Search

Lymphoedema arises when the lymphatic system has been damaged and may occur secondary to cancer treatment. While much of the extant literature focuses on quality of life in females with breast cancer- related lymphoedema, this study explores the impact of living with lymphoedema secondary to cancer treatment in males. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 male participants, aged between 50 to 85 years. Data collected were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The super-ordinate theme 'Hit by a wave' encompasses the profound impact of lymphoedema on the participants' quality of life. The males expressed body image concerns and struggled with feelings of frustration, anger, anxiety and depression. Physical changes such as weight increase, disrupted sleep, pain, swollen genitals and urinary difficulties were experienced. Changes in lifestyle were also expressed, such as an increased dependence on carers; work-related and role changes. Nevertheless, many participants endorsed the need to focus on the present moment and expressed a heightened appreciation of authenticity in life. By understanding the unique narratives of males with lymphoedema, health care practitioners together with patients can formulate care plans that truly resonate with the needs, concerns, and experiences of males living with lymphoedema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject?: Severe and prolonged loneliness is known to be detrimental to mental well‐being. Eating disorders and loneliness are linked to each other with loneliness often acting as a barrier during the recovery journey. What this paper adds to existing knowledge?: This paper explores the experience of loneliness while recovering from an eating disorder, as framed within the context of childrearing and challenging family dynamics. While loneliness has negative connotations, it may act as a 'companion' to the person experiencing it. What are the implications for practice?: The first visible need is that for public figures to raise awareness of loneliness and mental well‐being. Another emerging issue is the need to re‐think automatic negative assumptions associated with loneliness. Importantly, professionals and caregivers have to consider the co‐morbidity of loneliness and mental illness. Links between loneliness and unhealthy family dynamics also need to be assessed when providing support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Research in Continuing Professional Development (UPGRADE) is a pan-European network of researchers, clinicians, regulators, educators, and professional bodies, established in 2020 through a consensus group of experts, who defined its mission, vision, values, aims and objectives. The Centre's aim is to advance the science of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for healthcare professionals through research and dissemination of best practices for CPD. Debate among UPGRADE partners and interchange of research data will yield best practices across countries to optimise quality CPD programmes. Collaboration, information exchange and communication among CPD experts will be facilitated through UPGRADE via an online Community of Inquiry (CoI). UPGRADE aims to evolve as a driving force network of academics and health professional leaders in research, education, professional regulation, and clinical practice whose collaborative work ensures quality and safe person-centred care. UPGRADE members are from 22 European countries, represented by strategic leaders in diverse sectors of health, policy, academia, and professional organisations. Three research-working groups constitute the pillars of UPGRADE, which addresses gaps in research, collect and create critical databases, and solidify the effectiveness of CPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Dynamics in Social Sciences & Humanities is the property of Ataturk University Coordinatorship of Scientific Journals 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.)

Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject?: The COVID‐19 pandemic has induced a considerable amount of mental health difficulties, ranging from anxiety and depression to psychosis. As services struggle to cope with the demand for support, the effect of such psychological challenges on quality of life remains a major concern. What does the paper add to existing knowledge?: Since the beginning of the COVID‐19 pandemic, a vast amount of research has focused on the physical consequences of the virus. Gradually, studies on the mental health effects related to the pandemic started to emerge, as it became clear that mental health difficulties were as present and as concerning as the physical ones. Whilst such studies commonly explore the prevalence and nature of the presenting mental health challenges, the publication of personal mental health experiences linked to the ongoing situation is lacking. Introducing the human element in literature is an important means of raising awareness on the mental health difficulties that can be triggered by the pandemic. Using public figures such as the individual in this paper is additionally powerful due to the role model effect. What are the implications for practice?: The paper highlights the need for enhanced awareness and monitoring of mental health especially by health professionals who therefore need to receive adequate mental health training. Furthermore, mental health awareness efforts need to be considered as being a part of the role of the psychiatric and mental health nurse who is at a prime position to educate, monitor and support those receiving care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject?: Obsessive–compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), which is experienced by 2.1–7.9% of the population, is characterized by an excessive need for orderliness, neatness and perfectionism. What does the paper add to existing knowledge?: Existing studies on OCPD commonly focus on the physiological aspects, treatment and/or comparison of features with other disorders. Studies that explore the personal experiences related to OCPD are lacking and so the human element of this condition is missing. This paper contributes to this gap by presenting a glimpse into life with OCPD. The narrative is provided by the daughter of a person who lived with OCPD and presents the ordeals, victories and aspects of everyday life as framed by the condition. Whilst personality disorders such as OCPD are subjected to a high level of stigma, this relative's story shows that love and compassion can be found even in the darkest corridors that OCPD can take one to. As the story shows, behind every disorder there is a human being and the disorder is not the totality of that being. In this view, the paper sheds light on the human element related to the condition. What are the implications for practice?: The paper highlights the need for continuous, hands‐on community support to those experiencing OCPD and their significant others. In order to enhance continuity of care, support is ideally centralized and provided by one keyworker who builds a strong therapeutic relationship with the person and their loved ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible Summary: What is known on the subject?: Research indicates many clients using mental health services have trauma histories. Consequently, mental health professionals must be aware of the impact of trauma and of how they can avoid retraumatizing service‐users. Care delivered with this awareness is known as trauma‐informed care (TIC).There is little research on attitudes towards TIC. To date, only one study explored these attitudes among MHNs exclusively. Additionally, a richer understanding of TIC attitudes using methods like in‐depth interviews is needed. It is unclear whether knowledge of TIC results in more favourable attitudes. What this paper adds to existing knowledge?: MHNs in this study had little knowledge of TIC but expressed overall favourable TIC attitudes. Traumatic histories were not appreciated as causes of challenging behaviour. On rehabilitation wards, clients come to be perceived as family members and this makes it harder for MHNs to not take challenging behaviour of clients personally. MHNs face work‐related traumas which interfere with their ability to provide TIC. What are the implications for practice?: Findings of this study can be used to guide plans to implement TIC in psychiatric hospitals. Policymakers are called to appreciate that ensuring MHN well‐being on the workplace will facilitate their delivery of TIC. TIC training initiatives for MHNs must stress the importance of acknowledging traumatic histories as causes of challenging behaviour and of maintaining professional boundaries with long‐term clients. This would benefit service‐users by ensuring MHNs are more trauma‐informed. More research on attitudes towards TIC among MHNs is needed. Introduction: Quantitative studies exploring trauma‐informed care (TIC) attitudes have not used samples made up exclusively of mental health nurses (MHNs). Qualitative methods were sparingly used. Aim: To examine nurses' TIC attitudes at a psychiatric hospital. Method: A mixed‐method design was used. One hundred and thirty‐six MHNs completed the Attitudes Related to Trauma‐Informed Care scale. Data were analysed using inferential statistics. A focus group interview among ten MHNs ensued. Thematic analysis was used. Results: MHNs demonstrated favourable TIC attitudes. Ambivalent attitudes for the subscale "Causes" were identified. MHNs employed for less than 5 years at the hospital and those in acute settings displayed more favourable attitudes on some subscales. Three themes "Awareness," "Unhealthy boundaries" and "Inhibition" emerged from qualitative analysis. Discussion: Challenges uncovered in the provision of TIC include the unacknowledged impact of trauma on challenging behaviour among MHNS, the influence of blurred professional boundaries with long‐term clients on the cycle of perpetuated trauma identified by previous research and MHNs work‐related traumas. Implications for practice: Identified challenges to TIC integration among MHNs can facilitate the implementation of TIC in hospitals. TIC educational packages for MHNs should acknowledge traumatic histories in the aetiology of challenging behaviour and stress the importance of maintaining professional boundaries with clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) is a relatively new treatment that may be beneficial as a standalone approach or as an adjunct for use in individuals who suffer from simple or complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Aims: The main objective of this review was to explore the effectiveness of NET in remediating PTSD symptoms as compared to Non Trauma-Focused-Therapy (NTFT). Methods: A systematic search in Medline, PsycINFO, EMBASE and The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) was carried out. Reference lists of papers and grey literature were hand searched. Experimental studies that compare NET to NTFT with no preference to age, gender or nationality of participants that include a baseline and 3–6 month measurement of PTSD outcomes using tools with good psychometric properties were included. The search resulted in 10 randomised controlled trials. Data extraction, collection and analysis was then carried out by the authors. Results: In all of the studies, the difference in the PTSD symptoms' mean score after 3–6 months between the NET group and the NTFT group was in favour of NET. However, the level of significance was attained in six of the studies only. The overall effect size (standardised mean difference) of the trials is 0.684 in favour of NET (p <.001). Conclusions: NET was shown to be superior to NTFT in post-traumatic stress disorder. The most important recommendations are in relation to research and target the methodological limitations of existing studies in particular the small sample sizes, lack of blindness and inadequate rigour during the trials. More research is needed to further explore the benefits of NET for different populations and trauma-types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stroke is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite advances in acute treatments, timely intervention remains crucial. This study assessed stroke knowledge in Malta to identify gaps that could contribute to treatment delays., Methods: A mixed methods approach was used, starting with qualitative interviews of stroke patients, relatives, and bystanders, followed by a quantitative survey among the general Maltese population and healthcare workers. The online survey included demographics, stroke knowledge, and stroke response questions. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics to identify knowledge gaps and influencing factors., Results: The study surveyed 1872 participants, representing the Maltese population. Significant knowledge gaps were found in stroke symptoms, risk factors, and appropriate responses. Younger participants, males, non-Maltese, urban residents, those with higher education, and higher-income individuals showed better stroke knowledge and response. Healthcare workers scored higher than the general public. A strong positive correlation was found between stroke knowledge and appropriate response actions., Conclusions: The study highlights the need for targeted educational interventions to improve stroke awareness and response, especially among older adults, women, rural residents, and lower-income groups. Recommendations include comprehensive public education campaigns, culturally tailored materials, and ongoing professional development for healthcare workers. Addressing these gaps could enhance stroke prevention and management, reducing stroke-related morbidity and mortality., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on health, economies, and other societal pillars. The Maltese archipelago has also been affected by this viral threat. Due to Malta's characteristics as one of the smallest islands in Europe, the picture, which shall be portrayed in this article, may have some unique features, especially in terms of mental health and societal well-being. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).