Search

Aims The aim of the current study was to gain an understanding of the experiences and aspirations of young people living with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) in their own words. Methods Eleven young people aged 11–16 years with a prior diagnosis of DCD were identified from child health records of two participating NHS trusts. The sample included seven boys and four girls, from different socio-economic backgrounds living in different parts of one large urban area in England. In depth one-to-one semi-structured interviews and subsequent follow-up small group interviews were carried out with the young people. Interviews were enhanced using participatory arts-based techniques. All interviews were recorded verbatim and transcribed. Narrative data were analysed using Lindseth's interpretive phenomenology. Results The central theme of ‘We're all different’ described how the young person saw themselves and encompassed the formation of identity. Subthemes illustrated the attitude of the young people to their day to day lives, their difficulties and strategies used by the young people to overcome these difficulties in school and at home. The attitude of the school to difference, the presence of bullying, the accepting nature of the class, teachers and peers were vitally important. Areas of life that encouraged a positive sense of identity and worth included being part of a social network that gave the young people a sense of belonging, potentially one that valued differences as well as similarities. Conclusion The current work highlights the need for services to adopt a model of DCD where the young person talks about what they can do and considers strategies of overcoming their difficulties. This has implications for education and future intervention strategies that focus on fostering psychological resilience and educational coping strategies rather than simply attempting to improve motor skills.

The relationship between alcohol misuse, employment and unemployment is complex. Alcohol misuse is correlated with a range of other problems, including, for example, drug misuse, mental health problems and social deprivation. Together these can be a barrier to accessing and sustaining employment. The aim of this study was to explore these issues with a sample of adults in the UK who were currently accessing treatment for an alcohol problem. The study involved a systematic literature review followed by qualitative research with 53 treatment service clients and 12 professionals across 5 research sites in England, Scotland and Wales. The findings focus on the main facilitators and barriers, both individual and organisational, for returning to work identified by interviewees. Some of the facilitators and barriers identified were similar to those described in the literature for other groups of unemployed adults. Others were more specific to alcohol misusers; for example, the stigma experienced by interviewees ...

Background Few studies exist reporting the experiences of parents of children with developmental co-ordination disorder (DCD) a common disorder with a prevalence of 1.8-6%. DCD is characterized by poor motor co-ordination, not caused by a general medical condition, but significantly affecting daily living. This study explores the experiences of parents living with a child with DCD in obtaining a diagnosis; the impact of the diagnosis on parenting and the effect on parents as individuals. Methods Semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 15 parents of children with DCD data were recorded and then transcribed. Data were analysed using a coding framework and themes identified similar to Attride-Stirling (2001, Qualitative Research, 1, 385-405). Findings DCD was an all-encompassing condition that dominated all aspects of family life and was a 'hidden disability'. Parents were frustrated by the poor knowledge and expertise of health and education professionals working with children with DCD and the lack of good quality accessible information and support services. Parents became by default the 'expert' on DCD for schools and other services; they were advocates for DCD and their own children. They provided additional support for longer to their child with DCD and had concerns for their future. Parenting a child with DCD was frustrating, exhausting, guilt-ridden as well as rewarding. There was little available time to provide for the needs of other family members. Conclusion A better-trained, knowledgeable workforce would redress the balance for families with DCD by providing better information, support and advocacy freeing parents to parent their families. Language: en

Aim: Services for children of parental substance misusers are in their infancy. There is a dearth of research which has heard from children about how they view and benefit from such services. The aim of this article is to present qualitative data from children and young people who have attended three new family-focused services.Methods: As part of the evaluations of three new services for children and families of parental substance misusers, interviews were conducted with young people. Qualitative interview data from 23 young people were thematically analysed.Findings: Young people benefitted through meeting other people and having an opportunity to talk and share experiences, learning about addiction and understanding and controlling their emotions. Their families became safer, healthier and more cohesive.Conclusions: Children living with parental substance misuse need specific support; all three services are excellent examples of service development in this area.

Background Understanding child behaviour during injury-risk events supports development of injury prevention education and interventions, but asking children to recall events may cause distress. We found an absence of published evidence on child-reported behaviour in accidental dwelling fires. Therefore we aimed to develop methods to; identify and recruit families who had an accidental fire at home; enable families to tell their stories with minimal distress, and test the feasibility of such methods for a future study. Methods Consultation with frontline, educational and strategic staff in the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (DSFRS), parents, young people, the mother of a burned child and working with a clinical psychologist and ethics committee Chair informed the development of methods for family identification, recruitment and participation. The DSFRS identified dwelling fires in the previous 12 months and sent study information inviting families to contact the research team. Results Leaflets sent to 218 households resulted in 8 enquiries (3.7% response) and 3 families recruited (1.4% participation). Families were more likely to engage if contacted 3–6 months after the fire than if >6 months. Five parents and 6 children took part. Face-to-face interviews included a meeting with the parents alone to learn about the fire and negotiate arrangements for the children’s interview, conducted later that day, led by a psychology researcher. Art materials enabled children’s storytelling and strategies provided to stop the interview if children became distressed. Support for families and researchers after the interviews was required. Conclusions Engaging families in qualitative studies of potentially distressing injury-risk events requires extensive preparation, flexibility and negotiation. Examples of materials and learning from this study will be presented and may be applicable to other injury research studies where hearing the voice of the child is paramount.