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Background Aim Findings Conclusion This research study explores how therapists in the United Kingdom (UK) navigate the issue of loneliness when working with destitute asylum seekers (DAS). Loneliness and social isolation have adverse effects on the mental and physical health of individuals, and migrants, including asylum seekers and refugees, are particularly vulnerable to these challenges.The study aimed to provide valuable insights into the strategies employed by therapists to address loneliness in this specific population and may contribute to the development of effective interventions and programmes in mental health services for asylum seekers.Braun and Clarke's reflexive thematic analysis of focus group data revealed two main themes: (1) perceived factors that impact loneliness and (2) therapeutic strategies for alleviating loneliness.This paper concludes with a discussion of the findings of this study and provides recommendations for future research directions, aiming to further enhance our understanding and support for DAS in addressing loneliness and to continue improving mental health services for this vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Helplines are often the first contact with the alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment system. We examined call data from an AOD helpline in Victoria, Australia, to explore the association between COVID‐19 lockdown measures and frequency of calls. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of AOD helpline data collected between January 2018 and September 2020, for alcohol, methamphetamine and cannabis use concerns. Linear and logistic regression analyses examined differences in pre‐COVID‐19 (January 2018 to March 2020) and during COVID‐19 (March 2020 to September 2020) caller characteristics, and interrupted time‐series analyses examined changes in frequency of calls relative to lockdown measures. Results: There were 14,340 calls for alcohol (n = 10,196, 71.10%), methamphetamine (n = 2522, 17.59%) and cannabis (n = 1622, 11.31%). Relative to pre‐COVID‐19, during COVID‐19 there was an increase in the rate of change over time in number of alcohol calls (b = 0.39), increase in first‐time alcohol callers (OR = 1.29), and reduction in first‐time methamphetamine callers (OR = 0.80). During COVID‐19, alcohol callers had lower Socio‐Economic Indicators for Areas scores (b = −3.06) and cannabis callers were younger (b = −2.07). During COVID‐19, there were reductions in alcohol calls involving counselling/support (OR = 0.87) and information provision (OR = 0.87), cannabis calls involving information provision (OR = 0.71) and methamphetamine calls involving referral (OR = 0.80). Discussion and conclusions: In the first 6 months of the pandemic, frequency of alcohol‐related calls increased over time, and first‐time alcohol‐related callers increased. The number of calls for cannabis and methamphetamine remained stable. Results suggest the helpline was not used to its full capacity, suggesting a role for further promotion during times of crises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this project was to investigate the provision of counselling in adult audiological rehabilitation and to highlight training barriers and needs. Design: A service evaluation in which respondents completed a survey in which they rated their knowledge, confidence and competence in addressing the hearing, social and emotional needs of their patients. They were also asked to define counselling. Sample: 64 UK practising audiologists in adult audiological rehabilitation, aged 20–>60 years (84% females, 16% males), with a range of years in clinical practice. Results: Counselling definitions fell into three main categories: the audiologist as the doer, the audiologist as the facilitator, and the audiologist and patient as partners. Respondents reported feeling more able to counsel the hearing related needs of their patients, than emotional or social needs. There were significant positive statistical associations between counselling training completed and self-rated counselling abilities for managing emotional needs. Clinical experience was not associated with self-rated counselling. Lack of supervision and training were identified as some of the main barriers to providing emotional support. Almost all respondents reported a desire for further training in delivering emotional support, with the belief that this would improve services and patient outcomes. Conclusions: UK audiologists demonstrated person-centred thinking through their definitions of counselling. However, they reported significant barriers in being able to support the needs of adults with hearing loss. Training needs around emotional support in audiology counselling are not currently being met. It is important for clinical training programmes to address this gap by incorporating more counselling courses into their curricula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An integral component of comprehensive temporomandibular disorder (TMD) treatment involves what is commonly referred to in literature as patient counselling or patient education. Despite its importance, a clear definition of the concept is lacking. Objectives: To describe the concept of counselling (i.e. what is it, what should it consist of, and when should it be given) through a concept analysis of the literature. Eligibility Criteria: All papers that include a description of counselling or education for TMD are included. Sources of Evidence: Literature searches were performed in the electronic databases PubMed, Cinahl, and PsycInfo. Charting Methods: A qualitative analysis was done using the principle‐based concept analysis approach, where descriptions of counselling from the included papers were analysed by the researchers. Results: A total of 71 articles were included. Based on the qualitative analysis of the included articles and descriptions of counselling, the following content themes were identified: (1) general information on TMD; (2) overuse of the masticatory system; (3) posture education; (4) lifestyle and psychosocial factors; (5) exercise‐ and thermotherapy; and (6) additional information and therapies. Conclusions: A definition and framework of counselling for TMD has been provided, which can be used in the clinic, research, and educational programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women living with HIV face high social and structural inequities that place them at heightened risk for gender-based violence and mental health conditions, alongside health services access inequities, with almost no research done to better understand access to mental health services. This study therefore examined social and structural factors associated with barriers to counselling or therapy amongst women living with HIV who experienced lifetime physical and/or sexual violence in Metro Vancouver, Canada. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression using generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% Confidence Intervals ([95%CIs] are reported). From Sept/15-Aug/21, 1695 observations were collected among 279 participants. In multivariable analysis, with all variables measured in the last six months, experiencing any barriers to counselling or therapy was significantly associated with having thoughts or attempts of suicide (AOR:1.64 [1.02–2.66]), lacking coverage for health care (AOR:1.60 [1.17–2.18]), and everyday discrimination (AOR:1.02 [1.00-1.04]) and anticipated (AOR:1.57 [1.04–2.36]), enacted (AOR:1.48 [1.02–2.16]) or internalized (AOR:1.53 [1.07–2.20]) HIV stigma. Access to interdisciplinary mental health care services should be improved. Social and structural interventions to reduce HIV stigma and discrimination are urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Methods Results Conclusion This research explored the views of staff in secondary schools on school counselling for young people. Data were drawn from the Effectiveness and Cost Effectiveness Trial of Humanistic Counselling in Schools (ETHOS) study, an RCT of school counselling across 18 state‐funded secondary schools in London.Qualitative semi‐structured interviews were held with school staff (n = 16) from a sub‐sample of 10 participating schools from the RCT. The interviews explored the perceived impact of school counselling on the school and students. Thematic analysis was conducted using the NVivo qualitative data analysis software.Three key themes were identified: (1) school context: rising mental health need and varying provision for mental health; (2) school staff perspectives on the impact of counselling: increased openness and improvements in mood, dedicated space to open up, putting skills into practice, one size does not fit all, and role of personal connection; and (3) long‐term impact of counselling in schools: integration as central to success and counselling as a stepping stone for further support.This research provides insights into school staff views of secondary school counselling in the context of delivery through a research trial. Effective ways of integrating counselling services into schools are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Method Findings Conclusion Recommendations The study was designed to explore the experiences of autistic counsellors living and working in the United Kingdom (UK). The research question was split into four aims: exploring presenting differences, strategies and modalities preferences, challenges and barriers, and training and support needs.Seven autistic counsellors, either self‐identified or diagnosed, completed semi‐structured questionnaires. Patterns and themes were then extracted from the data using a thematic analysis procedure.The data analysis identified four themes: the practical differences of working as an autistic counsellor, working with a similar neurotype, understanding and accommodation within the counselling profession, and representation.Participants felt that being autistic brings unique strengths to the counselling process, and it was identified that while they have been trained to work with allistic (non‐autistic) clients, they found strength in supporting and being supported by those of a similar neurotype. Participants challenged the deficit depiction of autism and, subsequently, the lack of recognition, understanding, accommodation and representation of autistic counsellors within the profession. The participants called for a change in training, within professional bodies, counselling organisations, workplaces and colleagues.Counselling training needs to include autistic trainers, represent and accommodate autistic trainees, as well as support the needs of autistic clients.Counselling bodies need to create safe spaces for autistic counsellors, including the ability to advertise within directories and support the endorsement of neurological differences as strengths. These spaces need to challenge the archaic beliefs around autism through lived experience and the hiring of autistic professionals. Inclusivity should be encouraged within organisations and workplaces, consequently filtering to allistic colleagues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Therapists are susceptible to burnout and need strategies to prevent it. This systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative literature examined what practicing therapists (including counsellors, psychotherapists, and psychologists) report being helpful in preventing and minimising burnout. A search by EBSCO Discovery Service across all major article databases and a complementary search using Google Scholar led to the identification of nine eligible studies (with 542 therapists). Studies were critically appraised, data were extracted, and findings synthesised using thematic analysis. Nine themes/helpful factors for preventing burnout in the therapeutic profession were identified: time off, leisure activities, exercise, perspective (having a particular mindset or attitude towards the role), support and connections, boundaries and balance, awareness/mindfulness of one’s internal state and the impact of work, spirituality/meditation, and professional growth and self-use of clinical approaches. Information about these strategies needs to be included and practised during therapist training programmes. Future research needs to investigate culturally preferred strategies for preventing burnout. Importantly, while practitioners are responsible for implementing self-care strategies for their well-being, it is critical that organisations take an active role in burnout prevention by putting policies in place, providing training to increase awareness of burnout, and supporting staff to manage pressures they face. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective management of hearing loss through the use of modern hearing aids significantly improves communication and the quality of life for individuals experiencing auditory impairment. Complementary counselling of patients with hearing loss who will be fitted with hearing aids for the first time should be evidence-based and adapted to their individual needs. To date, several counselling protocols and tools have been developed. The aim of this randomised controlled trial study was to investigate the efficacy of the application of the IDA's "Living Well" counselling tool in first-time hearing aid users in terms of the degree of their hearing related handicap (using the Hearing Handicap Inventory (HHI)), their communication coping strategies (using the Communication Profile for the Hearing Impaired (CPHI)) and their overall satisfaction of the hearing aids (using a Likert scale). Both groups (the IDA and the control group) were fitted with hearing aids and received counselling for their hearing aids by the same audiologist. The IDA group attended an additional counselling session about communication coping strategies with the use of the "Living Well" tool. Both groups' participants were seen for their hearing aid fittings 4–6 weeks, 3 and 6 months after their fitting when the HHI and the CPHI were measured. Although there was not a statistically significant difference between the two groups for the primary and secondary outcomes, the IDA group did show a more consistent improvement of their HHI score and less frequent use of maladaptive strategies. The "Living Well" counselling tool proved to be a favourably received and helpful counselling tool in first-time hearing aid users. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the use of telesupervision (technology-assisted supervision) is increasing in line with trends in digital health, this remains to be an under-researched area. This systematic review sought to evaluate the current state of knowledge about counsellors', psychotherapists' and psychologists' perspectives and experiences of receiving clinical supervision online, and to determine specific gaps in the literature. Five themes emerged within the literature review: comparison of telesupervision with in-person supervision; challenges of telesupervision; benefits of telesupervision; components of effective telesupervision and supervisor characteristics. Overall, evidence suggests that supervisory relationship is the key factor in quality and efficacy of supervision, regardless of delivery modality. Recommendations are made for practice, including training both supervisors and supervisees in telesupervision, and future research directions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professional International School Counsellors (PISCs) experience a range of well-being challenges that are specific to the dynamics of their role. There is a scarcity of empirical research seeking to gain a better understanding of such challenges, along with coping strategies. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to investigate how PISCs maintain their well-being. The research used Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis applied to semi-structured interviews. Eight PISCs were recruited. The analysis revealed three overarching themes: (i) workload and role definition challenges, (ii) available support, and (iii) maintaining a balanced lifestyle. Findings showed that the study participants often have ill-defined roles, leading to role confusion and work overload. A key implication is that systematic provision is recommended for supporting PISCs' well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the many counselling theories that have been developed thus far, none sufficiently capture and facilitate a complex understanding of existence and the purpose of human life with respect to humans and their relationship with the creator. Thus, religious counselling theory offers a solution to overcome these shortcomings. This research was conducted in Indonesia with the aim of producing a comprehensive religious counselling theory. The theory resulting from this study includes the basic assumptions of religious counselling, its key concepts and, objectives, the process or relationship of religious counselling, its approaches, techniques, and procedures, as well as its main applications. This study also addresses the limitations and contributions of religious counselling theory, and the attitudes and personality of counsellors from the perspective of religious counselling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Tobacco smoking is a known risk factor for cancer development and smoking cessation can lower this risk and improve outcomes in some cancer patients. Despite that, many cancer patients do not quit smoking after a cancer diagnosis, and smoking cessation counselling is still not routinely provided in cancer care. The aim of this study is to examine patterns in smoking cessation counselling to cancer patients by their treating physicians. Methods: A self-administered, web-based (mobile-friendly), anonymous questionnaire was developed on LimeSurvey and sent by e-mail to Lebanese physicians of different specialties between June 2020 and January 2022. Data were analysed using SPSS and associations between the different items were determined using the χ² test. Results: A total of 146 physicians filled out the questionnaire. Almost all physicians ask cancer patients about their smoking status, but only 45.9% provide smoking cessation counselling, and only 24% refer patients to smoking cessation counselling programs. Only 27.4% of all respondents have received formal smoking cessation training, and only 27.4% feel capable of providing smoking cessation counselling in their clinic. Specifically, family medicine physicians were more likely to provide smoking cessation counselling in the clinic (69%), more likely to refer patients to a smoking cessation counselling program (44%), and more likely to have received formal smoking cessation counselling training (67%) and more likely to feel capable of providing smoking cessation counselling (93%). Lack of training, lack of knowledge of available programs and the lack of availability of enough programs are leading obstacles contributing to low rates of smoking cessation counselling in cancer patients as reported by the physicians. Conclusion: Our data reveals a deficiency in smoking cessation counselling and referral of cancer patients to smoking cessation counselling programs in our region. This highlights the need for dedicated smoking cessation counselling training for practicing physicians and physicians in training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Method Findings Implications for Practice Conclusion Previous literature tends to suggest that the LGBTQIA+ community face higher rates of mental disorders and illnesses. This appears to be due to minority stress as a result of the discrimination and hostility towards the community from society. In relation to psychotherapy and/or counselling, affirmative therapy has been found to be helpful; however, it is clear from the literature that the LGBTQIA+ population do not feel accepted or understood when accessing mental health support.Participants were invited to take part in an interview consisting of open‐ended questions relating to the topic of interest. Following this, a thematic analysis was completed.The thematic analysis revealed four main themes: these were ‘sexuality and gender within the therapeutic relationship’, ‘desirable characteristics and attributes in a therapist’, ‘undesirable characteristics and attributes in a therapist’ and ‘creative therapy’.The results could be used to inform mental health practitioners of the importance of cultural competency in relation to the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as helping aid how to approach sexuality and/or gender in a therapeutic space. The conclusions also highlight the need for practitioners to explore context with LGBTQIA+ clients rather than solely emotion focus.This study indicated that the LGBTQIA+ community prefer working with LGBTQIA+ therapists due to a shared lived experience and perceived baseline understanding of each other. It was also found that context was important for them in therapy, rather than emotion focus, and creative therapy was also shown to be useful for the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Primary care provides an important opportunity to detect unhealthy alcohol use and offer assistance but many barriers to this exist. In an Australian context, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) are community-led and run health services, which provide holistic primary care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. A recent cluster randomised trial conducted with ACCHS provided a service support model which showed a small but significant difference in provision of 'any treatment' for unhealthy alcohol use. However, it was not clear which treatment modalities were increased. Aims: To test the effect of an ACCHS support model for alcohol on: (i) delivery of verbal alcohol intervention (alcohol advice or counselling); (ii) prescription of relapse prevention pharmacotherapies. Methods: Intervention: 24-month, multi-faceted service support model. Design: cluster randomised trial; equal allocation to early-support ('treatment') and waitlist control arms. Participants: 22 ACCHS. Analysis: Multilevel logistic regression to compare odds of a client receiving treatment in any two-month period as routinely recorded on practice software. Results: Support was associated with a significant increase in the odds of verbal alcohol intervention being recorded (OR = 7.60, [95% CI = 5.54, 10.42], p < 0.001) from a low baseline. The odds of pharmacotherapies being prescribed (OR = 1.61, [95% CI = 0.92, 2.80], p = 0.1) did not increase significantly. There was high heterogeneity in service outcomes. Conclusions: While a statistically significant increase in verbal alcohol intervention rates was achieved, this was not clinically significant because of the low baseline. Our data likely underestimates rates of treatment provision due to barriers documenting verbal interventions in practice software, and because different software may be used by drug and alcohol teams. The support made little impact on pharmacotherapy prescription. Changes at multiple organisational levels, including within clinical guidelines for primary care, may be needed to meaningfully improve provision of alcohol treatment in ACCHS. Trial registration: ACTRN12618001892202 (retrospectively registered on 21/11/2018). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Aims Background Design Methods Findings Discussion Reporting Method Patient or Public Contribution To examine whether and how older nursing home residents recognise characteristics of gerotranscendence, and to contribute to a critical and comprehensive view of gerotranscendence in this particular group.Gerotranscendence is a psychosocial, spiritual development theory within the field of positive ageing that represents: a shift in meta‐perspective, from a materialistic and rational vision to a cosmic and transcendent life perspective, followed by an increase in life satisfaction.A qualitative study using a narrative hermeneutical approach.Participants were 20 residents of a nursing home in the Netherlands, aged 77 to 105 (mean age: 90). The semi‐structured interviews, conducted in April 2023, were based on Tornstam's 10‐item Gerotranscendence Scale. Special attention was paid to the technique of interviewing these frail, older adults, some of them diagnosed with dementia.All respondents recognised several characteristics of gerotranscendence, or signs of it emerged from the research data. There is a larger middle group with respondents who call themselves ‘down‐to‐earth’. They mainly recognise the relational characteristics. Another group appears to be more contemplative and shows more affinity with the abstract, cosmic characteristics. They have developed a gerotranscendent wisdom: there is insight, contextualism and relativism, peace of mind, room for life's paradoxes, a high degree of (self‐)acceptance and an ability to ‘let go’. The data show considerable heterogeneity in thoughts, perspectives and degrees of gerotranscendence.Respondents found some questions difficult to answer, resulting in a critical assessment of how to understand the responses given. This puts pressure on data quality for this current study and for critical gerotranscendence research in general. Furthermore, interviewing older nursing home residents requires a custom setting and possibly a new interview methodology.This report adheres to the standards for reporting qualitative research (SRQR).No patient or public contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPurposeMethodResultsConclusions\nIMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION(1) To understand the impact of adult cochlear implantation on the partner relationship, as perceived by adult cochlear implant (CI) recipients and their intimate partners. (2) To generate a conceptual framework for guiding future research and clinical adult cochlear implantation interventions.Concept mapping, a participatory, mixed-method approach, was used for data collection, analysis and interpretation. Participants attended sessions to generate, sort and rate statements describing the changes in their relationship due to cochlear implantation. Participants included 15 CI recipients (mean age: 51.6 years; SD: 8.2) and 12 partners (mean age: 50.9 years; SD: 8.2).Five concepts emerged from the data, describing changes in the partner relationship following cochlear implantation: (1) Social Interactions, (2) Partner Involvement, (3) Communication, (4) Emotional Adjustment, and (5) Relationship Intimacy. The concept Relationship Intimacy was rated the highest in positivity and importance. Findings also underscored improved social interactions, communication dynamics, and emotional adjustment.The Relationship Intimacy cluster emerged as pivotal, highlighting its essential role in improving post-implantation relationships. CI recipients experienced enhanced autonomy, while partners’ roles evolved regarding assistance and support. The diverse effects of implantation on partner relationships highlight the importance of adopting a patient- and family-centered approach to audiological intervention.These insights on partner relationships and cochlear implantation can inform tailored pre- and ongoing post-operative counselling to support cochlear implant recipients and their partners in navigating relationship changes, emotional adjustments, and addressing communication challenges.Cochlear implantation reduces partner burden, emphasising the need for hearing healthcare professionals to facilitate partner engagement in rehabilitation approaches.Relationship intimacy, deemed the foremost positive outcome, underscores the importance of incorporating these aspects into pre- and post-operative counselling.These insights on partner relationships and cochlear implantation can inform tailored pre- and ongoing post-operative counselling to support cochlear implant recipients and their partners in navigating relationship changes, emotional adjustments, and addressing communication challenges.Cochlear implantation reduces partner burden, emphasising the need for hearing healthcare professionals to facilitate partner engagement in rehabilitation approaches.Relationship intimacy, deemed the foremost positive outcome, underscores the importance of incorporating these aspects into pre- and post-operative counselling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Healthcare professionals (HCPs) play a significant role in the decision-making process of pregnant women on maternal vaccinations. Whereas a high proportion of HCPs discuss maternal vaccinations with pregnant women, confidence in discussing maternal vaccinations is lacking and HCPs experience inadequate training to discuss maternal vaccinations with pregnant women. Furthermore, different practical barriers might influence the consultation process, such as lack of time. More studies on the barriers, as well as facilitators, to discussing maternal vaccinations is needed and will help us to better understand and support HCPs in discussing maternal vaccinations. Methods: This qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews with fourteen HCPs working as midwives or gynaecologists in the Netherlands. An integrated theoretical approach was used to inform data collection and analysis. Thematic analysis was conducted using inductive and deductive approaches. This study followed the COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research (COREQ) guidelines. Results: The thematic analysis of the data pointed to the following five themes of HCP counselling: the consultation process, attitude, perceived norm, perceived control and improvement ideas. Most HCPs follow a similar approach in maternal pertussis vaccination consultations, beginning by assessing clients' understanding, providing basic information, and addressing questions. However, consultation timing and prioritization vary among HCPs. Challenges in consultations include client requests for clear advice, with HCPs trained to remain neutral, emphasizing client autonomy in decision-making. Most HCPs acknowledge the importance of their consultations in informing pregnant women about maternal pertussis vaccination. Conclusions: This study offers a confirmation of the awareness of the pivotal role of HCPs in informing pregnant women about the maternal pertussis vaccination. HCPs stress the importance of neutral counselling, enabling pregnant women to make well-informed decisions independently. Because of upcoming vaccine hesitancy nowadays, HCPs must be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to navigate difficult conversations. Continuous education and training might help to increase HCPs' confidence in handling difficult consultations. Additionally, making the information materials for pregnant women available in multiple languages and incorporating more visuals to enhance comprehension could support HCPs in reaching a broader group of pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The epidemiology of poisoning can be studied from different perspectives. Early correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment, conversely, are often lives saving. Therefore, the knowledge of the general pattern of poisoning in a particular region would help in early diagnosis and management of poisoning, which in turn should result in a reduction of morbidity and mortality. Retrospective observational Study was conducted for a period of six months in the general medicine and emergency (ICU) units at Government General hospital, Madanapalli. In our study we found that the poisoning was due to various products. 92.5% of cases were suicidal poisoning. maximum number of victims 68 (30%) belonged to age group of 41-50 years. we observed that Insecticides was the most common consumed poison which accounted for 101 (44.5%). 16. Organophosphorus was the maximum 33(38.4%) in the detected cases. Persons with psychosocial problems should be identified at the earliest and should be referred for psychiatric counseling. Educate the family to support them in recovering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Many parents experience lack of support and access to resources on how to prepare, handle, and provide formula milk to their infants. The purpose of this scoping review was to map and describe key information in existing research about how healthcare professionals receive information and how they inform and counsel parents about formula milk. Design: A scoping review fulfilling the PRISMA‐ScR checklist criteria used systematic searches targeting the study objective in the databases Embase, MEDLINE, and CINAHL on February 8th and 9th, 2022. Results: Six studies with 959 participants in total were included. The research designs were focus group studies with and without combining individual interviews, an individual interview study, a study consisting of individual interviews and ethnographic observations, a survey, and a two‐phase study consisting of a qualitative interview and a quantitative survey. Findings indicate lack of evidence‐based information provided about infant formula by health care professionals when they counsel parents on formula feeding. Conclusions: Few studies focus on how healthcare professionals inform and counsel parents about formula milk. Health authorities should provide more evidence‐based information to make formula feeding more feasible. Due to conflicting and omitted information, mothers often receive poor counselling on formula feeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to examine the impact of a brief body scan session on individuals' anxiety and pain levels considering individuals' levels of symptom severity (low vs. high). Method: The sample was composed of 355 undergraduate or graduate students. Participants completed a series of questionnaires, performed a 14‐min body scan exercise and completed some of the questionnaires a second time. Two questionnaires were aimed at identifying individuals reporting high and low levels of symptomatology (i.e. anxiety and somatic symptoms) in their everyday life, while other questionnaires were aimed at assessing the effectiveness of the body scan session in reducing current symptoms. Results: As hypothesised, body scanning was more effective in decreasing anxiety and pain for students with high‐symptom severity than for those with low‐symptom severity. Discussion: We demonstrated that individuals with high levels of symptoms, and especially anxiety symptoms, can benefit from a brief form of body scan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Black queer men in the UK are increasingly at risk of mental health problems related to anxiety and depression, often triggered by traumatic experiences. This study explored the efficacy of integrative practice with Black queer men who experienced trauma from a decolonised, intersectional and queer‐affirming perspective. Method: One‐to‐one semi‐structured interviews with nine integrative practitioners were completed. Data collected from these interviews were analysed using Braun and Clarke's six stages of reflexive thematic analysis (RTA). Findings: RTA identified four subordinate themes: (1) understanding the experience of Black queer men, (2) developing the working alliance and use of self in practice, (3) effective integrative practice and (4) intersectional differences and considerations. Findings discussed the varying forms of trauma Black queer male clients experienced that impacted their mental health and how developing a strong working alliance with Black queer men was crucial when supporting them to recover from trauma. Additionally, the participants described a breadth of trauma‐informed integrative counselling and coaching practice. A decolonised approach utilising the intersection of race, gender and sexuality of Black queer men was successfully integrated into the approach used by practitioners in this study. Conclusion: Overall, this study evidenced that a decolonised perspective to integrative practice effectively supports Black queer men to recover from trauma. Future research should focus on an integrated approach with Black queer men and other gender and sexual ethnic minority clients who experienced trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although there is a small area of research exploring how mental health practitioners can support young people with the impacts of social media (SM) on their mental health, no study has researched into practitioners' own relationship with SM. This study aimed to explore counsellor's own relationship with SM, and how such insights contributed into their support to their clients who may be impacted by their engagement with SM. Methods: Counsellors who worked with young people aged 16–25 were recruited and interviewed. A reflexive thematic analysis of the interviews identified three main themes. Findings: The first theme "It's Not Based on Reality" related to counsellors comparing themselves to the unrealistic highlight reel depicted on SM in the same way as the young people they supported. The second theme "All Of a Sudden I'm on Facebook" explored the counsellor's obsessive use of SM yet they believed they were better able than their young clients to recognise when SM impacted their mood and to instigate boundaries by coming offline. The third theme "It's All About Trying to Be Relatable" highlighted counsellors' evaluation of efficacy of their own SM use to their therapeutic practice. Conclusion: Despite the noted parallels in SM use between counsellors and the young people they supported, counsellors believed their experiences of SM differed from their clients. This study provides implications for counsellor training when working with young people and the importance of counsellors' self‐care when using SM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cornerstone of this study is a poem of psychological poetry concerning some religious teachings. The poem was composed by the author. In a first step, in order to confirm the therapeutic capacity of psychological poetry, an after-death letter regarding a rabbi is presented. In a second step, psychological poetry's ability as a scientific tool is tested through a study of the relationship between religion and happiness. Here, religion is represented by some religious teachings of a luminary rabbi as they are understood by the author. Happiness is represented by research on Positive Psychology (PP). More specifically, the values of the religious teachings found in the poem are examined and compared to the scientifically established characteristics assigned to happiness. A new method of comparison is applied and allows us to identify and validate the presence of similarities between the two variables. The results obtained in both steps are positive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The feature article explores the journey of foster care in India from 2010 to 2024 as an analysis and commentary on the substantive changes between the foster care 2016 model guidelines and the newly released foster care 2024 guidelines. The article highlights the historical context of foster care in India, acknowledging the efforts of pioneers over the past decades. It discusses the challenges of scaling up foster care nationwide, emphasising the need for proper support systems and cultural sensitivity. Reflecting on the journey since 2016, the article acknowledges the slow progress and instances of corruption in foster care implementation. It underscores the importance of trained oversight and social work expertise in ensuring the well-being of children in foster care. Looking ahead to 2024, with the release of new foster care guidelines, the article suggests a shift towards a child-centred approach and emphasises the need for robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. In summary, the article advocates for a comprehensive approach to foster care implementation in India, encompassing cultural sensitivity, capacity building, community engagement, legal framework alignment, child-centred practices and effective monitoring and evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Palliative care focuses on the prevention of worsening health, improving the quality of the patient's life, and the relief of suffering, and therefore has a considerable impact on both the patient suffering from a life-threatening or potentially life-threatening illness and on their family. Spirituality, as the dimension of human life involving the search for meaning, purpose, and transcendence, and connection with oneself, others, and the sacred, could be essential in supporting these patients. The aim of this study was to synthesise the scientific evidence describing the interventions and/or activities undertaken to meet the spiritual needs of the palliative patient. Methods: A literature search was carried out across the following databases: PubMed, LILACS, Scopus, and Web of Science. The PRISMA statement was used to guide this review. Results: Twenty-four articles were included. The thematic categories included spiritual needs at the end of life, the influence of music and dance as palliative care, care for family caregivers, and the comparison between counselling and dignity therapy. Conclusions: Interventions in the biopsychosocial–spiritual spheres impact on the patient's peace of mind and promote the acceptance of a "good death". Healthcare personnel play an essential role in the way their patients prepare for the moment of death, and the meaning and values they convey help them to accompany and welcome patients. Last but not least, universities can play a crucial role by training nurses to integrate spiritual interventions such as music and dance, or by considering the family as a unit of care. The systematic review protocol was registered in the Prospective International Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under protocol number CRD42023490852. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study seeks to explore career choices, challenges and prospects amongst SSIII students in Comprehensive Secondary School Ntoedino, Methodist Secondary School Ntodang and FIDA Secondary School, Ntonguno, all in Obot Akara Local Government Area. Survey research design was adopted for the study. The study population comprised of students from the above named school. A sample size of 150 students was gotten through simple random sampling technique, and data were analysed using simple percentage. Findings from the study revealed that, right career choice is influenced by role models like teachers, parents, educators and guardians as 86% of the study respondents attested to this. It was also deduced that, the child alone, without the adult's guidance/counseling cannot make the right career choice. On the effect of resources/finances on right career choice, 90% being majority agreed to the assertion that most of the poor parents who send their children to public schools, have no proper orientation and are unable to educate their children properly on right career choice; and so, majority accepted the fact that, poverty affects right career choice/course of study. From the analysis it was concluded that, there were a lot of lapses with regards to proper choice of career/course of study by students in senior classes in public schools. However, the study recommended that, proper orientation/sensitization must be done by families, teachers, educators, role models, exposed friends, counselors, parents and relatives. Even at that, children should be given free hands to make their choices based on innate potentialities and not imposing courses of study/career on them. Moreover, to help students from poor background, examination like NECO, WAEC, JAMB should be made free to students in public schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The information needs of low-income pregnant women are multisectoral, encompassing both pregnancy-related and non-pregnancy-related information. Barriers to receiving information for low-income pregnant women are specific and complex. This study aimed to explore the experiences of low-income Indonesian pregnant women regarding the challenges of receiving health information.Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using content analysis according to Graneheim and Lundman’s approach between January and June 2022. A total of 17 women were selected for this study using purposive sampling. In-depth interviews were done following semi-structured interview guidelines, concluding when saturation was reached. Nvivo software version March 2020 was used for organizing data and analysis.Results: Three themes emerged concerning receiving health information among low-income women, including encountering barriers to accessing information and care, access to ineffective information sources, and difficulties in applying pregnancy health information.Conclusion: This study shows that barriers to receiving information are specific to low-income pregnant women. Therefore, solution approaches must also be specific. Efforts to improve receiving health information can be achieved through developing educational materials that are easy to access and understand, improving e-health literacy, refining counseling skills among village midwives, holding culturally tailored educational programs, improving mothers’ health literacy by family and husbands, integrating counseling with a focus on critical literacy, and formulating policies to alleviate the midwife’s workload.

Effective management of hearing loss through the use of modern hearing aids significantly improves communication and the quality of life for individuals experiencing auditory impairment. Complementary counselling of patients with hearing loss who will be fitted with hearing aids for the first time should be evidence-based and adapted to their individual needs. To date, several counselling protocols and tools have been developed. The aim of this randomised controlled trial study was to investigate the efficacy of the application of the IDA’s “Living Well” counselling tool in first-time hearing aid users in terms of the degree of their hearing related handicap (using the Hearing Handicap Inventory (HHI)), their communication coping strategies (using the Communication Profile for the Hearing Impaired (CPHI)) and their overall satisfaction of the hearing aids (using a Likert scale). Both groups (the IDA and the control group) were fitted with hearing aids and received counselling for their hearing aids by the same audiologist. The IDA group attended an additional counselling session about communication coping strategies with the use of the “Living Well” tool. Both groups’ participants were seen for their hearing aid fittings 4–6 weeks, 3 and 6 months after their fitting when the HHI and the CPHI were measured. Although there was not a statistically significant difference between the two groups for the primary and secondary outcomes, the IDA group did show a more consistent improvement of their HHI score and less frequent use of maladaptive strategies. The “Living Well” counselling tool proved to be a favourably received and helpful counselling tool in first-time hearing aid users.

Background: Tobacco abuse is a greatest cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Guidelines recommend that smoking cessation intervention are offered to all smokers willing to make a quit attempt. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness on tobacco cessation by using Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) plus counselling (CO) as intervention and CO as control. Methods: A literature analysis including PubMed, Google scholar published till December 2022 performed. Articles available in English language were included. A meta-analysis was performed. Results: Six RCTs were incorporated in the study. Four studies presented with high risk of bias. Subgroup analysis using random model effect favoured combined treatment of NRT and CO (p

Abstract Introduction Primary care provides an important opportunity to detect unhealthy alcohol use and offer assistance but many barriers to this exist. In an Australian context, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) are community-led and run health services, which provide holistic primary care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. A recent cluster randomised trial conducted with ACCHS provided a service support model which showed a small but significant difference in provision of ‘any treatment’ for unhealthy alcohol use. However, it was not clear which treatment modalities were increased. Aims To test the effect of an ACCHS support model for alcohol on: (i) delivery of verbal alcohol intervention (alcohol advice or counselling); (ii) prescription of relapse prevention pharmacotherapies. Methods Intervention: 24-month, multi-faceted service support model. Design: cluster randomised trial; equal allocation to early-support (‘treatment’) and waitlist control arms. Participants: 22 ACCHS. Analysis: Multilevel logistic regression to compare odds of a client receiving treatment in any two-month period as routinely recorded on practice software. Results Support was associated with a significant increase in the odds of verbal alcohol intervention being recorded (OR = 7.60, [95% CI = 5.54, 10.42], p

Abstract Background Healthcare professionals (HCPs) play a significant role in the decision-making process of pregnant women on maternal vaccinations. Whereas a high proportion of HCPs discuss maternal vaccinations with pregnant women, confidence in discussing maternal vaccinations is lacking and HCPs experience inadequate training to discuss maternal vaccinations with pregnant women. Furthermore, different practical barriers might influence the consultation process, such as lack of time. More studies on the barriers, as well as facilitators, to discussing maternal vaccinations is needed and will help us to better understand and support HCPs in discussing maternal vaccinations. Methods This qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews with fourteen HCPs working as midwives or gynaecologists in the Netherlands. An integrated theoretical approach was used to inform data collection and analysis. Thematic analysis was conducted using inductive and deductive approaches. This study followed the COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research (COREQ) guidelines. Results The thematic analysis of the data pointed to the following five themes of HCP counselling: the consultation process, attitude, perceived norm, perceived control and improvement ideas. Most HCPs follow a similar approach in maternal pertussis vaccination consultations, beginning by assessing clients’ understanding, providing basic information, and addressing questions. However, consultation timing and prioritization vary among HCPs. Challenges in consultations include client requests for clear advice, with HCPs trained to remain neutral, emphasizing client autonomy in decision-making. Most HCPs acknowledge the importance of their consultations in informing pregnant women about maternal pertussis vaccination. Conclusions This study offers a confirmation of the awareness of the pivotal role of HCPs in informing pregnant women about the maternal pertussis vaccination. HCPs stress the importance of neutral counselling, enabling pregnant women to make well-informed decisions independently. Because of upcoming vaccine hesitancy nowadays, HCPs must be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to navigate difficult conversations. Continuous education and training might help to increase HCPs’ confidence in handling difficult consultations. Additionally, making the information materials for pregnant women available in multiple languages and incorporating more visuals to enhance comprehension could support HCPs in reaching a broader group of pregnant women.

Objective: Across the lifespan, young males in Australia who are experiencing mental health problems report the lowest rates of seeking professional care. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of young men and caregivers who received male-friendly counselling from a male-specific service in Australia Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 young men who had received counselling, and 27 caregivers who facilitated access to Menslink counselling in Canberra, Australia. Inductive thematic analysis was completed to analyse the data Results: Four themes were developed: (1) engaged out of desperation; (2) appeal of Menslink service; (3) counsellor more like a professional "friend"; and (4) counsellor prioritised my autonomy Conclusion: The findings confirm the suitability of previously recommended adaptations to counselling to engage young men and emphasise the role of caregivers in facilitating access to support. The themes also provide direction for practical adjustments to service delivery that mental health services and clinicians can make to address personal and structural barriers impacting young men's service contact and engagement. This study contributes to the growing literature examining the benefits of male-friendly counselling practices in psychological treatment for young men. KEY POINTS: What is already known about this topic: Adolescent and young men face personal and structural barriers to help-seeking despite experiencing significant rates of mental illness in Australia. In recent years, male-friendly adaptations to clinical practice have been proposed to engage young men in psychotherapy. Little is known about how both young men and caregivers who facilitate access experience male-friendly counselling. What this topic adds: Male-friendly adaptations akin to those proposed in the literature enriched the counselling experience of young men and their caregivers. Young men valued a counselling service dedicated to them which consequently reduced the stigma associated with seeking support. Low-cost and timely services, the availability of male clinicians, and clinicians who supported the autonomy of young men were salient facilitators to their service engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mental health professionals play a crucial role in either alleviating or exacerbating stress among queer clients. Aims: Drawing on minority stress theory, we conducted a study to examine the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or consensually non‐monogamous clients with current or recent psychotherapy or counselling experiences in Germany. Method: A convenience sample of 492 queer individuals participated in an online survey, providing insights into their most recent experiences with psychotherapy or counselling and evaluating the success of these processes. Among the participants, 92% identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or another non‐heterosexual identity, while 8% identified as heterosexual. Additionally, 54% reported being in consensually non‐monogamous relationships, and 23% identified as gender‐diverse. Results: The majority (92%) had prior experience with psychotherapy, with over half reporting their last session within the last month. The remaining 8% reported counselling experience. Most participants rated their recent psychotherapy or counselling process as successful. Exemplary practices were more common than inappropriate ones. While overt discrimination by mental health professionals was rare, subtle inappropriate behaviours were still prevalent. Affirmative and actively reassuring practices were strongly linked to subjective therapy success. Conclusion: The study's findings warrant cautious optimism regarding a non‐discriminative stance in German mental health professionals while highlighting the need for further research, training and guidelines for therapists and counsellors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adoption research has tended to focus on associated emotional and developmental challenges. There is little research on how adoptees experience counselling training and its personal and professional impact on adoptees. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the counselling training experiences of four counsellors who were adopted as babies (under 1 year of age). Methods: One‐to‐one semi‐structured interviews were conducted with two psychodynamically trained counsellors and two integratively trained counsellors. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyse the training experiences of adoptees, and the personal and professional impact of training. Findings: Four group experiential themes were identified: disclosure; place in world; relationships; and reflexivity. Implications for Practice: The findings contribute to the growing body of research on counsellor training and provide insights into adoptees' experiences of counselling training. These insights enable improvements in the provision of such training by counselling training providers to adoptees, and in the provision of the specialist training either required or recommended to provide adoption support. The research also furthers the understanding of adoptees' experiences more generally and may also help noncounsellor adoptees deal with issues perceived as related to their adoption as well as others who face similar issues, due to their own lived experiences. Conclusion: Both modalities of counselling training helped participants deal with difficulties presented by their adoptions, in particular regarding identity and relationships, affording opportunities for growth and healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Training and accreditation standards play a critical role in the development of a research‐informed agenda. This commentary on Barkham et al. (Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 2024) discusses obstacles to fully integrating research into the training and standard agendas, and the potential role that the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) can play in helping to overcome such obstacles. Knowledge of research evidence is currently limited in training and accreditation standards for counselling and psychotherapy, and course tutors are often not familiar—or engaged—with research findings. In the development of professional standards (for instance, within SCoPEd), the BACP should work to ensure that research competencies are comprehensive, contemporary and explained in a granular manner. Further helpful developments might include an annual research‐oriented conference for trainers and clinical supervisors, a journal dedicated to disseminating research and good practice in training and clinical supervision and/or a training/clinical supervision research network to coordinate activities in these area. BACP events—across all elements of the profession—should strive to address issues of research awareness and participation, and the use of research to inform practice. Critically, across all of these possibilities, BACP's Research Department, alone, cannot be left to support moves to a research‐informed profession. Rather, an organisation‐wide initiative is needed in which appreciation of the research evidence is at the heart of all aspects of the Association's work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clients presenting as suicidal have been widely recognised as one of the most challenging presenting issues for psychotherapists and counsellors. There is a wealth of literature exploring risk assessment, collaboration, goals, tasks, methods, shared decision making and client preferences employed in therapy with this presenting issue. Yet, no literature explicitly explores combining these approaches or provides a framework that integrates them. Working with actively suicidal clients as a pluralistic psychotherapist and counsellor (PCP) has not been thoroughly examined to date, even though this framework and philosophy for therapy combines many of the aforementioned approaches. Therefore, it is imperative that ways of working safely with this presenting issue, for both the client and the practitioner, are explored and researched through the lens of PCP. Objective: To interpret and explore pluralistic psychotherapists' and counsellors' experiences of working with actively suicidal clients to find what might be added to the body of knowledge. Methods: A qualitative interpretative phenomenological analysis of PCP with actively suicidal clients was conducted via four semi‐structured recorded interviews. Four participants were recruited purposively. Four themes and two subthemes were identified and explored. Discussion: The findings showed PCP to be a robust holistic approach to actively suicidal clients that is safe for both client and practitioner. Furthermore, the results point towards the need for further research into the idea that PCP is useful when working with actively suicidal clients in line with recommended best practice from the client's perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In 2016, the UK government identified the need for counselling services in schools to be evidence‐based (Department for Education, 2016). While there is more empirical evidence on counselling and improvement in mental health (Daniunaite et al., Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 2015, 15, 251; Finning et al., European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2022, 31, 1591), less is known about the associations of counselling with children's academic attainment and progress. Method: The aim of the paper was to provide more pieces of evidence on the possible associations between school‐based individual counselling and the academic attainment and progress of primary school–aged children. The academic outcomes of children receiving one‐to‐one counselling were compared with those of children who did not receive counselling, but who had similar background characteristics. Coarsened exact matching method was used to match similar children for these comparisons based on national data sets available in England. Data were analysed with inferential statistics and multilinear regression. Findings: Before matching the samples, analyses revealed children attending Place2Be's counselling services were significantly more likely to be boys (56.6% vs. 51.1%), of ethnic minority origin (46.4% vs. 21.5%), eligible for free school meals (FSM; 52.7% vs. 16.9%) and have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) status (43.1% vs. 21.1%) than the comparison group. They also had lower academic attainment than children who were not in counselling. However, after a coarsened exact matching on relevant background characteristics, the Place2Be sample was found to have similar levels of academic progress to the matched national sample, suggesting they did not fall behind similar children. Conclusions: Findings indicate that individual school‐based counselling may be helpful as a potential intervention for supporting vulnerable children's (defined as those identified by schools or parents as in need of individual counselling) academic progress in primary schools, as well as socio‐emotional outcomes; however, further research is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Almost 2 million people in the UK live with sight loss, and this number is predicted to double by 2050. There is increasing recognition of the need to provide counselling services to people living with sight loss. Aim: The aim of this research was to assess whether there is an unmet need for counselling services for people living with sight loss in North Wales and to estimate the social value and budget impact of the potential roll‐out of counselling services to this population. Method: Between December 2020 and May 2021, a telephone survey was completed by 192 people living with sight loss in North Wales, UK. The survey instrument was a 19‐item questionnaire, which included the Short Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well‐being Scale (SWEMWBS). Using data from the SWEMWBS and published statistics, a social return on investment (SROI) and budget impact analysis were conducted. Results: Most respondents (84%, n = 161) had never been offered counselling in relation to sight loss. Thirty‐nine per cent (n = 74) stated that they would use a new counselling service if it were available. Fifty‐one per cent (n = 97) indicated that counselling could be especially beneficial for people who have recently been registered or diagnosed with sight loss (the timely window). Of those who completed the SWEMWBS, approximately 25% reported low mental well‐being or probable depression. Social return on investment analysis estimated that providing counselling services for people with sight loss in North Wales could generate a social value of £3.42 for every £1 invested. Conclusion: Timely counselling may improve an individual's ability to cope with sight loss and improve their quality of life over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This pilot study examines body image dissatisfaction, anxiety, and self-esteem, particularly among university and college students, which can significantly impact their mental well-being. Obsession with weight satisfaction and physical attractiveness can lead to depression, eating disorders, and social disorders. Twenty Psychology and Education students participated in this study, using tools such as the multidimensional body self-relations questionnaire-appearance scale, the physical appearance state and trait anxiety scale, and the body esteem scale for adolescents and adults. Additionally, a Cognitive Behavioral Group Counseling Intervention Module was utilized to restructure thinking and modify behavior. The module results of 0.897 suggested that this intervention can help individuals change their assumptions and beliefs regarding self-image dissatisfaction, particularly on physical appearance.

Background: Palliative care focuses on the prevention of worsening health, improving the quality of the patient’s life, and the relief of suffering, and therefore has a considerable impact on both the patient suffering from a life-threatening or potentially life-threatening illness and on their family. Spirituality, as the dimension of human life involving the search for meaning, purpose, and transcendence, and connection with oneself, others, and the sacred, could be essential in supporting these patients. The aim of this study was to synthesise the scientific evidence describing the interventions and/or activities undertaken to meet the spiritual needs of the palliative patient. Methods: A literature search was carried out across the following databases: PubMed, LILACS, Scopus, and Web of Science. The PRISMA statement was used to guide this review. Results: Twenty-four articles were included. The thematic categories included spiritual needs at the end of life, the influence of music and dance as palliative care, care for family caregivers, and the comparison between counselling and dignity therapy. Conclusions: Interventions in the biopsychosocial–spiritual spheres impact on the patient’s peace of mind and promote the acceptance of a “good death”. Healthcare personnel play an essential role in the way their patients prepare for the moment of death, and the meaning and values they convey help them to accompany and welcome patients. Last but not least, universities can play a crucial role by training nurses to integrate spiritual interventions such as music and dance, or by considering the family as a unit of care. The systematic review protocol was registered in the Prospective International Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under protocol number CRD42023490852.

Abstract Background Improving the quality of breastfeeding counselling delivered by primary care providers can improve breastfeeding outcomes and ultimately reduce mortality and morbidity of children and mothers. Accurate data on coverage and quality of primary care breastfeeding counselling is essential for monitoring progress; however, global and national indicators are limited. To help address this gap, this study validated indicators of receipt and quality of breastfeeding counselling during routine consultations for infant care at seven primary health facilities across Kosovo. Methods Mothers’ reports of breastfeeding counselling received during routine consultations for their infants (0–12 months of age) were collected by exit interview in 2019 and 2021 (n = 609). Responses were compared against direct observation of their consultation using a structured checklist (reference standard) by a trained third-party observer at the primary care facility. We assessed 13 indicators; ten were related to the receipt and content of breastfeeding counselling, and three were specific to the provider’s interpersonal skills. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) to determine individual-level reporting accuracy. Results Ten indicators had an agreement rate above 70% and seven indicators had high overall individual-level validity (AUC ≥ 0.7). High prevalence indicators recorded high sensitivity and low specificity, and the inverse for low prevalence indicators. More subjective indicators were less reliable, e.g., mothers over-reported the prevalence of all three indicators related to providers’ interpersonal skills. Conclusions This study offers evidence on breastfeeding counselling quality by validating maternal reports of whether a provider discussed breastfeeding, the clinical content of that counselling, and how it was delivered. It is also situated in a primary care setting within a fragile state of which there is limited evidence. We observed that mothers reported accurately when asked directly to recall breastfeeding counselling services received. However, there is a need to further validate subjective questions about interpersonal skills and other measures for the ‘experience of care’ quality dimension.

Abstract Background Caring for children with cancer by parents in Ghana is associated with diverse psychological and emotional burdens. However, such parents utilize coping strategies to adjust to their distressing situations. There is dearth of literature on the coping strategies of parents of children diagnosed with cancer in Ghana. Therefore, this study sought to explore the coping strategies adapted by parents of children with cancer. Methods A qualitative exploratory descriptive design was employed to conduct the study. Purposive sampling method was used to recruit seventeen parents of children with cancer. Semi-structured interview guide was used to conduct in-depth data collection. Data was analysed using content analysis approach. Results and discussion Parents reported that emotional and spiritual support enhanced parental coping to the ordeal associated with caring for children with cancer. The parents shared that counselling, self-motivation and inspiration from family and health professionals immensely assisted them to cope. Spiritual support through personal belief in God, religious activities and support from their priests and church members were other strategies parents employed to cope with the traumatising experience associated with caring for children with cancer. Conclusion This study concludes that parents of children with cancer are better able to cope with the distress encountered in their children’s care journey through emotional and spiritual support.

Background: Improving the quality of breastfeeding counselling delivered by primary care providers can improve breastfeeding outcomes and ultimately reduce mortality and morbidity of children and mothers. Accurate data on coverage and quality of primary care breastfeeding counselling is essential for monitoring progress; however, global and national indicators are limited. To help address this gap, this study validated indicators of receipt and quality of breastfeeding counselling during routine consultations for infant care at seven primary health facilities across Kosovo. Methods: Mothers' reports of breastfeeding counselling received during routine consultations for their infants (0–12 months of age) were collected by exit interview in 2019 and 2021 (n = 609). Responses were compared against direct observation of their consultation using a structured checklist (reference standard) by a trained third-party observer at the primary care facility. We assessed 13 indicators; ten were related to the receipt and content of breastfeeding counselling, and three were specific to the provider's interpersonal skills. We calculated sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) to determine individual-level reporting accuracy. Results: Ten indicators had an agreement rate above 70% and seven indicators had high overall individual-level validity (AUC ≥ 0.7). High prevalence indicators recorded high sensitivity and low specificity, and the inverse for low prevalence indicators. More subjective indicators were less reliable, e.g., mothers over-reported the prevalence of all three indicators related to providers' interpersonal skills. Conclusions: This study offers evidence on breastfeeding counselling quality by validating maternal reports of whether a provider discussed breastfeeding, the clinical content of that counselling, and how it was delivered. It is also situated in a primary care setting within a fragile state of which there is limited evidence. We observed that mothers reported accurately when asked directly to recall breastfeeding counselling services received. However, there is a need to further validate subjective questions about interpersonal skills and other measures for the 'experience of care' quality dimension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPurposeMaterials and methodsResultsConclusions\nSHORT CONDENSATIONAnnually, approximately 31,000 people experience a termination of pregnancy (TOP) in the Netherlands. In 2021, about one-third of them chose medical termination of pregnancy (MTOP). We explored experiences with MTOP and to what extent expectations, pain, and counselling in the clinic are associated with satisfaction with MTOP.A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire. We included 138 respondents, ≥16 years, who chose MTOP (September 2020–March 2022).The majority of respondents experienced MTOP more positively than expected or as expected (67%). For 24%, the experience was more negative than expected. In the event of another TOP, half of these respondents would hesitate to choose or would not choose MTOP, mainly due to physical side effects. The majority of respondents (73%) would choose MTOP again. Their main motivation was self-determination during treatment. Respondents cited four key elements: pain, intensity of experience during and after treatment, blood loss, and duration. Correspondence between MTOP expectations and experiences was associated with satisfaction with MTOP, while pain and satisfaction with counselling were not.The majority of respondents were satisfied with MTOP and would choose the treatment again. Non-correspondence between expectations and experiences negatively affected satisfaction with MTOP. This highlights the importance of managing expectations by providing accessible information about the variety in expectations and experiences to patients with a focus on key elements of the experience.The majority experienced the abortion pill more positively than expected or as expected. Four experience elements are key: pain, intensity during and after treatment, blood loss, duration. Information about these elements is crucial since non-correspondence of expectation and experience negatively affects satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To enhance coaching experiences in career development, diverse approaches must be developed and tested. This study's objective was to determine the effectiveness of a purpose-based career coaching framework on career decision-making difficulties. In this study, randomized experimental conditions and interviews were combined. A theoretical sampling procedure was used for a period of two years to generate samples for the study. A total of 187 youths were recruited, but 78 did not meet the study criteria, while 29 declined to take part. A sample of 80 youths met the study criteria and completed all phases of the study. Twelve one-to-one sessions, aligning with the Pb-CC framework, covered core techniques such as reimagining, spiritualizing, self-discovery, career exploration, identifying, and matching. Qualitative data was collected using a researcher-developed interview protocol, consisting of three open-ended questions such as: "How would you describe the meaning or purpose of your life?; What is the category of career that relates to your purpose?; and What do you believe about purpose and career?" In addition, Career Decision-Making Scale (CDDS) was used to collect data. Quantitative data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance, while qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis, which includes the organization of data, the identification and development of themes, the saturation of themes, and the presentation of themes. At the end of the intervention, participants successfully identified their purpose and skillfully matched it with suitable careers. The effect of purpose-based career coaching has been found to be significant on career decision making. These findings bear practical significance for career counselling, policy implementation, industrialization, research and career development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indonesian theological students often come to seminary with handful of problems from the onset of their life. The expectation from the traditional Christian family for their children to set the behavior right in the seminary is outdatedly common. This study explores a case of a 21-year-old theological male student who suffered verbal and physical abuse from his parents. During the initial four weeks of therapeutic alliance with the author, the student exhibited traumatic symptoms of severe hostility and somatic re-enactment of past adverse experiences. He had been known to possess talisman and some sacred relics for witchcraft in the past which contemporarily yield nightmare and terror at night. The qualitative case study explored the traumatic problem of the student through a 12-month observation and in-depth interview. Through experiential therapy of gestalt, CBT, and forgiveness therapy in the last seven months, the student showed reduced symptoms of hostility, somatic complaints, and impulse-behavior. The spiritual formation of prayer and meditation of the Scripture have been useful for the patient in dealing with his spiritual problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studying medicine is one of the most challenging tasks in the medical college. A medical degree is considered one of the toughest degrees in the world, so stress is common in medical students. The undue stress has undesirable effects on the health of students. Aim: The present study is aimed to evaluate different stress factors among first-year MBBS students. Material methods: 128 First-year MBBS students of SKIMS Medical College, Bemina, Srinagar J&K, during the first year were asked to complete pre-tested and pre-designed questionnaires that included a list of sources of stress. Results: According to the questions asked to the students, the most common stress factors reported by students were feeling successful at the time of exam (65.43 %), parental pressure in compulsion for students to study medicine (60.87 %), need to do well imposed by other (55.75%) difficulty coping with studies (47.82%), in adjusting away from home (36.82%) health issues (30.60%) socio economic, accommodation / hostel problems (27.65%), poor performances (20.63%), lack of facilities in college (15.50%), lack of time for preparation (10.21%).Conclusion: Medical students have stressful life. There is need to intervene to prevent stress in medical education which can be done by counselling of students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years have witnessed some rapid and tremendous progress in natural language processing (NLP) techniques that are used to analyse text data. This study endeavours to offer an up‐to‐date review of NLP applications by examining their use in counselling and psychotherapy from 1990 to 2021. The purpose of this scoping review is to identify trends, advancements, challenges and limitations of these applications. Among the 41 papers included in this review, 4 primary study purposes were identified: (1) developing automated coding; (2) predicting outcomes; (3) monitoring counselling sessions; and (4) investigating language patterns. Our findings showed a growing trend in the number of papers utilizing advanced machine learning methods, particularly neural networks. Unfortunately, only a third of the articles addressed the issues of bias and generalizability. Our findings provided a timely systematic update, shedding light on concerns related to bias, generalizability and validity in the context of NLP applications in counselling and psychotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Cigarette smoking negatively affects oral health. Nicotine replacement therapies (NRT; e.g. nicotine patch or lozenge) and brief interventions (e.g. Ask‐Advise‐Refer; AAR) can improve cessation outcomes but are underutilized. NRT sampling (NRTS) increases NRT utilization by providing patients with samples of NRT as part of routine healthcare. Ask‐Advise‐Refer is a brief intervention where practitioners: ask patients about tobacco use, advise those using tobacco to quit and refer to the state quit line. The objective of this qualitative study was to explore dental care practitioners' and patients' attitudes and experiences regarding tobacco cessation treatment and perceptions of two brief intervention models, assessed separately: NRTS and AAR. Methods: Twenty‐four dental care practitioners and nine patients, recruited through the National Dental Practice‐Based Research Network, participated in semi‐structured telephone interviews. Interviews assessed experiences with tobacco use intervention and attitudes towards NRTS and AAR. Thematic analysis identified emergent themes related to feasibility and acceptability of NRTS and AAR. Results: Practitioners varied on how they address tobacco use, from systematically to idiosyncratically. Some practitioners recommend NRT; few had prescribed it. Practitioners had favourable attitudes towards AAR and NRTS, with most believing that both interventions would be acceptable and feasible to implement. Concerns regarding AAR were time and patient resistance to discussing tobacco use. Concerns regarding NRTS were patient resistance to using NRT, side effects or medication interactions, and capacity to provide follow‐up. Patients reported that oral health practitioners generally ask about tobacco use but do not provide interventions. Patients were open to discussing their tobacco use with practitioners and had favourable attitudes about NRTS. Conclusions: This formative work suggests that NRTS and AAR may be feasible to implement in dental care settings. Future studies are needed to assess the effectiveness and implementation potential of NRTS in dental care settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]