important objective of the study was to explore the relationship between interviewees’ cultural background and their perceptions of health and prevention. Findings are first that despite an awareness of healthy living and disease prevention, formal healthcare is avoided unless acute illness/pain is experienced, and second that cultural factors are complex when it comes to perceptions and acceptance of disease prevention strategies. Avenues for much needed further qualitative research are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Felgenhauer T. Strategic regionalization and the media: examples from Germany's regional public broadcasts,Regional Studies. The media play a vital role in defining the spatial reality in which we live. Broadcasting stations, television programmes and newspapers transform all topics of interest by placing them within a regional context. In Germany, the federal states' public broadcasting stations exist to provide a regional framework for news and entertainment. Most strikingly, certain television series present narratives of a region's history which override its current territorial shape. This article examines similar television series from three regional public German broadcasting stations focusing respectively on the histories of Mitteldeutschland (Middle-Germany), Bayern (Bavaria) and Brandenburg. Based on the qualitative analysis of data derived from these programmes, it is argued that simulated authenticity linked to a rhetoric of naturalization are crucial elements in policies of ‘top-down regionalization’. Felgenhauer T. 战略性区划与媒体：来自德国区域公共广播的例子, 区域研究. 媒体在确定我们生活所在的空间事实上具有极其重要的作用。广播电台、电视节目和报纸通过将所有感兴趣的话题置于区域背景来改变它们。在德国，联邦政府的公共广播电台为新闻和娱乐提供了一个区域框架。最令人吃惊的是，一些电视系列节目竟然播出一些改写一个区域的本来地域形象的历史故事。本文分析来自德国三个区域公共广播电台的类似电视节目，它们分别关注中部德国、巴伐利亚和勃兰登堡的历史。基于对从这些节目获得的资料的质性分析，本文认为与归化的修辞表达相关联的、看上去很像的真实性，是 “自上而下区划” 政策的关键要素。 区域认同 文化地理 质性研究 区域广播 认同的政治学 Felgenhauer T. La régionalisaton stratégique et les médias: des exemples provenant des émissions de la radiotélévision publique en Allemagne,Regional Studies. Les médias jouent un rôle essentiel dans la définition de la réalité spatiale où nous vivons. Les stations émettrices, les émissions à la télévision et les journaux transforment tous les sujets d'intérêt en les remettant dans un contexte régional. En Allemagne, les stations de radiotélévision publique des états fédéraux fournissent un cadre régional pour les informations et le divertissement. Plus particulièrement, certaines séries à la télévision présentent des histoires de la région qui passent outre ses délimitations actuelles. Cet article cherche à examiner des séries similaires provenant de trois stations régionales de radiotélévision publique en Allemagne qui focalisent respectivement les histoires de Mitteldeutschland (l'Allemagne centrale), de Bayern (la Bavière) et de Brandenburg. À partir de l'analyse qualitative des données auprès de ces émissions, on affirme que l'authenticité stimulée liée à une rhétorique de naturalisation sont des éléments primordiaux des politiques de ‘régionalisation du haut vers le bas’. Identité régionale Géographie culturelle Recherche qualitative Émission régionale Politique de l'identité Felgenhauer T. Strategische Regionalisierung und die Medien. Beispiele des deutschen regionalen Rundfunks,Regional Studies. Medien spielen eine bedeutende Rolle in der Konstruktion der räumlichen Wirklichkeit, in der wir leben. Rundfunkstationen, Fernsehprogramme und Zeitungen transformieren Themen und Gegenstände, indem sie diese in einen regionalen Kontext einbetten. In Deutschland sind Sendeanstalten auf Länderebene damit befasst, Nachrichten und Unterhaltung in einem regionalen Rahmen bereitzustellen. Dabei fallen Fernsehserien ins Auge, die ein historisches Narrativ und damit eine historische Geographie konstruieren. Der Artikel untersucht drei ähnliche Serien von verschiedenen regionalen Sendeanstalten mit Bezug auf Mitteldeutschland, Bayern und Brandenburg. Auf der Grundlage einer qualitativen Studie wird gezeigt, dass Rhetoriken der Authentizität und der Naturalisierung als Elemente einer ‘Top-Down-Regionalisierung’ betrachtet werden können. Regionale Identität Kulturgeographie Qualitative Forschung Regionaler Rundfunk Identitätspolitik Felgenhauer T. Regionalización estratégica y los medios de comunicación: ejemplos de las radiodifusoras públicas regionales en Alemania,Regional Studies. Los medios de comunicación desempeñan una función vital a la hora de definir la realidad espacial en la que vivimos. Las estaciones de radiodifusión, los programas de televisión y los periódicos transforman todos los temas de interés al situarlos en un contexto regional. En Alemania, las emisoras públicas de radiodifusión en los estados federales existen para facilitar una estructura regional a las noticias y los programas de entretenimiento. Lo más sorprendente es que hay series de televisión que presentan relatos históricos de la región haciendo caso omiso de su actual forma territorial. En este artículo examinamos tres series de televisión similares de emisoras públicas de radiodifusión regionales de Alemania que se centran en las historias de Alemania central, Baviera y Brandenburgo, respectivamente. Basándonos en el análisis cualitativo de los datos que proceden de estos programas, argumentamos que la autenticidad simulada vinculada a una retórica de naturalización son elementos cruciales en las políticas de regionalización descendente. Identidad regional Geografía cultural Estudio cualitativo Radiodifusión regional Política identitaria [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In Germany about 3%–5% of kindergarten teachers1(for children aged 3–6) are men (BMFSFJ 2010). In this qualitative research on men as kindergarten teachers I analyzed how men in this profession construct masculinity while working with children and during interaction with (mostly female) colleagues, parents, and in the interview situation. Therefore, 10 men teachers were observed for one day in their working environment and interviewed in qualitative interviews. One main theoretical implication was the concept of ‘doing gender’ (e.g. West and Zimmerman 1987, Gildemeister 2004), which was adopted to understand the ‘doing masculinity’ of these men. Another theoretical basis is the concept of hegemonic masculinities by Raewyn Connell (1987, 2006), which was used, critically discussed, and as a result re-conceptualized. The discussion of the theoretical implications and the analysis of the empirical material showed that Connell's theory misses a type of masculinity that opposes hegemonic masculinity, just as her type of ‘complicit masculinities’ supports it. From the interviews and observations a type of ‘alternative masculinity’ was developed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The study explores the social background, career stations, working conditions and role-perceptions of journalists in East Germany before the wall came down. Drawing on Bourdieu's field theory as well as on interviews and memoirs, it uses 121 career paths to construct a collective biography of journalists. The findings show that journalism was, indeed, closely tied to the centre of power. The dominance of the first two generations of journalists within the field even intensified its political significance. While both the founding and the “Aufbau” generation developed a political role perception, the young could quickly switch to Western standards after 1989. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Nonprofits rely heavily on their employees, and employee performance depends on job satisfaction. Using qualitative research methods, this article examines employee expectations, work experiences, and job satisfaction in German nonprofits. Expectations do not match the workplace reality, and this gap leads to job dissatisfaction. Ways to ameliorate this are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective. It is unclear which of the commonly used asthma-specific quality of life (QoL) questionnaires best capture the lived experience of people with asthma. The objective of this study was to explore patients' views on three asthma-specific QoL questionnaires. Methods. Ten adult individuals with asthma were asked to complete three asthma-specific QoL questionnaires (Standardized Juniper Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ-J-s), Sydney Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ-S), and Fragebogen zur Lebensqualität bei Asthma (FLA)). Interviews were conducted to elicit patients' views on the questionnaires. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematic content analysis was performed. Results. Participants spoke about response format and options, missing and redundant/similar content as well as content that was perceived to be irrelevant. A lack of specificity was named for some items, and issues concerning layout were raised. Despite the diversity of views expressed, participants mostly agreed on the ranking of the questionnaires and, overall, favored the AQLQ-S. Conclusions. Patient involvement highlights shortcomings and strengths of various asthma-specific questionnaires in terms of both format and content. The AQLQ-S was the most positively perceived questionnaire. Future research will need to explore other settings and potentially involve a larger and more diverse sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although generally accepted as an important part of aphasia assessment, detailed analysis of spontaneous speech is rarely carried out in clinical practice mostly due to time limitations. The Aachener Sprachanalyse (ASPA; Aachen Speech Analysis) is a computer-assisted method for the quantitative analysis of German spontaneous speech that allows for a detailed assessment by means of linguistic basic parameters in an acceptable amount of time. It has previously been proven sensitive for monitoring changes over time. In this study, we present data of 52 aphasic participants whose spontaneous speech was analyzed retrospectively before and after an intensive therapy program. The measured changes are evaluated with reference to normative data of 60 non-brain-damaged speakers. Results confirm good sensitivity to document changes over time. Clinical relevance of changes is assessed with reference to critical score ranges derived from the normative data. Findings provide further evidence of the clinical applicability and usefulness of ASPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the question of how national integration policies and regimes of religious governance in Germany and the Netherlands shape political opportunity structures for organized Muslim migrants. The impact of these opportunity structures is analyzed by looking at the self-portrayal of (primarily Turkish) Muslim organizations in the two countries and the strategies they apply. It is shown that Muslim organizations in the Netherlands present themselves as cultural organizations while their German counterparts present themselves as religious organizations. The study suggests that these different strategies can be explained with different national political approaches to govern ethnic and religious diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a typology of role perceptions arrived at by a base of about 500 qualitative interviews conducted with German journalists from all branches of the media system. Between 2005 and 2008 German journalists were questioned about their careers, their working conditions, and their role perceptions. The present study uses the field theory of Bourdieu in order to examine the factors which influence the journalists’ role perceptions. Bourdieu's terms habitus, capital, and field are used as analysis instruments, and guided the research process. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]