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AbstractThis article explores the development and impact of the Māmā Aroha App, a digital health solution designed to support and sustain Indigenous breastfeeding practices among Māori communities in New Zealand. Māori women have encountered significant barriers to breastfeeding, including a loss of traditional knowledge, culturally ineffective maternity services, and inadequate professional support, compounded by healthcare’s limited representation of Indigenous perspectives. Launched on August 2, 2021, the Māmā Aroha App consolidates crucial breastfeeding information and principles into a visually engaging and user-friendly format for health professionals, mothers, and their whānau (extended families). By digitizing traditional knowledge, the app makes this information more accessible and ensures that its interface honours Māori cultural and holistic values. This article provides an evaluation of the app’s development process, emphasizing the necessity of community engagement and tailored design to address the specific needs of Māori mothers and their whānau. The findings highlight the significant potential of culturally adapted digital health solutions and the importance of continuous collaboration to maintain their effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Developmental stuttering, a multifactorial speech disorder with remarkable rate of spontaneous recovery pose challenges for gene discoveries. Exonic variants in GNPTAB, GNPTG, and NAGPA involved in lysosomal pathway and AP4E1, IFNAR1, and ARMC3‐signaling genes reported till date explain only ∼2.1% – 3.7% of persistent stuttering cases. Aim: We aimed to identify additional genetic determinants of stuttering in a multiplex family by exome sequencing (n = 27) and further validation on additional extended family members (n = 21). Materials & Methods: We employed hypothesis‐free and pathway‐based analyses. Results: A novel heterozygous exonic variant NM_016256.4:c.322G > A in NAGPA with reduced penetrance and predicted pathogenicity segregated with the phenotype in a large subset of the family. Reanalysis to identify additional disease‐causing variant(s) revealed exonic heterozygous variants each in RIMS2 and XYLT1 in severely affected members; and IGF2R variant in a small subset of the family. Furthermore, pathway‐based analysis uncovered NM_022089.4:c.3529G > A in ATP13A2 (PARK9) in affected members; and variants in GNPTAB and GNPTG of minor significance in a few affected members. Discussion: Genotype–phenotype correlation efforts suggest that the combined effect of gene variants at multiple loci or variants in a single gene in different subsets of the pedigree (genetic heterogeneity) may be contributing to stuttering in this family. More importantly, variants identified in ATP13A2, a Parkinson's disease gene also implicated in lysosomal dysfunction, and RIMS2 suggests for the first time a likely role of dopamine signaling in stuttering. Conclusion: Screening for these variants in independent stuttering cohorts would be astute. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Collaboration with healthcare professionals is crucial in arranging necessary lifelong support for people with intellectual disabilities. However, family members often face challenges when collaborating with healthcare professionals. Family members of people with severe and profound intellectual disabilities often encounter many professionals due to medical needs and the severity of their disability. Therefore, providing a comprehensive overview of existing literature on the needs and experiences of family members of relatives with severe or profound intellectual disabilities when collaborating with healthcare professionals is needed to provide insight into how to stimulate and support collaboration. Method: The review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Seven databases were systematically searched and a thematic analysis was conducted on 23 studies. Results: Five overarching themes were identified: (1) need for a balanced view of their relative; (2) need for recognition and compassion; (3) healthcare professionals facilitating close and active involvement; (4) desired qualities of healthcare professionals and (5) conditions for successful interaction between family members and healthcare professionals. Conclusions: The results indicated distinct needs that family members had for themselves and their relatives, as well as desired qualities (e.g. trustworthiness) and supporting factors (e.g. information). Furthermore, the review highlighted persisting needs, such as the need for information and empathy, as well as emerging needs, such as the desire to be recognised as experts and to develop personal bonds with healthcare professionals. These insights can inform future research by identifying areas that require deeper exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every year, numerous youths seeking mental health services are placed in psychiatric residential treatment programs, often leaving their families for extended periods of time. The clinical and policy community has become increasingly interested in incorporating families into the treatment process, which may have a positive impact on care. Despite this interest, limited work has reviewed the impact of family factors across the entire treatment process (before admission, during treatment, and after discharge), or on barriers to implementing family-centered care practices to improve family engagement. To better understand the research in this domain, we conducted a narrative review on family involvement in residential care throughout the treatment process, with special attention paid to barriers and possible solutions. In general, family involvement in residential care remains underdeveloped and understudied. Given the youth mental health crisis, and the higher acuity of youth patients in residential treatment, greater exploration into how families can potentiate outcomes is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated mental health, sleep quality, and quality of life among family members of patients with first-episode cancer. A survey was conducted with 39 family members of patients with cancer, using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer (CQOLC). HADS scores indicated that 17 participants (43.6%) had adjustment and/or major depressive disorders. PSQI scores showed that 16 participants (42.1%) had sleep disturbances. However, CQOLC scores were higher than those in previous studies on families of patients with various stages of cancer. Although families of patients with first-episode cancer may not experience difficulties in their lives, their mental and physical conditions may be impaired. Healthcare providers should focus on the impact on the mental health and sleep needs of patients' families caused by dealing with a loved one with cancer and offer support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Frankie's Home Run" is a semi-autobiographical book by Emilio Iodice that explores themes of compassion, generosity, courage, kindness, spirituality, and leadership. The book delves into the immigrant experience in America, particularly focusing on Italian immigrants in the mid-20th century. Through the central character Frankie, the author highlights the importance of family, community, and hard work in shaping one's worldview and values. The narrative also touches on timely issues such as immigration, discrimination, and the impact of historical events on personal growth and development. [Extracted from the article]

Bereavement, the experience of losing a loved one, significantly affects emotional, psychological, and physical wellbeing. Assessing the quality of end-of-life care and the bereavement experiences of family members is crucial for improving healthcare services. The CANHELP Lite Bereavement Questionnaire, a validated tool for evaluating end-of-life care from bereaved family members' perspectives, needs cultural adaptation for non-English-speaking contexts. This study aimed to adapt and validate the Arabic version of the CANHELP Lite Bereavement Questionnaire for Arabic-speaking populations, considering their unique cultural, social, and religious contexts. The adaptation process involved systematic translation, back-translation, and expert evaluation to ensure cultural sensitivity and linguistic appropriateness. The psychometric properties of the adapted questionnaire were tested among 269 bereaved Saudi family members, revealing a Cronbach's alpha of 0.950 for internal consistency reliability. Face and content validity assessments confirmed item relevance, and concurrent validity was established with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.886. The study concluded that the Arabic version is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing satisfaction with end-of-life care, aiding in identifying areas for improvement in bereavement support within Arabic-speaking populations and enhancing healthcare services in culturally diverse settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In countries where euthanasia and assisted suicide are not allowed, such as France, little is known about how a request for euthanasia and/or assisted suicide, expressed by an end-of-life patient, impacts their relatives. Aim: To understand the experiences of relatives of patients in the advanced stages of a serious illness, hospitalized in a Palliative Care Unit (PCU), and requesting euthanasia or assisted suicide in the French context where these practices are illegal. Design: We conducted a qualitative study in five French PCUs over the course of 1 year. Following the principles of grounded theory, semi-structured interviews were conducted with the relatives of patients who had explicitly requested euthanasia or assisted suicide to a healthcare professional. Two interviews were scheduled: the first within 48 h of the initial request (D1), and the second one a week later (D7). Methods: We conducted in-depth face-to-face interviews with relatives of patients requesting euthanasia or assisted suicide, in PCUs within a specific region of France, prior to the French Claeys-Leonetti Law. A thematic analysis of the data was performed. Results: Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted. Five families (patients and their relatives) were included, and eight relatives were interviewed. The discussions between patients and their relatives about requesting euthanasia or assisted suicide varied significantly from one family to another. Five main themes emerged: denouncing end-of-life conditions; the desire to have a peaceful death; the different levels of support and accompaniment for the request; values in favor of euthanasia and assisted suicide; boundaries and barriers. Conclusion: Requests for euthanasia and/or assisted suicide are generally understood by relatives. However, receiving and discussing such requests is a challenging and emotionally demanding task, generating significant suffering. All relatives seem to experience some degree of suffering, although its expression varies greatly between individuals. We encourage healthcare professionals to identify the nature of this suffering and to invite patients and their relatives to openly discuss these issues and to proactively address the request. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Palliative sedation refers to the proportional use of titrated medication which reduces consciousness with the aim of relieving refractory suffering related to physical and psychological symptoms and/or existential distress near the end of life. Palliative sedation is intended to be an end of life option that enables healthcare professionals to provide good patient care but there remains controversy on how it is used. Little is known about decision-making processes regarding this procedure. The aim of this study was to explore decision-making processes in palliative sedation based on the experiences and perceptions of relatives and healthcare professionals. Methods: We conducted a qualitative interview study with dyads (a bereaved relative and a healthcare professional) linked to 33 deceased patient with cancer who had palliative sedation, in seven in-patient palliative care settings in five countries (Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain). A framework analysis approach was used to analyse the data. Results: Two main themes are defined: 1) Decision-making about palliative sedation is a complex iterative process, 2) Decision-making is a shared process between the patient, healthcare professionals, and relatives. Decision-making about palliative sedation appears to follow an iterative process of shared information, deliberation, and decision-making. The patient and healthcare professionals are the main stakeholders, but relatives are involved and may advocate for, or delay, the decision-making process. Starting palliative sedation is reported to be an emotionally difficult decision for all parties. Conclusions: As decision-making about palliative sedation is a complex and iterative process, patients, relatives and healthcare professionals need time for regular discussions. This requires a high level of engagement by healthcare professionals, that takes into account patients' wishes and needs, and helps to facilitate decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pakistan is a multi-cultural country with different ethnic groups living in both rural and urban communities. There is a significant occurrence of congenital and hereditary neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) contributing to mortality and morbidity rates. Objectives: This study aims to explore the prevalence, patterns, and phenotypic spectrum of NDD in district Lakki Marwat population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Methodology: From 2022 to 2023, a cross-sectional study was conducted and subjects or families with NDD were recruited from district hospitals, rural and urban areas. Door to door survey was also carried out to collect appropriate data. The study gathered phenotypic and descriptive data, clinical information including age, gender, family history, consanguinity and bio-demographic features were recorded. Results: A total of 276 independent cases/families with NDD were ascertained. The malformations were grouped into major and minor categories. Most of the case/families (58.69%) were sporadic, and 38.04% of the population was classified as having a low-income status. The most frequent family type was a single spouse with children (27.89%), while extended families made up 21.37% of all cases. Demographic variables such as parental consanguinity, syndromic/non-syndromic, familial/sporadic nature, economics status, age of disease onset and pedigree structures showed conspicuous heterogeneity among the major and minor categories of NDD. Conclusion: The high incidence of NDD indicates that nongenetic factors may play a vital role in their etiology which could be diminished by improving the healthcare system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

My personal experience as a foster child in various extended family households in southeast Nigeria is something I wish to document in my adult life. My research engagement with study participants on informal foster care practice is also a story I aspire to share in a social work evidence-based journal. This paper therefore is not focused on reporting research findings from a study. It is rather a departure, as it tells a fascinating story of how I developed a research interest in informal foster care practice growing up as a foster child in Igbo indigenous communities in southeast Nigeria. Incorporating indigenous knowledge and diverse ontological perspectives into social work theory and practice in Nigeria is vital in developing culturally relevant interventions that resonate with local values and address the unique needs of diverse communities. The methodology of this narrative is autoethnography, which is linked to the growing debate on reflexivity. I used my personal experiences to illustrate aspects of cultural practice, and in so doing, I made informal foster care practice in Igbo indigenous communities familiar to insiders and outsiders. My story therefore provides an educational resource for readers, especially social workers who are working with children and families with heritage from the Igbo ethnic group. Sharing my personal stories on this cultural practice will provide cultural guides for intercontinental and Nigerian-based social workers. It will also promote indigenous knowledge and a strength-based approach to working with families directly from or with heritage from the Igbo ethnic group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In nature, animal vocalizations can provide crucial information about identity, including kinship and hierarchy. However, lab-based vocal behavior is typically studied during brief interactions between animals with no prior social relationship, and under environmental conditions with limited ethological relevance. Here, we address this gap by establishing long-term acoustic recordings from Mongolian gerbil families, a core social group that uses an array of sonic and ultrasonic vocalizations. Three separate gerbil families were transferred to an enlarged environment and continuous 20-day audio recordings were obtained. Using a variational autoencoder (VAE) to quantify 583,237 vocalizations, we show that gerbils exhibit a more elaborate vocal repertoire than has been previously reported and that vocal repertoire usage differs significantly by family. By performing gaussian mixture model clustering on the VAE latent space, we show that families preferentially use characteristic sets of vocal clusters and that these usage preferences remain stable over weeks. Furthermore, gerbils displayed family-specific transitions between vocal clusters. Since gerbils live naturally as extended families in complex underground burrows that are adjacent to other families, these results suggest the presence of a vocal dialect which could be exploited by animals to represent kinship. These findings position the Mongolian gerbil as a compelling animal model to study the neural basis of vocal communication and demonstrates the potential for using unsupervised machine learning with uninterrupted acoustic recordings to gain insights into naturalistic animal behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the growing attention paid to problematic internet use (PIU), this study aims to i) explore the prevalence of PIU based on a nationally representative sample and ii) propose and validate the theoretical model that correlates family climate with PIU. One national cross-sectional study was conducted with probability sampling and stratified sampling. Overall, 21,854 sample were included and analyzed. Validated measures of family climate, loneliness, and PIU was distributed and collected from June 2022 to August 2022. The overall prevalence of PIU in the sample population is approximately 30.86 %. The model findings showed that family communication and family health had indirect effects of −0.12 and − 0.05 on PIU by the mediating effects of loneliness. The indirect effect explained 80.0 % of the total effect of family communication on PIU and 38.5 % of family health on PIU, highlighting the dominance effects of path family communication and PIU via loneliness. Extended family type (−0.047, p = 0.050), low family income (income≤3000 group, −0.127, p < 0.001) were identified as protective factors against PIU, while not living with family members (0.034, p = 0.021) was identified as risk factors of PIU. The nature of cross-sectional data have the limitation of preventing examining the casual relationships of PIU and the loneliness and family climate, in which future longitudinal study design is needed. The high prevalence of PIU should be given adequate attention. Optimizing the family climate or family atmosphere by improving positive communication skills, providing family support and family health external resources can be served as effective strategies for controlling PIU. • High prevalence of PIU was found among northwest and middle China and young population. • The path family communication and PIU via loneliness counted 80 % of the total effects. • Extended family type, low family income were protective factors against PIU. • Not living with family members was predictors of developing PIU. • Optimizing the family climate and reducing loneliness are effective strategy against PIU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Patients requiring haemodialysis often perceive the cost of their travels to the dialysis centres as a significant burden. The study aimed to collect a first Swiss national data set on transport costs and assess their impact on patients and their relatives. Methods: In addition to interviews with patients, a quantitative survey was developed and distributed online using a voluntary sampling strategy. Data were analysed by means of descriptive statistics. A Sounding Board of patients, relatives, and healthcare professionals accompanied all steps of the project. Results: A total of 6 dialysis patients were interviewed; 437 respondents of the national survey met the inclusion criteria. Patients travel a median distance of 7.5 km to their dialysis centres. For 78% of them, the journey takes up to 30 min, and nearly half use their private car as their main mode of transport. The median annual transport costs are CHF 2925 (mean = CHF 5041). Approximately half of the patients perceive transport costs as a burden or limitation, yet only about 30% receive financial support, for which there is no standard process. Patients requiring financial support reported difficulties navigating the system. Conclusions: This study highlighted that many dialysis patients are burdened by transport costs and receive limited financial support and counselling services. Implementation of a standardised process for financial support should be explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unaddressed hearing loss and middle ear problems have lifelong implications for speech and language development, social skills, education, and future employment opportunities. In Aotearoa New Zealand, Māori and Pasifika peoples are overrepresented in ear and hearing health statistics and experience many unmet needs. Despite the promise of equal outcomes under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, there is a well-established body of literature reporting poor health-related outcomes for Māori and Pasifika peoples. Tamariki (children) and their whānau (families) face a range of multi-factorial barriers when accessing ear and hearing health services. This study aims to explore the experiences of Māori and Pasifika whānau accessing these services in the Counties Manukau region, Auckland. The research was guided by Kaupapa Māori and Pan-Pacific research principles, which aim to address power relationships in research, critique deficit discourses, and maintain high quality standards for Māori and Pacific health research. Six whānau interviews were conducted and thematic analysis of data resulted in three themes – Whānau are experts, Power and control, and What makes a good ear and hearing health service. In addition, Māori and Pasifika whānau made suggestions for improvements in ear and hearing healthcare, which will inform larger scale ear and hearing health projects in NZ. Glossary of Māori words: hapū: kinship group, clan, tribe, subtribe – section of a large kinship group; iwi: tribe, nation, people, nationality, race; karakia: prayer, grace, blessing; lotu: prayer, blessing; Māori: normal, ordinary, indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand; mokopuna: grandchild, great-nephew or great-niece; Pākehā: (Te Reo Māori) European; Papa'a: (Cook Island Māori) European; raranga: weaving; tamariki: children; taonga: treasure; Tauiwi: (Te Reo Māori) non-Māori people of Aotearoa New Zealand; Te Taiao: world; Earth; natural world; environment; tikanga: correct procedure, custom, method, manner, rule, way, code, practice; wāhine: woman, female; whakapapa: genealogy; lineage; descent; whānau: extended family network, family group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family members of people with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) often experience high levels of psychological symptoms such as depression, anxiety, or burden. Family Connections (FC) is a pioneer program designed for relatives of people with BPD, and it is the most empirically supported treatment thus far. The aim of this study was to carry out a randomized clinical trial to confirm the differential efficacy of FC versus an active treatment as usual (TAU) in relatives of people with BPD in a Spanish population sample. The sample consisted of 121 family members (82 family units) and a total of 82 patients who participated in a two‐arm randomized controlled trial (RCT). The primary outcome was burden of illness. Secondary outcomes were depression, anxiety, stress, family empowerment, and quality of life. This is the first study to evaluate relatives and patients in an RCT design comparing two active treatment conditions of similar durations. Although no statistically significant differences were found between conditions. However, the adjusted posttest means for FC were systematically better than for TAU, and the effect sizes were larger in burden, stress, depression, family functioning, and quality of life in the FC intervention. Patients of caregivers who received the FC condition showed statistically significant improvements in stress, depression, and anxiety. Results indicated that FC helped both patients and relatives pointing to the importance of involving families of patients with severe psychological disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eating disorders (ED) usually involve hospital admission and a high relapse rate, with the return home being a critical moment for patients and their families. After their return home, they often have trouble incorporating the guidelines they have learned into their daily context. ECHOMANTRA intervention program aims to facilitate this transition by offering psychological strategies that involve both patients and their families and carers. Specifically, the ECHO program is aimed at the relatives of these patients. The present study aimed to analyze the efficacy of adding the ECHO program to the usual treatment (TAU) of relatives through a novel format based on individual intervention and with an online format and to examine the acceptability and feasibility of this new format. The study design was multi‐center, randomized, controlled, with a longitudinal design and comparing two parallel groups. A total of 108 family members participated. Results indicated that relatives from both groups, TAU and ECHO + TAU, showed improvements in expressed emotion, accommodation, impact of the ED, emotional well‐being, and caregiver skills. However, effect sizes in the ECHO + TAU group were slightly larger than the TAU group. In addition, the changes were greater in depression and caregiver skills when the ECHO component was added. Most caregivers (81.48%) completed the ECHO and indicated a high level of satisfaction with the program. These results suggest the efficacy and the feasibility of adding the ECHO intervention program to the usual treatment in an individual online format. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family members and loved ones of individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) can experience high levels of distress. Types of distress reported by family members include burden, grief, depression, guilt, and powerlessness. Hopelessness is a construct that has received little attention despite its potential relevance for this group. This study sought to examine, and assess potential change in, hopelessness among individuals attending a 12‐week Family Connections (FC) program. Participants were 75 family members, 29 men and 46 women. Most participants were parents (n = 43; 57%). Data were collected at four time‐points and outcomes included hopelessness, burden, and grief. The majority of participants (82%) reported scores within the 'minimal' or 'mild' ranges of hopelessness before the FC program. A greater proportion of participants in the 60–70 year age group reported scores in the 'moderate/severe' category when compared with younger age groups. The mean hopelessness score for all participants before FC was 4.61 which is considered mild. There was no significant difference in hopelessness scores after program completion. Although mean scores increased at both 3‐month and 12‐month follow‐ups, they continued to remain in the 'mild' category. Hopelessness scores in the current study are similar to those reported in previous studies, although no significant change was found after FC completion. Concepts of personal vs. situational hopelessness should be considered, as well as the relevance of assessing personal hopelessness for this participant group. Further research is needed to determine the relationship between family member hopelessness and index client wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rising child welfare costs and a desire to keep kids out of the system have encouraged the use of kinship care—of which custodial grandparents make up the majority of caregivers. Unfortunately, custodial grandparents report greater needs for social and emotional support to successfully care for their grandchildren. Yet, the resources required to provide preventive social-emotional support to these families are unknown. In the wake of the Family First Act and other policy actions to expand preventive services, we undertake a cost analysis of the social intelligence training (SIT) within a randomized controlled trial spanning 48 states of the United States of America. Estimated implementation costs were $90,638 (CI $45,254–186,998) which equated to $255 (CI $127–526) per participant. This dual-generation online approach offers key lessons into not only how to resource social-emotional learning (SEL) prevention for custodial grandparents—but also sheds light on how we might provide universal supports to this population. Child welfare system costs have risen to over $33 billion dollars a year—with nearly half of all spending being the result of out-of-home placement (Rosinsky et al., 2021) Child Welfare Financing SFY 2018: A survey of federal, state, and local expenditures. https://www.childtrends.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ChildWelfareFinancing%5fChildTrends%5fMarch2021.pdf). Practitioners, policymakers, and child advocates are seeking solutions for how to both better protect children and manage these growing public costs (Ringel et al., 2018). Improving child welfare outcomes: Balancing investments in prevention and treatment. Rand health quarterly, 7(4)). Further, many extended families seek ways to keep children out of the "system" when parents are unable to care for their offspring (Lin, Children and Youth Services Review 93:203–216, 2018). A strategy used by all of these groups is the use of kinship care arrangements where extended family provides formal or informal care of children. Several important benefits are recognized from kinship care, including providing connections to family members, communities, and culture. Yet, little is known about how social-emotional supports could enhance kinship arrangements, and to date, no studies have systematically evaluated the costs of such supports. In this context, we conduct a cost analysis of such a program—known as social intelligence training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine what professional factors impact the retention of pathology workers in regional, rural and remote Australia. Design: A cross‐sectional survey was used to collect data regarding the professional factors that impact the retention of regional, rural and remote pathology workers in Australia (n = 95). The survey focused on pathology workers' satisfaction with specific professional factors and how long they intended to stay in their current position. Setting: Regional, rural and remote (MM2‐7) pathology laboratories in Australia. Participants: There were a total of 95 participants, including 24 phlebotomists/laboratory assistants, 34 medical laboratory scientists and 29 supervisors/managers, with the majority of participants being from New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia. Results: Significant positive associations were found between satisfaction with career advancement opportunities, workplace culture and maintaining professional skills with the retention of regional, rural and remote pathology workers. Open‐ended responses indicated that personal factors also played an important role in pathology worker retention in regional, rural and remote communities. Conclusion: This study provides important insights into the professional factors that impact the retention of pathology workers in regional, rural and remote Australia. Personal factors were also found to play an important role in retention. These findings have highlighted the need for further research to be conducted to explore the relationship between professional and personal factors and how this impacts the retention of pathology workers in regional, rural and remote Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adequate death preparation positively influences families' experience before death and during bereavement. However, how to prepare families in non-Western cultures has received scant attention. Aim: To explore family caregivers' experiences in preparing for a relative's death in specialist palliative care in Taiwan. Design: A qualitative study employing reflexive thematic analysis of data collected from semi-structured interviews was conducted. Setting/participants: Twenty-two family caregivers from seven hospitals participated. Results: The overarching theme was 'getting everything right to have no regrets between the dead and the living'. We developed two themes to explain preparations for the time surrounding and after the death, including the deceased' afterlife: (1) 'having a good ending but not the end of the relationship', which addresses preparations for the death itself, the funeral, the afterlife and maintaining connections and (2) 'using religious beliefs and cultural norms to guide preparation', which explores perceptions of a good death, including refrain from strong emotions before and after the death. Conclusion: Funeral arrangements, enhancing the deceased's afterlife and maintaining connections to the deceased are crucial for families' experiences which can be impacted by actions they take as they prepare for the death. A culturally appropriate death is beneficial for the dying relative which includes preparing to not show strong emotions during and after the death. These insights inform the importance of the cultural context in death preparation in Taiwan and provide perspectives for palliative care beyond Western culture, potentially benefiting Chinese populations, predominantly East Asian and Buddhist societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study investigates how social categories work and intersect in siblings bereaved by drug-related deaths' (DRDs) stories about their relationships to their deceased brother or sister. The sociocultural embedded process of making meaning of the relationship with the deceased individual is essential in adapting to the loss. However, insight into such experiences of siblings bereaved by a DRD is scarce. Previous research has suggested that DRDs may be stigmatized life experiences for bereaved family members, and this paper furthers understanding of the experiences and issues involved in losing a sibling in a stigmatized death. Methods: An intersectional analysis is applied to interviews with 14 bereaved siblings. By investigating and displaying how different categories intertwine, various positionings are identified. Findings: Categorization of the deceased siblings as "addicts" constructs a troubled position. However, when "addict" intersects with the categories "unique," "sibling," and "uncle," the troubled subject's position as an "addict" can be concealed. Conclusions: Normative conceptions of addiction and DRDs produce troubled subject positions. By intermingling the category of "addict" with other categories, less problematic positions are created. Still, intersections of categories can also construct further complexities of remorse and self-blame for the bereaved siblings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under Vietnam's stringent drug laws and prevailing negative societal attitudes toward drug users, families face challenges in reporting members dealing with drug abuse. Such underreporting poses critical challenges, including a distorted understanding of the true extent of drug abuse, hindering targeted interventions and resulting in individuals being inaccessible to vital treatment and assistance. This study focuses on the shifting family structures in rural Vietnam, particularly the transition from extended to nuclear families. While prior research indicates higher drug abuse prevalence in nuclear families, reporting dynamics present a different narrative. Analyzing data from 1,772 rural communes using a Heckman selection model, we find that increasing nuclear families correlates with a lower probability of reporting drug abuse and fewer reported drug users. This finding suggests that communities with more nuclear families may harbor a greater prevalence of unreported drug users, posing significant policy challenges. Addressing underreporting becomes crucial for informed interventions combating drug abuse in evolving rural contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An integrative review methodology was employed, following PRISMA guidelines and Whittemore and Knafi's method for integrative review. Thus, the review synthesised the findings of empirical literature published between 2005 and 2023 drawn from four databases: CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Scopus. From the seven studies that met the inclusion criteria, a number of themes emerged: (a) relief of carer burden; (b) benefits for individuals with Mental Illness (MI); (c) barriers to accessing respite care; and (d) inappropriate services model for respite care for individuals with MI. The review findings indicate that using respite care services can decrease a carer's burden and can positively impact both carers and individuals with MI. Conversely, respite care may cause an increase in carers' stress levels due to the lack of service availability, insufficient knowledge and understanding about respite care services for carers, respite accessibility challenges accessible for people with MI and the reluctance of people with MI to accept respite care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Children with anorectal malformations (ARMs) benefit from bowel management programs (BMPs) to manage constipation or fecal incontinence. We aimed to understand the role of social determinants of health (SDOH) in outcomes following BMPs in this population. Materials and Methods A single-institution, institutional review board (IRB) approved, retrospective review was performed in children with ARM who underwent BMP from 2014 to 2021. Clinical, surgical, and SDOH data were collected. Children were stratified as clean or not clean per the Rome IV criteria at the completion of BMP. Descriptive statistics were computed. Categorical variables were analyzed via Fisher's exact tests and continuous variables with Mood's median tests. Results In total, 239 patients who underwent BMP were identified; their median age was 6.62 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 4.78–9.83). Of these, 81 (34%) were not clean after completing BMP. Children with prior history of antegrade enema procedures had a higher rate of failure. Children who held public insurance, lived within driving distance, had unmarried parents, lived with extended family, and lacked formal support systems had a significant association with BMP failure (p < 0.05 for all). Type of ARM, age at repair, type of repair, age at BMP, and type of BMP regimen were not significantly associated with failure. Conclusions There is a significant correlation of failure of BMPs with several SDOH elements in patients with ARM. Attention to SDOH may help identify high-risk patients in whom additional care may lead improved outcomes following BMP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To estimate children's exposure to family overdose in the United States. Methods. We used recent demographic kinship modeling advances and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's most recent underlying cause of death estimates to model how many children aged younger than 18 years in 2019 had lost 1 or more parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts or uncles, or cousins to overdose mortality since birth. We calculated the number and proportion of children with such exposures and considered age, cohort, and gender patterning. Results. More than 1.4 million children in the United States, mostly adolescents, experienced a family overdose death, often losing central figures like parents or grandparents. Cohort analyses suggest dramatic increases in these exposures, portending mounting prevalence. Conclusions. Attention to the large population with lives disrupted by overdose deaths should include affected children. The long-arm consequences of the overdose crisis will continue to define the public health landscape for decades. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(12):1394–1397. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307847) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fear of contracting the disease, introduction of practices such as quarantine, social isolation, and curfew to prevent its transmission, and effects of experiencing a loss due to this disease are experienced differently by different people. The empirical phenomenological approach will be used to describe, explain, and analyze the experiences of the family members of individuals who lost their lives due to COVID-19. This study was created in accordance with COREQ Statement Checklist. The themes obtained from the interviews are "death in isolation", "changing cultural–religious practices that cannot be performed", "not being able to say goodbye".This transformed grieving process caused by the pandemic may create unique psychosocial needs among family members. To meet these needs, planning and organizing complex grief therapy, speech therapies, expressive supportive counseling, and grief recovery programs is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article delves into a genealogical investigation by Paul Gardner, who made minor corrections to a family tree on Ancestry after discovering Linda Kay's maiden name as Beiles. Gardner found a genetic link between Linda and himself, revealing her full name as Linda Kay Beiles. Kim Edwards discusses her writing process, likening it to archaeology, where revision uncovers hidden elements within the text. Despite the differences between genealogy research and novel-writing, Edwards finds similarities in the exploration of underlying layers in both practices. [Extracted from the article]

This study investigates patterns in the chaotic appearance of self-help incremental housing in a kampung settlement. Many previous studies have investigated suitable incremental housing for low-income residents, but the pattern of self-help incremental housing has not been carefully investigated. The shape grammar method is used to identify the delivered pattern of self-help incremental housing, and in-depth interviews are performed to clarify the reasons for the pattern found. This study finds that the organized chaotic pattern of self-help incremental housing depends on geographical location and familial relationships, which allow construction over the perimeter of a land parcel through negotiation to reach agreement between homeowners and neighbors. Further, self-help incremental housing is driven by external and internal factors, such as the lack of affordability in the housing market, the mismatch of available job opportunities with the credentials and competencies, and the practiced social relationships among kin or relatives, which demand the expansion of the size of the residence to allow sufficient meeting space and privacy for the core and extended family members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This case study explores the role of adult siblings in bridging and brokering cultural and linguistic gaps in special education on behalf of their sibling with a disability. Focusing on the Le family, the study explores how Eunice Le, an adult sibling, is navigating communication between their Vietnamese-speaking family and the school, and advocating for their brother Kai, a culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) student with autism. The case is premised on two key provisions within the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that center on the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team configuration and parent participation. This case reveals the difficulties that arise when schools and families have divergent approaches to supporting students with disabilities and their extended families from racialized and minoritized communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of University of Health Sciences Journal of Nursing is the property of Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi 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.)

Kinship caregivers (e.g., grandparents raising grandchildren) have been increasing over the last several decades. Approximately 3.5 million grandparents and other relatives are the primary caregivers for their related children, and African Americans are more likely to be kinship caregivers than persons from other groups. Kinship caregivers face unique challenges, such as parenting for uncertain periods of time and often with insufficient financial resources and support, placing them at significant risk of stress. Given the findings linking chronic stress to Alzheimer's disease (AD), there is a need for research to identify possible stressors and mitigate risks for outcomes such as AD among kin caregivers. Additionally, research indicates that African Americans (AAs) experience unusually high levels of stress due to factors often associated with structural racism, and they are disproportionately affected by cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is often a consequence of stress and another risk factor for AD. Regrettably, AA kin caregivers often incur a host of negative stress-related outcomes, including poor physical and mental health. Thus, there is an urgent need for research to identify modifiable risk factors for both stress and CVD to potentially mitigate the onset of AD in this population. The purpose of this paper is to provide a conceptual framework to examine the links between African Americans who commit to the unselfish act of providing kinship caregiving and their susceptibility to AD. Future research should investigate modifiable mechanisms to reduce the risks of AD in African American caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

The ‘Taringa Whakarongo’ [TW] project presents the first narratives on hearing loss and hearing healthcare [HHC] among kaumātua and whānau. The purpose behind the project was to explore kaumātua and their whānau lived experiences of hearing loss and HHC. Hearing health care professionals’ and Māori health professionals’ perspectives were also examined. Through a Kaupapa Māori lens and reflexive thematic analysis, the sense of hearing was identified as a taonga among kaumātua. However, colonisation, societal stigma of hearing loss, and barriers to accessing whānau-centred HHC and hearing technology continue to impact kaumātua with hearing difficulties and their whānau. Hard-of-hearing kaumātua can thrive in their communities when they and their whānau are supported. Highlighted in this article are key recommendations for the Crown and health sector based on research partner narratives including valuing and prioritising whānau-centered care; supporting whakawhanaungatanga, Māori HHC leadership and culturally safe care; continuing Kaupapa Māori research endeavours and adopting an Indigenous rights-based approach to hearing health.Glossary of kupu Māori (Māori words): Hauora Māori: Māori health; Ihirangaranga: Healing sound vibrations; Iwi: Tribe/s; Kanohi ki te kanohi: Face-to-face; Karakia: Prayer/blessing; Karanga: Ceremonial call or summoning; Kaumātua: Māori elder/s; Kaupapa: Main purpose of the encounter or collective vision; Kaupapa Māori: Embedded within Māori practices, values, beliefs, it is a by Māori, for Māori, with Māori, philosophical and relational way of doing, connecting, being, and thinking; Kaupapa whānau: Members with a common purpose or disabling experience who provide supporting and nurturing roles that traditional whānau provide; Koha: Gift; Kōrero: speak/discussion; Mana: Power; Mana motuhake: Independence, autonomy; Manaakitanga: The act of support and showing respect; Māori: The Indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand also refers to normal/ordinary; Māori-ki-te-Māori: Māori to Māori; Marae: Māori communal and sacred meeting grounds where Māori values and philosophy are reaffirmed; Mātauranga Māori: Māori body of knowledge, epistemology, and worldview; Me rongo i te whanaungatanga: Feeling connected; Mihimihi: Greeting; Mokopuna: Grandchildren; Paepae: Place on the marae where orators sit, stand, and deliver their speeches; Rōpū: Group/s; Taha hinengaro: Mental and emotional wellbeing; Tāmaki Makaurau: Auckland region, Tāmaki-desired-by-many or Tāmaki of 100 lovers; Tamariki Māori: Māori child/ren; tanga: Being in the state of; Tāngata whaikaha: People with lived experiences of disability; Tāngata whaikaha kaumātua: Kaumātua with lived experiences of disability; Tangata whenua: People of the land; Taonga: a treasure to be valued and preserved; Te Ao Māori: The Māori world; Te reo Māori: The Māori language; Te Taiao: The natural world; Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Te Tiriti): Te reo Māori version of a fundamental binding agreement in New Zealand between Māori and the British Crown; Tino rangatiratanga: Sovereignty, self-determination, sovereignty; Waiata: songs; Whaikōrero: Formal speech; Whakamā: Shy and ashamed; Whakapapa: Genealogical relation to all things living and non-living; Whakapapa whānau: Members genealogically connected by common ancestors; Whakarongo: Listen; Whakawātea: Reflections and clearing the pathway forward; Whakawhanaungatanga: The process of establishing and maintaining relationships; Whānau: Immediate and extended family network; Whanaunga: Relation; Whenua: Lands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of persons forcibly displaced across international borders increased significantly over the last decade and forced migrants' spatial family configurations have diversified and are likely to show different patterns compared to what research has found for, e.g. labour migrants. This paper examines and disentangles the diversity of spatial family arrangements across countries of nuclear and extended family members of female and male forced migrants surveyed in Germany. Moreover, I propose a typology of refugees' family configurations based on the whereabouts of the partner, children, parents, and siblings. The empirical analyses employ representative survey data of recent refugees from Eritrea and Syria collected in Germany in 2020. This dataset allows to account for the whereabouts of members of the nuclear as well as extended family. Descriptive statistics show the prevalence and distributions of locations of specific family members and cluster analysis is conducted to identify and propose a typology of spatial configurations of refugee families. Finally, multinomial logistic regressions are used to test associations between the obtained clusters and gender, country of origin and the financial situation, controlling for other characteristics. The findings indicate that multi-transnational family constellations beyond origin and destination countries are a common pattern among refugees, especially when considering nuclear as well as extended family members. Furthermore, different types of spatial family arrangements are related to gender and country of origin as well as family financial resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT No previous study on the interrelation between parental birth order and offspring educational attainment has analysed the first stage of tracking into schools, which in many countries is highly selective of persons who aim for university studies. We do so and examine how parental birth order is associated with attainment of general upper secondary education in Finland. Three‐generational register data on the total population are used to assess how the probability of having the matriculation examination at age 20 is associated with parental birth order. The total number of individuals in the child generation is 377,038. We find that the probability of having the matriculation examination decreases with parental birth order. Within‐family analyses using cousin fixed effects models, which account for unobserved characteristics in the extended family, show that having later‐born parents, and in particular a later‐born father, is negatively associated with first tracking into schools. These patterns can solely be attributed to the fact that earlier‐born parents are highly educated and found in higher social classes than later‐born parents. The results largely corroborate findings from similar analyses of length of schooling in Sweden, although the contribution of parental education and social class is notably stronger in our study context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to demographic developments, the number of immigrant families with older members is growing across Western Europe. Poised between the different approaches to care in their countries of origin and destination, such families are treading new ground as they negotiate support for older family members. Based on semi-structured interviews with 26 older and younger family members from 20 Turkish immigrant families in Denmark, this article investigates the broad variation in how these families approach caring for older people. At one end of the scale, some families (re)create a traditional Turkish approach to care in which three generations live together and the daughter-in-law is the main care provider. At the other end of the scale, some families follow the Danish approach in which families rely on public care provision. In between these two poles, many families devise a variety of care solutions for their older members that often rely on considerable support by family. Utilising Cati Coe's concept of care-scription , the analysis shows how families negotiate – and sometimes struggle over – who will shoulder which tasks. In the post-migration context, daughters-in-law are often able to retreat from their traditional role of care provider, which in turn increases expectations of daughters' care provisions. In Denmark, which is a relatively gender-equal society, Turkish daughters may seek to make their brothers take on a greater role in the provision of care for their parents, and in some families, the children also turn towards public care provisions to share the burden of parental care. Resistance from older parents may, however, short-circuit this strategy. Overall, the study points both to the difficulties faced by older immigrants with limited host-country language proficiency when utilising public European care provisions and to the complex and unsettled nature of care provisions in immigrant families in Europe today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of mātua (fathers) in the parenting of their tamariki (children) is bound within cultural worldviews, values, norms and expectations. For pre-colonial Māori, the primal parents, Ranginui (Sky Father) and Papatūānuku (Earth Mother), not only provided an archetypical depiction of parenting, but established child rearing practices, whānau (familial and extended family) roles and responsibilities and the place of individuals, including tamariki and mātua. Colonisation impacted hugely on traditional tamaiti (child) rearing practices, introducing western parenting norms and perspectives. This article explores the knowledge, experiences and understandings of contemporary mātua, related to their ideas about being tāne [The use of the macron above the ā in words such as tane (tāne) and matua (mātua) indicates the plural form is being referred to. Where relevant we have followed this convention throughout] (men) Māori, parenting understandings, roles, relationships and aspirations for their tamariki. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Utilization of oocyte donation has become an increasingly common practice in assisted reproductive technology (ART). Since the introduction of larger carrier screening (CS) panels and extended family medical histories (EFMH), studies have not examined how this information factors into the oocyte donor selection process. This exploratory, qualitative study provides further insight into what role, if any, donors' available genetic information (e.g., larger CS panels and EFMH) plays in selecting an oocyte donor. Methods: An online screening survey was distributed to individuals who have undergone or are currently in the process of selecting an oocyte donor through the RESOLVE network and Mayo Clinic's Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility clinic. From 13 survey respondents, six oocyte recipients subsequently participated in semi-structured telephone interviews and discussed their experiences as oocyte recipients including their perceptions of donors' available genetic information and process in choosing an oocyte donor. Results: Genetic information was seen as valuable and reassuring for participants, particularly EFMH, but did not play a significant role in the selection process for these participants. Supplemental emergent themes provide context on the psychosocial complexities of the oocyte recipient experience and possible explanations for why genetic information is not a decisional priority. Participants indicated genetic information was not extensively discussed or fully explained by providers. Conclusions: Results demonstrate how genetic counselors can be more involved in the pre-selection process to discuss the utility and limitations of genetic information, as well as address psychosocial issues common to the oocyte recipient experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Assistive technology for elderly are advancing, and this study aimed to analyse the Indian perspective on utilising assistive robot technology for aiding elderly individuals. Materials and Methods: A population-based survey was undertaken to collect data from three perspectives: Relatives of the elderly, Healthcare professionals and Elderly individuals. The survey gathered 389 responses. The responses are statistically analysed, and data is visualised with different plots for better understanding. Results: It is observed that the older people rate with less conviction on the use of technology when compared to the relatives and healthcare professionals. Out of the three target groups, the elderly individuals had the most correlating attributes to purchasing the robot. Also, healthcare personnel, relatives, and older people gave 82%, 63% and 55% affirmatives to the question on purchasing the robot, respectively. And the cost of the robot is preferred to be under 6 lakh rupees. Conclusions: Though the younger generation has more orientation towards technology, older people are skeptical about handling computer gadgets or robots. However, there are significant expectations and concerns expressed by three target groups such as conversational, navigational, reminder features, security and malfunction concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diaries have been used regularly in international settings as an evidence‐based and easily applicable intervention following a person‐centred approach in the intensive care unit (ICU). In addition, a diary web application known as 'Post‐ICU' has been implemented. Aim: To explore the usability of an innovative digital diary from the perspectives of intensive care patients' relatives. Study Design: A cross‐sectional online survey study was applied among a convenience sample of relatives in the ICUs of two hospitals in the Netherlands. The investigator‐developed questionnaire included, among other things, items with the appreciation of the layout, user friendliness and functionality of the diary. Relevance and applicability were rated between 1 and 10. Data were analysed with SPSS© software, version 27, and reported as the means (±standard deviation [SD]) and percentages. Results: Sixty‐three relatives with an average age of 51 years (SD ± 14.3) participated in the study; there was a slight predominance of women (57%). All but one participant found using the digital diary easy and were able to upload photos to the diary. The participants had invited other relatives (75%) and nurses (61%) to write in the diary, which they viewed as easily feasible (89%). The relevance and applicability of the diary were rated with mean scores of 8.1 (SD ± 1.9) and 8.3 (SD ± 1.6), respectively. Conclusions: The participants found the Post‐ICU diary web application highly valuable and easily feasible. Perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and technophobia were not found to influence the usability of the digital diary. Relevance to Clinical Practice: The implementation of this new digital tool supports a person‐centred ICU policy because of its focus on the personal diary entries of the patient and the collaborative writing process featuring relatives and professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients may suffer due to their family member's substance use disorder but hesitate to discuss it because of stigma and shame. Primary care physicians can help. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]