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Background: Caring for patients with advanced cancer is complex and challenging, requiring varied expertise, including symptom management, communication skills, care coordination and emotional resilience. Within existing literature, the lived experiences of oncology nurses are poorly articulated in countries with a lower income where formal palliative care (PC) is absent. Aim: To explore the lived experiences of Gazan oncology nurses who provide care to patients with advanced cancer in healthcare systems, without formal palliative care infrastructure. Methods: A phenomenological approach was adopted. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between January and April 2022, in the Turkish Palestinian Friendship Hospital. Thematic analysis used the themes (corporeality, relationality, spatiality and temporality) to facilitate reflection on the meaning of participants' lived experiences. Results: Interviews were undertaken with 16 oncology nurses. The experience of the 'erosion of nurses' work when coping with anxious attachments to patients and families' was the overarching theme in nurses' views, characterised by five sub-themes: (1) inadequacy of PC training and resources, (2) serving humanity, (3) pride in their profession, (4) existential distress and the coping strategies used by nurses, and (5) reported stress and anxiety when caring for seriously ill patients and their families. Conclusions: The study sheds light on the challenges and powerful emotions experienced by oncology nurses who care for patients with advanced cancer, yet lack the necessary PC training and institutional resources. The findings indicate an urgent need for PC training for nurses within the Gazan healthcare system and other lower-income settings. Assessing nurses' emotions and relationships with patients and family caregivers is imperative to enable optimum care for patients with cancer and to foster resilience among their nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients diagnosed with hematological malignancies residing in low-middle-income countries undergo significant physical and psychological stressors. Despite this, only 16% of them receive proper care during the terminal stages. It is therefore crucial to gain insight into the unique experiences of this population. Aim: To have a better understanding of the needs and experiences of adult patients with advanced hematological malignancy by exploring their perspectives. Methods: A qualitative interpretive design was employed to collect and analyze data using a phenomenological approach. The study involved in-depth interviews with ten participants aged between 49 and 65 years, utilizing a semi-structured approach. Results: Two primary themes emerged from the participants' experiences of reaching the terminal stage of illness: "Pain, Suffering, and Distress" and "Spiritual Coping." The first theme encompassed physical and emotional pain, suffering, and distress, while the second theme was centered on the participants' spiritual coping mechanisms. These coping mechanisms included seeking comfort in religious practices, relying on spiritual support from family and friends, and finding solace in their beliefs and faith. Conclusion: Patients with hematological malignancies in the terminal stages of their disease experience severe pain, considerable physical and psychosocial suffering, and spiritual distress. While they require support to cope with their daily struggles, their experiences often go unnoticed, leading to disappointment and loss of dignity. Patients mainly rely on their spirituality to cope with their situations. Healthcare providers must acknowledge these patients' needs and provide more holistic and effective care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The relationship between parents and children is one of the important topics of psychology and sociology, and parenting methods are considered as one of the important topics in this field. The present research examined the values and expectations of parenting among the parents of the deprived class. Method: The present qualitative research was conducted by phenomenological analysis method in 2019 in Tehran. To collect data, semi-structured interviews were used with 14 parents of the underprivileged class of Tehran until the data saturation stage. Data analysis was done using MAXQDA 20 software. Results: Based on the findings of this research, five main themes (18 sub-themes) namely parent-centered values (compensation, support, forward-looking, positive communication), and child-centered values (getting an education, obeying the rules, respecting elders, religious values, courtesy, independence), parenting expectations (positive parenting, positive education, positive social role), harmful resources (current injuries, financial problems), and supportive resources (family of origin, wide network of relationships and society, available service providers) were obtained. Conclusion: In summarizing the overall findings of this research, it can be elucidated that challenges arising from adverse economic and social conditions have disproportionately impacted parents facing economic disadvantages in the context of child-rearing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human papillomavirus (HPV) carries a significant health risk for people with a cervix. Among transgender and nonbinary people, however, testing and treatment for HPV can pose difficulties and even be traumatic at times. This study is part of a larger mixed-methods study conducted in Michigan in 2020, and it explores the experiences of transmasculine and nonbinary people with at-home self-swabbing HPV test kits and knowledge of HPV transmission/screenings. Phenomenological qualitative methods were used by conducting virtual qualitative interviews with ten transmasculine and nonbinary individuals with cervixes, ages 23–59. Interviews were independently coded by members of the research team and a tabletop theming method was used. Four themes were generated from the data: (1) multilevel barriers; (2) "get it done, so I know that I am safe"; (3) contrasting preferences for care; and (4) community calls for change. The discussion focuses on the implications of these findings for improving sexual health care for the transgender and nonbinary community, along with directions for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: The anaesthetic workforce is a scarce resource in South Africa (SA), and the media frequently reports that anaesthetists are leaving the country in search of better opportunities in well-resourced countries. The aim of this study was to explore the factors influencing the migration intentions of South African anaesthetists. Methods: This study utilised a qualitative methodology in the form of virtual interviews. A total of 23 interviews were conducted on purposefully selected participants using a snowball approach. The interviews were transcribed and coded into emerging themes using MAXQDA version 2022. Thematic content analysis was subsequently performed. Results: The study found that all SA-based participants were considering emigrating, while those who had already emigrated had no plans to return to SA in the near future. Push factors prompted the consideration of emigration, and these were related to unsatisfactory living and working conditions in South Africa, such as a high level of crime and corruption, and the country's overall poor resources and infrastructure. Destination countries were chosen based on their pull factors such as better working conditions and opportunities for professional growth. These pull factors frequently outweighed South Africa's push factors and are therefore critical in the decision to emigrate. The main recommendations from the participants include facilitating collaboration between the public and private sectors, expanding the available sub-specialties in SA, and recognising fellowships in South African hospitals. The study participants were of the view that South African anaesthesiologists would be motivated to stay by a combination of patriotism and hope for the future. Conclusions and Policy Recommendations: The Anaesthetic workforce in South Africa is at critical risk and is unlikely to stabilise soon. Concerted efforts should be made by all concerned to explore ways of retaining the staff, considering the recommendations of the participants. Relevant key stakeholders in training and regulation of anaesthetics practice such as the Health Professions Council of South Africa, South African Society of Anaesthesiologists, and the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa should collaborate and prioritise mechanisms of monitoring emigration and intervening on modifiable professional and socio-political factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Breast cancer is a multidimensional crisis for women and their spouses that affects every aspect of their life. Coping with this disease requires investigating and resolving the challenges faced by all those affected by it. The present study was conducted to clarify these challenges on the basis of lived experiences of the spouses of women with breast cancer. Method: The present qualitative research performed an interpretive phenomenological analysis in Iran. Purposive sampling was employed to select twenty spouses of women with breast cancer. The data collected through unstructured face-to-face interviews were analyzed using van Manen's method. To ensure the rigor of the study, Lincoln and Guba's criteria were evaluated in the qualitative process. Results: Lived experiences of the spouses of the women with breast cancer in coping with challenges included the four themes of emotional confusion, shouldering the burden of care, psychophysical suffering caused by the disease and life without cohesion. Conclusion: Spouses of the women with breast cancer in the Iranian community faced several challenges and issues. The socioeconomic support provided by supporting organizations and medical personnel appear to help moderate these challenges and improve coping in this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Parents' lived experiences of having a child with ADHD may shape their decision making regarding ADHD treatment options for their child. The aim of this study was to explore parents' experiences of living with a child with ADHD in the family and how their experiences influence their perspectives on treatment preferences and priorities. Methods: A phenomenological qualitative design was used. Semistructured interviews were conducted with parents of children with ADHD who were enrolled in a multisite randomized controlled trial. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and transcripts at each site were double coded. Initial codes were derived directly from the text. Qualitative data were analysed with an inductive approach. Results: Twenty‐three parents were interviewed: eight from Alberta, Canada; eight from Portland, Oregon, USA; and seven from Columbus, Ohio, USA. Among the parents, 69% were married, 86% completed college education and 52% reported household income over $80,000. Among the children, the mean age was 9.6 years (SD = 1.8 years), 78% were boys and 48% were never medicated for their ADHD. Two major themes emerged from the analysis. Theme 1 was 'impact of ADHD on families within and outside the home' with the following subthemes: 'reconfiguring the home life', 'trial‐and‐error of accommodations at school' and 'responding to social pressures to fit in'. Theme 2 was 'enabling appropriate and accessible treatments for families' with the following subthemes: 'finding the "right fit" with professionals and treatments' and 'factors influencing inequitable access to treatments'. Conclusions: Parents described shared experiences and identified similar barriers, preferences and priorities for ADHD treatments regardless of demographic differences by site. Families desired access to family‐centred, multimodal approaches to ADHD treatment. Further research is needed to identify the specific structural changes to healthcare, services and policies that will better support this approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The number of volunteers in Danish nursing homes is increasing. Volunteers cooperate with professional caregivers to improve the residents' well‐being and quality of life as part of their palliative care. The Danish government encourages this volunteer involvement, which is partly intended to alleviate the resource constraints in municipal healthcare. Although volunteer roles are defined as complementary to the professional caregiver role, volunteer‒professional caregiver cooperation can be challenging. Aim: This article explores the challenges experienced in volunteer‒professional caregiver cooperation in the general palliative care provided in nursing homes. Method: A qualitative design and a sociological phenomenological approach were adopted to answer the research question: What is experienced as challenging in the cooperation between volunteer and professional caregivers in the provision of care for elderly residents in everyday life in a nursing home? And what meanings and understandings are associated with these experiences? Data were collected by combining participant observations and interviews, and thematic analysis structured the analytical process. Findings: The analysis of 115 hours of participant observations in two Danish nursing homes with 50‒60 volunteers involved and 16 interviews (eight with volunteers, eight with professional caregivers) identified two overall themes: 'Symbolic indications of them and us' (two sub‐themes) and 'Meaning and action regarding the residents best interest' (three sub‐themes). Conclusions: An institutional distinction between volunteer versus professional caregiver domains contributed to a sense of 'them and us', which hindered common experiences and raised challenges concerning the mutual understanding of actions. The professional caregivers felt that they lacked the time to engage in social care activities with residents, for which volunteers otherwise had time. The coordinator role was a crucial link in coordinating the daily care activities for residents but marked by a sense of ambivalence among the professional caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To gain an in-depth understanding of the lived experience of women with postnatal depression (PND). Although there is a small body of existing research which explores subjective experience of this phenomenon, relatively little research has been carried out and is prior to the publication of the NICE guidelines for PND in 2007. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with six mothers (aged 23–40 years), who had taken part in a PND support group. Verbatim transcripts were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). One broad superordinate theme of 'the conflicted mother' emerged from the data, with four corresponding sub-themes (own mother as absent and judgemental; internalised mother; pregnancy on the road to motherhood as an unpleasant stranger; the ideal mother). It is argued that a broad umbrella construct of 'the conflicted mother' exists in PND experience. This study highlights the importance of the mother's own maternal relationship in living with depression. The authors discuss limitations of the study, make service recommendations to improve current clinical practice for women with PND, and provide future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neurofeedback is a neurostimulatory biofeedback behavioural therapy that regulates brain wave levels for optimal cognitive functioning. It has shown promising results for the treatment of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Aim: To explore and describe the experiences of neurofeedback therapists (NTs) using neurofeedback to treat children and adults with ADHD and their experience of its role and value in treating this condition. Setting: Interviews were conducted in participants' private consultation rooms in Gauteng, South Africa. Methods: In this qualitative study using a descriptive phenomenological approach, six registered NTs with experience of treating ADHD were interviewed. Participants were asked: 'Tell me about your experiences of neurofeedback with ADHD patients in your practice.' Responses were audio-recorded, transcribed and underwent thematic analysis. Results: Participants experienced neurofeedback as an effective treatment for ADHD and other coexisting conditions, such as anxiety and insomnia. Participants felt that the neurofeedback process facilitates a beneficial therapeutic relationship and integrates well with other treatment methods. Challenges faced in practice included certain underlying comorbidities, home environment, poor patient compliance and NTs' level of expertise, which impact treatment outcomes. Conclusion: Neurofeedback therapists expressed an overall positive perception of the value of neurofeedback to reduce ADHD symptom severity and improve quality of life, particularly when used as part of a multimodal approach. Participants identified a need for further education and awareness regarding the use of neurofeedback for ADHD. Contribution: This study has contributed to our understanding of the role of neurofeedback in treating ADHD in the South African setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the adaptation process of support group participants who are survivors of lower limb amputation (LLA) experiencing phantom limb pain (PLP). The study followed a qualitative, descriptive phenomenological design. Ten adult participants with LLA met inclusion criteria and through semi-structured interviews shared their lived experience. A qualitative descriptive methodology was used to analyze the data collected from interview transcriptions. Analysis involved coding and theme development. Three themes emerged: PLP interrupted but does not prevent participation, adapting to PLP allowed for continued participation in meaningful occupations, and education to promote self-management of PLP. Themes identified highlight the importance of social support and early education on PLP to facilitate the adaption process and promote occupational participation. The finding underscores the value of empowering survivors to self-manage pain through their own personal and unique ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences, perceptions, and considerations of individuals who declined participation in a randomized clinical trial involving exercise rehabilitation after surgery for lung cancer. An interpretive phenomenological approach was applied comprising interviews with 15 individuals who did not wish to participate in the trial. The findings shed light on a discrepancy between their freedom to act and make decisions and the limitations of having to act in a certain way. The participants found themselves in a gray area between a healthy life and a good life, as influenced by societal norms and taking responsibility for one's own health and rehabilitation. When including patients in rehabilitation after lung cancer, having insight into the underlying narrative on values and the good life, priorities in daily life, social context and the norms embedded in people's self-understanding is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the predominant contemporary and traditional coping strategies adopted in Zimbabwe in the past three decades and beyond, challenges and issues related to inheritance continued to affect the livelihood of both orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and their caregivers. This article is a qualitative phenomenological study seeking to examine the perceptions, views, and feelings of the OVC and their caregivers on their lived experiences in OVC care and support in Zimbabwe. The study focusses on the caregivers' perspectives of the impact of the inheritance experiences in OVC care and support within their tribal local rural communities. In‐depth narrative interviews were conducted with 30 caregivers, corroborated with 10 OVC purposively sampled in the Gutu District of Zimbabwe. The results showed that although the caregivers are doing their best in executing their strategies for OVC care and support, the manipulation and misappropriation of the inheritances from deceased parents or grandparents that were meant to benefit the OVCs are still widespread in the rural communities of Zimbabwe. In conclusion, the study recommends the need for an integrated stakeholders' approach in educating the local rural communities about their inheritance rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some women in a high-risk pregnancy go against medical advice and choose to birth at home with a “holistic” midwife. In this exploratory multiple case study, grounded theory and triangulation were employed to examine 10 cases. The women, their partners, and (regular and holistic) health care professionals were interviewed in an attempt to determine whether there was a pattern to their experiences. Two propositions emerged. The dominant one was a trajectory of trauma, self-education, concern about paternalism, and conflict leading to a negative choice for holistic care. The rival proposition was a path of trust and positive choice for holistic care without conflict. We discuss these two propositions and make suggestions for professionals for building a trusting relationship using continuity of care, true shared decision making, and an alternative risk discourse to achieve the goal of making women perceive the hospital as safe again. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the experiences of health care professionals who participated in monthly narrative oncology groups. Ten professionals participated in separate, semi-structured, face-to-face interviews. Using a qualitative research design, the transcriptions of the interviews were analyzed using a phenomenological approach. The analysis yielded descriptive information about the professionals’ positive experiences of participating in narrative oncology sessions and provides insight into the importance of such a group through five themes: (1) Shared perspectives and bearing witness, (2) Comfort in confidentiality and a safe-space, (3) Group-care becomes self-care, (4) Writing gives structure, and (5) Patient stories. Implications for incorporating narrative intervention in an oncology setting are discussed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sought to describe factors impacting the success of students with ASD in university programmes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to gather both the students’ personal perspectives of their university experience and the perspectives of a significant person in their life. An interpretative phenomenological approach was utilised to ascertain common factors that contributed or posed a barrier to students experiencing success in their studies. Findings revealed that students with ASD felt their internal influences of determination, perseverance and passion in their areas of academic interests, greatly impacted on their ability to achieve successful outcomes in university, but these factors were always mitigated by the degree to which they experienced anxiety, depression and isolation. Participants also highlighted the importance of mediating factors in helping them to manage their social-emotional needs so they could pursue their interests and achieve success in university programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background As most mental health studies of school-aged children with intellectual and developmental disabilities ( IDD) are based on proxy ratings, the subjective views of these young persons are rarely explored. The present study explores experiences of well-being, mental ill-health, family, school, and peer relations in students in special education. Methods Ten students in special education, aged 13-16 years, answered the Wellbeing in Special Education Questionnaire (Well SEQ) and participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using a mixed methods phenomenological research approach. Results The general agreement between questionnaire responses and interview accounts appears to be good, and the students emphasized mainly positive emotions and good mental health. Students described their school environment and family relations as inclusive contexts experienced as both protective and restrictive. Conclusion Using well-adapted research instruments enables students with IDD to communicate subjective experiences of well-being and how it relates to aspects of their everyday environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim and objective The aim of this study was to examine how hospitalised, surgical lung cancer patients experience talking to a former patient, and how the former patient experiences the role as supportive. Background During hospitalisation, patients often create a community in which they can engage with fellow patients. The exchange of experiences with others in a similar situation might increase opportunities for support and complement nursing care, but there is a need for more evidence and understanding on the topic. Design The methodological framework is based on the French philosopher Paul Ricoeur's text interpretation theory. Qualitative interviews were conducted with nine patients, including a peer informant, using a narrative structure. The analysis was conducted on three levels: (i) naïve reading, (ii) structural analysis and (iii) critical interpretation . Results Four themes were developed from the analysis of the interviews: Exchanging emotional thoughts is easier with a peer; Talking to a peer reduces loneliness; Being ambiguous about a relationship with fellow patients; and Being the main person in the conversation with a peer. Sharing stories about having similar symptoms and undergoing similar journeys predominated, and the key feature of the contact between patients was the commonality of their stories. Critical interpretation and conclusion Telling one's story to a former patient, and thereby creating a joint, common story, is the essence of this study. The support received in this process can be empowering because knowledge of the illness experience is shared and increased. This can help create new coping strategies. The contact with a former patient offered a way to confirm one's thoughts and to find a way out of the illness perspective, by seeing how the former patient had recovered. Relevance to clinical practice The nursing field faces challenges in the relational aspect of caring because of ever greater efficient and shortened hospital stays; therefore, the peer support concept is becoming increasingly relevant. Patient peers offer each other their own perspectives, and it is important to raise awareness of the value of this and incorporate it into patient stays in hospital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Persons with dementia have described life in nursing home as difficult and lonely. Persons with dementia often reside in nursing homes for several years; therefore, knowledge is needed about how quality of life is affected in the nursing-home setting in order to be able to provide the best possible care. The aim of this study was to investigate the personal experience of living in a nursing home over time from the perspective of the person with dementia and to learn what makes life better or worse in the nursing home.Methods: A phenomenological hermeneutic research design was applied. Unstructured, face-to-face interviews and field observations were conducted twice, three months apart.Results: Twelve persons residing in three different nursing homes were included. The analysis revealed four themes: "Being in the nursing home is okay, but you must take things as they are"; "Everything is gone"; "Things that make it better and things that make it worse"; and "Persons - for better or worse? Staff, family, and co-residents".Conclusions: Persons with dementia are able to communicate their feelings and thoughts about their lives in the nursing home and can name several factors that have impacts on their quality of life. They differentiate between members of the staff, and they prefer their primary nurse. They are content with life in general, but everyday life is boring, and their sense of contentment is based on acceptance of certain facts of reality and their ability to adjust their expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much research has been aimed at evaluating the effect of divorce on children. The effects via the perceptions of adult children of divorce, however, are substantially underrepresented in this literature. Further, the studies that are published are out of date (often 20 years old), thus leading to questions as to whether the effects are the same as described. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to obtain a retrospective analysis directly from adults who experienced their parents' divorce in childhood to understand what aspects of the divorce, either positive or negative, followed them into adulthood. Specifically, we were interested in learning the mechanisms contributing to such effects. Eight women and 1 man participated in semistructured interviews. Participants identified communication and support as key factors in their experience, both positively and negatively. Implications for clinical treatment are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of the study was to increase the scope of knowledge regarding the perception of occupational therapy (OT) practitioners working in the emergency department (ED). A literature review identified a gap in knowledge of OT practitioners working in the ED. Methods: The 10 participants in this study were registered and licensed OT practitioners working at five acute-care settings with experience working in the ED in Pennsylvania hospitals. A qualitative phenomenological research study was conducted using semi-structured interviews of participants' lived experiences. Results: Using qualitative data analysis program Atlas.ti 7®, the central themes discovered were discharge recommendations that ensure patient safety, the next step, lack of education, and factors affecting the future of OT in the ED. The roles identified by participants included performing safety assessments, recommending equipment, and education. The perception of OT practitioners regarding other health care professionals was that OT services were positive and beneficial to staff. Conclusion: The OT practitioners reported a positive perception of their work, including quality of patient care with regard to patient safety and decreasing return visits to the ED. It is believed that OT in the ED will expand in the future; however, limitations include lack of education and physical organization of the ED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reading comprehension and efficiency limitations associated with chronic aphasia can negatively influence performance of essential, functional, and pleasure reading activities. Aims: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the pre- and post-aphasia reading experiences of adults with chronic, acquired reading challenges and to understand the feelings and preferences of these individuals regarding various supports and strategies. Methods & Procedures: Six individuals with chronic reading comprehension deficits associated with aphasia completed written questionnaires, participated in semi-structured interviews, and were observed engaging with reading materials typical of those preferred pre- and post-aphasia. Outcomes & Results: Two major themes emerged from the data analysis: (1) changes in reading experiences post-aphasia and (2) use of supports and strategies to facilitate improved reading comprehension and efficiency. Although reading limitations prevented participants from resuming pre-aphasia occupations or reading activities, all continued to access personally relevant information through the written modality. All participants implemented supports and strategies to improve comprehension and efficiency as much as possible when performing functional reading tasks. Conclusions: Reading limitations can negatively impact life participation in functional and pleasurable activities post-aphasia. Although consistent themes appeared across participants, individualised preferences emerged regarding reading activities and use of supports and strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: The ways in which involvement in art practice may support a recovery trajectory in the lives of the mentally ill are well documented although evidence is charged with lacking clarity and of being inconclusive. Numerous studies, however, indicate benefits such as cognitive distraction; 'derailing' of negative thinking patterns; increased social capital; and enhanced sense of belonging. Aims: This study used narrative interviews to explore what meanings were made by people with mental health difficulties of engaging in an ongoing visual art practice. Methods: Phenomenological Interpretative Analysis (IPA) was used to analyse 50 interviews. Two superordinate themes of regression and progression were identified through which to explore the shifts in narrative between exploring one's past and looking ahead to the future. In this context, the theme of hope emerged, and the research explored the ways in which the individual's art practice was implicated in engendering and sustaining it. Results: Results suggest that artistic activity facilitated a contained autobiographical analysis and a reimagining of oneself in the future, in which hope played a fundamental part. Conclusion: This research suggests that a dialectic between despair and hope is facilitated by the autobiographic elements of an art practice. Through this movement from a perceived static past to a more fluid future is experienced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objectives: The purposes of this study were to (a) explore experiences of adversity and (b) to examine perceptions of growth following adversity among elite female athletes. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five elite female athletes (ages 18–23 years) who competed internationally in track and field, swimming, long-distance running, and basketball. Interviews were analyzed using an interpretative phenomenological approach (Smith, Flowers, & Larkin, 2009). Results: Incidents of performance slumps, coach conflicts, bullying, eating disorders, sexual abuse, and injuries were reported. The shared ‘essential’ features of participants’ experiences of adversity were isolation/withdrawal, emotional disruption, questioning identity as an athlete, and understanding experiences within a context of perceived expectations. It appeared that as participants sought and found meaning in their experiences, they identified opportunities for growth associated with social support and also as they realized the role of sport in their lives. Aspects of growth include realizing strength, gaining perspective of their problems, and gaining a desire to help others. Athletes’ experiences with adversity were seen as part of an ongoing journey through elite sport. Conclusions: Athletes’ experiences of adversity may have initiated a process of questioning their identities and searching for meaning in their experiences. Findings highlighted the complexity associated with social support and athletes’ growth following adversity. Growth following adversity appears to be a valuable area of research among elite athletes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Nursing staff that work with patients with frontal lobe dementia (FLD) experience challenges that may lead to physical and psychiatric distress. The aim of this study was to capture the feelings, experiences, and reflections of the health staff regarding interactions with and caring for patients with FLD and to highlight what it means for health staff to care for patients with FLD through their daily work. This is a qualitative study with a phenomenological hermeneutic approach. Ten health staff members who work with patients with FLD were interviewed using semistructered interviews. The focus during the interview was the experiences of the staff through their everyday work. The interviews were recorded and then transcribed verbatim. The material was analyzed using a phenomenological hermeneutic approach. The result of the study identifies three themes that highlight the meaning of caregiving for patients with FLD, that is, being aware of the relationship with the patients, being insecure, and being safe. The patients' unpredictable behaviour puts the relationship between the staff and the patients on trial. It is essential in caregiving to see the human behind the disease and the behaviour. The interest of finding new solutions in the caregiving is awakened through the relation with the patients, through reflections with colleagues, external guidance and by support from the staff leader. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted in-depth interviews with 24 tall college females for the present phenomenological, qualitative research study. As tall females in our study described the impact of height on their social lives, three key height-related outcomes emerged. First, participants reported experiencing connections with other tall females because of mutual understandings, shared experiences, and self-perceptions of “fitting in” more when socializing with these tall friends. In addition, the women gave similar accounts of unintended intimidation resulting from their height that tended to occur mostly as they met new people. Furthermore, females had similar personal, height-related dating convictions, such as strict no-short-guys policies and their frustrations regarding what they creatively labeled as “wasted space.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative study explored older women's qualitative accounts regarding their strategies for maintaining or adapting their participation in visual art-making in the context of arthritis. Ten participants were interviewed, aged 62-81 years, all having lived with arthritis for at least 7 years. Interpretative phenomenological analysis identified four convergent themes. Participants described adapting their strategies of art-making in ways that maintained the aesthetic quality of their artwork while also accommodating their arthritis. They described devising more accessible creative spaces. Planning, design, and anticipating new creative activities enhanced choice and control during flares in symptoms. Positive attitudes toward self-managing illness informed the practical adaptations described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scand J Caring Sci; 2010; 24; 693-699 The aim of this study was to describe how haemodialysis (HD) patients, between 30 and 45 years of age, experience their dependence on HD treatment. Nine patients undergoing HD treatment were interviewed. The transcribed texts were analysed according to Giorgi′s four basic principles. Being between 30 and 45 years of age and needing HD treatment meant experiencing a total lack of freedom, which was illuminated through the sub-themes: a sense of fear, dependency on caregivers, time lost in dialysis, feelings of loneliness and the stress of being on the waiting list for a new kidney. The participants felt that being dependent on HD treatment was 'not a real life' and that they were experiencing a double life of sorts: the life of dialysis versus their ordinary life outside treatment. The dependency on HD treatment was also expressed as a feeling that life 'stood still.' The results also indicate that the participants expected to encounter competent healthcare professionals, and they emphasised the importance of providing support for younger HD patients by focusing on their ability to cope with their life situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that in recent years, the study of entrepreneurship and small business has witnessed an emerging body of research that operates within an interpretive paradigm. The article demonstrates how a phenomenological commitment to research translates into a set of issues that provide the methodological context for these in-depth, unstructured interviews. The application of this method is then demonstrated with reference to case study research conducted with six practicing entrepreneurs, which utilized phenomenological interviews as the primary research tool.