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A-Mei Luo,1 Yuan-Sheng Yang,2 Yan Zhong,1 Rong-Fang Zeng,1 Qiao-Huo Liao,1 Jing Yuan,3 Wan-Ling Xiao,4 Lu-Lu Sun1 1Department of Paediatrics, The Third People’s Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518000, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Hematology, The Third People’s Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518000, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Infectious Disease, The Third People’s Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518000, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Nursing, The Third People’s Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, 518000, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Lu-Lu Sun, Department of Paediatrics, the Third People’s Hospital of Shenzhen, No. 29 of Bulan Road, Longgang District, Shenzhen, 518000, People’s Republic of China, Tel + 86 13510332310, Fax + 0755 61238983, Email sunlulusl@126.com Wan-Ling Xiao, Department of Nursing, The Third People’s Hospital of Shenzhen, No. 29 of Bulan Road, Longgang District, Shenzhen, 518000, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 13 500 054 520, Fax +0755 61 238 983, Email wanling_x01@126.comObjective: To explore the factors that lead to occupational burnout among nurses in pediatric infectious disease wards after two consecutive years of frontline anti-epidemic work since the admission of COVID-19 patients in January 2020, in order to lay a scientific basis for reducing nurse occupational burnout.Methods: A total of 12 nurses who working in pediatric infection units were included in the study. Utilizing qualitative research methodologies, we used semi-structured interviews as the primary data collection method. The interview data underwent meticulous organization and were subjected to descriptive analysis.Results: 12 nurses assigned to pediatric infection wards frequently encounter occupational burnout, primarily attributed to increased work intensity, nurse-patient relationships, occupational frustration, psychological pressure, hospital infections, and various other contributing factors.Conclusion: We found that the severity of occupational burnout among nurses specializing in pediatric infectious diseases is noteworthy. Our recommendations include heightened consideration of this issue by government authorities and hospital administrators.Keywords: nurses, children, healthcare personnel, infectious infection area, occupational burnout, qualitative investigation

In this article, we discuss the analytical findings from a qualitative investigation of musicking (Small, 1998) with a digital score. The main focus of this article is our methodology and the outline of our methods. The composition at the centre of this study is Nautilus -- a digital score created using the Unity game engine. We discuss in detail the construction of a novel quantitative dataset, which has been designed as a standard structure for the analysis of different digital score case studies. Following this we present our analytical findings from the qualitative study and outline the themes that were created as part of a thematic analysis. As a conclusion, we assess the relevance of our findings against the core aims of the project, critically reflect on the methodology, and finally present some design considerations that emerged through this case study for those wishing to explore game engines as a platform for creative music-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interest in voluntary assisted death (VAD) has been growing among researchers, policy makers and the public. This study aimed to explore older adults' perspectives on VAD in Australia. Using purposive sampling, 15 adults ≥65 years participated in in-depth semi-structured interviews. Interpretative phenomenological analysis identified four themes: cultural reflections; beliefs and worldviews; health aspects; and fabric of life. Participants expressed a desire to have control over end-of-life options, challenged by religious beliefs. Participants expressed concern that VAD legislation could leave people vulnerable to coercion and saw a need for safeguards. Reasons for and against supporting and utilising VAD were discussed. Physical illness was seen a more compelling reason for VAD than mental ill-health. Finally, connections to life and other were discussed, and being able to do the things one loved were named aspects of what it meant to live a good life. Implications are discussed along with future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: An exploratory qualitative investigation to determine the causes of adolescent marriage, analyze the effect of early marriage on stunting, and analyze the food patterns of toddlers in adolescent marriage in South Kalimantan, Indonesia. Method: The method used is phenomenology using the FGD system and in-depth interviews. Participants include the FGD informants from the Family Planning Regional Apparatus Organization, the Office of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection and the Office of Religious Affairs from 13 Regencies/Cities in South Kalimantan. In-depth interview informants were adolescent marriage offenders and their parents, adolescent pregnant women, midwives, integrated health service post cadres, and community leaders each taken from three Regencies/Cities. Results: There are not many formal adolescent marriages because they have to get a recommendation from the Religious Courts. Adolescent marriages mostly occur through informal marriages. The high rate of early marriage in South Kalimantan Province is caused by culture and weak enforcement of the rules. The incidence of adolescent marriage is caused by promiscuity and information. Meanwhile, adolescent marriage is mostly due to economic motives and limited education facilities in rural areas. Adolescent marriage is not closely related to the incidence of stunting, but low education can be a factor in the inability of parents to provide good parenting, especially feeding pratice. Conclusions: Adolescent marriages appear to be triggered by economic motives and teenagers' desires, as well as driven by economic conditions, social influences, and a lack of encouragement to complete formal education. It was observed that stunting is more common among toddlers with adolescent mothers than toddlers with adult mothers. There is a poor feeding parenting pattern of toddlers with adolescent parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The implementation of the NVBP policy has generated considerable reductions in drug procurement prices and an increase in the market share of the NVBP drugs.This study aimed to investigate patients' attitudes towards switching to drugs of national volume-based procurement (NVBP) and identify their underlying influencing factors in Wuhan, China. Methods A total of 21 eligible patients from the Wuhan Union Hospital who were switched to NVBP drugs between January 2022 and May 2022 were included in our study. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect interview information and the interview data was analyzed by the Colaizzi seven-step method. Results Twenty-one semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted. The duration of each interview was 25–35 min and three themes related to patients' attitudes and their influencing factors were extracted, including (1) Patients' perception of the NVBP drugs; (2) Family and social influence to patients; (3) Medication habits of patients. This study found: 1) 71.4% patients (15/21) showed a positive attitude towards switching to NVBP medicines; 2)80.9% patients (17/21) have felt a significant reduction in their medication cost after the implementation of the NVBP policy; 3)Advices from healthcare professionals and health insurance reimbursement policies showed great impacts on patients' attitude towards switching to NVBP drugs; 4)Attitudes towards switching to NVBP drugs varied considerably among patients with different severities of disease. Conclusion The implementation of the NVBP policy has significantly reduced the cost of healthcare for patients and has been supported by71.4% (15 of 21) patients. However, some issues have been identified in the implementation of the policy in this study. Health professionals in general need to contribute more efforts to improve patients' preconceptions about the NVBP drugs and boost their confidence in the NVBP drugs.

The present study is a qualitative exploration of psychological problems faced by domestic workers in the Islamabad and Rawalpindi regions. The study was conducted with only female domestic workers, including both resident and non-resident workers with an age range from 18 years onwards and having work experience of more than one year. The study was carried out in two phases. In the first phase, six focus group discussions were carried out, while in the second phase, fifteen in-depth interviews were conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the psychological problems faced by domestic workers. The thematic analysis approach revealed ten themes, including depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, Stress, helplessness, anger, feelings of insecurity, guilt, feelings of inferiority, repressed and unfulfilled desires, and dissatisfaction with life circumstances. Resident domestic workers reported more psychological issues due to the nature of their workplace environment as compared to non-resident domestic workers. This further hurts their sense of self, physical and mental health, cognitions, relationship with others, and psychological well-being.

Abstract This study reports a novel, cost-effective and reproducible method of densifying carbon nanotubes into bundles during growth stage. This is achieved by utilizing Fe3O4 catalyst nanoparticles and microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. The grown CNTs were characterized using TEM, SEM and Raman spectrometer. The achieved site density of bundles is 5 × 109 m–2, with an inter-bundle distance of 14 μm and bundle height of 17 μm. A qualitative investigation was carried out, and a possible densification mechanism was proposed. Article Highlights A cost-effective method to form bundles of carbon nanotubes. Densification of carbon nanotubes occurs during growth stage. The resultant structures are desirable for electron field emission applications.

Background: The implementation of the NVBP policy has generated considerable reductions in drug procurement prices and an increase in the market share of the NVBP drugs.This study aimed to investigate patients' attitudes towards switching to drugs of national volume-based procurement (NVBP) and identify their underlying influencing factors in Wuhan, China. Methods: A total of 21 eligible patients from the Wuhan Union Hospital who were switched to NVBP drugs between January 2022 and May 2022 were included in our study. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect interview information and the interview data was analyzed by the Colaizzi seven-step method. Results: Twenty-one semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted. The duration of each interview was 25–35 min and three themes related to patients' attitudes and their influencing factors were extracted, including (1) Patients' perception of the NVBP drugs; (2) Family and social influence to patients; (3) Medication habits of patients. This study found: 1) 71.4% patients (15/21) showed a positive attitude towards switching to NVBP medicines; 2)80.9% patients (17/21) have felt a significant reduction in their medication cost after the implementation of the NVBP policy; 3)Advices from healthcare professionals and health insurance reimbursement policies showed great impacts on patients' attitude towards switching to NVBP drugs; 4)Attitudes towards switching to NVBP drugs varied considerably among patients with different severities of disease. Conclusion: The implementation of the NVBP policy has significantly reduced the cost of healthcare for patients and has been supported by71.4% (15 of 21) patients. However, some issues have been identified in the implementation of the policy in this study. Health professionals in general need to contribute more efforts to improve patients' preconceptions about the NVBP drugs and boost their confidence in the NVBP drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Investigación e Innovación en Ciencias de la Salud (RIICS) is the property of Fundacion Universitaria Maria Cano 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.)

After the widespread of COVID-19, the stressful situation negatively affected the women's menstrual cycle and increased the severity of the premenstrual syndrome. This qualitative study presents evidence of young women's perceptions and experiences of Premenstrual dysphoric symptoms, which may support the provision of individualized health care during stressful conditions. Purpose. We use simple thematic analysis to explore young college students' constructions about the subjective experiences of premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Method. A qualitative, semi-structured interview study was conducted in the Karnataka state of India. After the initial screening process of 400 college students randomly selected, ten were included in personal interviews, and eight participated in focus group discussions. Results. Five global themes emerged from the thematic analysis. The identified themes are further labeled as cognitive, emotional, behavioral, physical, Social, and Cultural issues. These themes suggested that young women experiencing PMDD symptoms have limited knowledge about the individual variability of menstrual experiences. Only a few participants are aware of the differences between PMS and PMDD. Most of them are unwilling to take any antidepressant medication and hesitate to visit the health care unit because of the stigma, social differentiation, and fear of the side effect of drugs. Most young women reported that premenstrual phenomena negatively affect their daily life, mainly their academic performances and social relationships. And during COVID-19, symptoms increased, and many said suicidal thoughts and confused mental status. Conclusions. Young female college students are the most affected group due to premenstrual disorder. People in our society need to be educated about the negative impact of social and cultural stigma related to menstruation-related issues. We hope authorities will develop appropriate strategies and intervention programs to treat premenstrual-related problems as early as possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meaningful work (MW) is an important topic in psychological and organizational research with theoretical and practical implications. Many prior studies have focused on operationalizing MW and distinguish between the attributes of a job that make it meaningful, such as task variety or significance, and the affective experience of meaning during work, such as the feeling that what one does at work is meaningful. However, most empirical research focuses on the former definition and utilizes quantitative scales with deductive questions that omit what people find important in their experiences. To address this, we conduct a qualitative investigation of psychological narratives focusing in-depth on the quality and content of feelings of meaningfulness and meaninglessness during experiences at work—crucially, without any framing around task attributes. We introduce the term affective eudaimonia to describe these experiences. Overall, our results corroborate many existing thematic findings in the MW literature, such as the importance of connecting and contributing to others and avoiding confinement. We also offer new findings: Although the way that people give language to meaningless narratives is more descriptive, vivid, and experiential in tone than meaningful narratives, meaningless narratives are also more structurally static and constrained. We use these results to inform practical suggestions to promote day-to-day experiences of meaning at work and provide a basis for further academic discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Population aging is one of the main issues in public health within developed countries. Informal caregivers play a central role in this scenario, which can affect them negatively. Objective: The aim of this study is to identify the needs of informal caregivers related to the care of dependent persons of a Basic Health Area. Method: Qualitative and phenomenological study. Four informal caregivers in charge of noninstitutionalized patients took part. These patients expressed their opinions in a semi-structured interview, that was deductively analyzed afterwards. Results: The analysis showed three key subjects: the effects of caregiving (how this task negatively affects the global health of the caregivers); difficulties related to care (related to the process of adaptation once at home, prevention of wounds, accidents and mobility issues), and caregiving learning strategies (by deductive reasoning, observation and formation). Conclusions: Caregiving has a negative effect on the caregivers' global health. They show some difficulties in the execution of their tasks, and they declare that they are using various caregiving learning methods. Interventions directed at informal caregivers should include aspects related to health improvement and caregiving training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a theoretical study of the SIR model — a popular mathematical model of the propagation of infectious diseases. We construct a solution of the Cauchy problem for a system of two ordinary differential equations describing in integral form the concentration dynamics of infected and recovered individuals in an immune population. A qualitative analysis is carried out of the stationary system states using the Lyapunov function. An expression is obtained for the coordinates of the equilibrium points in terms of the Lambert W-function for arbitrary initial values. The application of the SIR model for the description of COVID-19 propagation dynamic is demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Objective: Considering the development of industries and the importance of industrial waste production and its environmental hazards, it is important to survey the quantity and quality of waste. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the aim of properties investigation of waste produced from industrial units in Ure and Shoja Abad. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed in 2018. A questionnaire was used for quantitative and qualitative survey of industrial waste. For this purpose, after referring to the industrial units and completing the questionnaires, the data were analyzed to determine the status of industrial waste. Results: A total of 59730 and 168620 tons per year of industrial waste are respectively produced in Ure and Shoja Abad. Waste from non-metallic minerals has the highest amount of total production waste at 29460 and 151490 tons per year in Ureh and Shoja Abad, respectively.On-site recycling in the industries of Urea and Shoja Abad towns with 1212.74 and 434.91 tons per year, respectively, is the main method of waste management. Conclusion: According to the results the main method of industrial waste management is on-site recycling. Non-metallic minerals are used and recycled in the production process to a greater extent than other production wastes in Urea and Shojaabad industrial plants.

Background: The burden of diabetes in Ethiopia is exponentially increasing with more than 68% of people with it being undiagnosed and a death rate of 32%. It is a disease impacting patients with negative somatic, psychological, social, and economic consequences. Patients in Ethiopia have very low awareness about chronic complications, which is very worrying. The study aimed to explore the consequences of their disease experienced by type 2 diabetes patients in North-East Ethiopia. Methods: The study employed a phenomenological approach informed by the consequences dimension of the Common-Sense Model. It was conducted from July 2019 to January 2020 using purposive sampling with face-to-face in-depth interviews, for about three weeks, until reaching theoretical saturation. The data were collected from twenty-four type 2 diabetes patients, who were selected to include various socio-demographic characteristics. The data were organized by QDA Miner Lite v2.0.8 and analyzed thematically using narrative strategies. Results: Using Common-Sense Model as a framework, the diabetes consequences experienced by the participants were categorized as complications and impacts. While the most common complications were cardiovascular disorders (hypertension, erectile dysfunction, heart and kidney problems, hyperlipidemia, edema, stroke, and fatigue) and ocular problems; the most common impacts were psychosocial (dread in life, suffering, family disruption, hopelessness, dependency, and craving), and economic (incapability and loss of productivity) problems. Conclusion: The patients here were bothered by diabetes complications as well as its psycho-social, economic and somatic consequences; being the psycho-social impacts the most common. As a result, the patients have been suffering in the dread of “what can come next?” This dictates that holistic care, based on Common-Sense Model, is needed in providing special emphasis to psycho-social issues.

Abstract We present a scoping review of user studies in explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) entailing qualitative investigation. We draw on social science corpora to suggest ways for improving the rigor of studies where XAI researchers use observations, interviews, focus groups, and/or questionnaire tasks to collect qualitative data. We contextualize the presentation of the XAI papers included in our review according to the components of rigor discussed in the qualitative research literature: (a) underlying theories or frameworks; (b) methodological approaches; (c) data collection methods; and (d) data analysis processes. The results of our review dovetail with calls made by others in the XAI community advocating for collaboration with experts from social disciplines toward bolstering rigor and effectiveness in user studies.

Background: In Ghana, traditional management and care of patients with diabetes is concentrated on the physiological needs of patients to the detriment of psychosocial factors and cultural beliefs impacting the condition. Objectives: This paper explores the impact of cultural practices and beliefs on the experiences of Ghanaian patients newly diagnosed with diabetes, and the implications for health care professionals providing diabetes care within Ghanaian health care settings. Method: The exploratory descriptive to qualitative approach was employed whereby 27 patients, newly diagnosed with diabetes, accessed via the diabetes clinic provided a convenience sample. Data were collected through one-on-one in-depth semi-structured interviews. Data collection and analysis occurred simultaneously. Data were analyzed using content analysis. Findings: Four major themes were identified: (1) participants’ insight into diabetes mellitus (2) shared meanings attached to diabetes (3) coming to terms with a diagnosis of diabetes and (4) in search of treatment and ‘cure’. Conclusion: A model of care, which recognizes and prioritizes the psychosocial determinants of health alongside the medical aspects of the condition is thought to be beneficial to patients, to healthcare professionals, nurse educators, and to the Ghanaian public.

There is a growing understanding of how incumbent firms successfully commercialise nascent technology. However, there is less understanding of why firms follow their disparate strategic trajectories. We draw upon insights in the organisational identity literature to investigate why IBM and Corning commercialised the fiber optic technology differently, given they were both technology-driven diversified corporations and initiated high investments in fiber optics when it was beginning to commercially emerge in communications. Our qualitative study investigates how and why that IBM's customer-focused identity and Corning's science-focused identity explain why they entered the fiber optic market along such distinct trajectories. We explore the relationship between identity and strategy as a duality, in that they cannot be understood as separate and distinct from each other but are as two sides of the same coin. We offer that understanding this relationship yields insights into why and how firms can follow different trajectories in the successful commercialising of nascent technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a scoping review of user studies in explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) entailing qualitative investigation. We draw on social science corpora to suggest ways for improving the rigor of studies where XAI researchers use observations, interviews, focus groups, and/or questionnaire tasks to collect qualitative data. We contextualize the presentation of the XAI papers included in our review according to the components of rigor discussed in the qualitative research literature: (a) underlying theories or frameworks; (b) methodological approaches; (c) data collection methods; and (d) data analysis processes. The results of our review dovetail with calls made by others in the XAI community advocating for collaboration with experts from social disciplines toward bolstering rigor and effectiveness in user studies. We conducted a scoping review of papers in the XAI literature entailing qualitative investigation. Our findings align with those advocating for collaboration with social science experts toward bolstering user studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research indicates the need for better training for consultants working in culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) schools. Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, this study investigated the use of the Consultation Peer Feedback Process (CPFP) as a tool for developing skills and perspectives among consultants. This study analyzed the types of feedback requested by consultants-in-training (CITs) and their peer-identified strengths and feedback. A coding lexicon and themes were identified to understand the needs of CITs when requesting and receiving feedback. This led to a constructivist grounded theory that describes how CITs learn to consult with cases in CLD schools. Detailed analyses of 42 CPFP Summaries indicated that the strength-based nature of the CPFP supported CITs in areas where they requested support, provided encouragement and specific feedback, and expanded CITs' exposure to cases and issues beyond their immediate setting and perspectives. Implications for research and training consultants are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grandparents who have grandchildren with disabilities are an underrepresented group in existing research related to the field. This qualitative phenomenological study’s general purpose is to analyze, from a personal perspective, the situations and needs of grandparents who have grandchildren with Down syndrome. The participants’ ages range from 65 to 85, and the ages of their grandchildren with Down syndrome range from 3 to 21 years. All participants had one grandchild with a disability, except for two, who each had two. A sociodemographic questionnaire was administered, and individual interviews were conducted, using open questions, through phone and/or video calls. An analysis of the participants’ speech was carried out, which implied the development of a system of meta-categories and categories. This analysis was developed manually, given the COVID-19 environment. The results indicate a substantial change from negative feelings caused by the knowledge of the diagnosis to feelings related to positive experiences expressed currently. The participants see themselves as a fundamental source of support (informal, instrumental, practical, social, emotional, and economic) for their families and, mainly, for their grandchildren with Down syndrome. A need for information and training was observed when the grandparents talked about first being informed of the diagnosis and their concerns about the future of these grandchildren and their siblings. They made social demands, such as greater government involvement or more significant opportunities to access resources and rights for their grandchildren. The results are discussed, as are possible future research directions.

Grandparents who have grandchildren with disabilities are an underrepresented group in existing research related to the field. This qualitative phenomenological study's general purpose is to analyze, from a personal perspective, the situations and needs of grandparents who have grandchildren with Down syndrome. The participants' ages range from 65 to 85, and the ages of their grandchildren with Down syndrome range from 3 to 21 years. All participants had one grandchild with a disability, except for two, who each had two. A sociodemographic questionnaire was administered, and individual interviews were conducted, using open questions, through phone and/or video calls. An analysis of the participants' speech was carried out, which implied the development of a system of meta-categories and categories. This analysis was developed manually, given the COVID-19 environment. The results indicate a substantial change from negative feelings caused by the knowledge of the diagnosis to feelings related to positive experiences expressed currently. The participants see themselves as a fundamental source of support (informal, instrumental, practical, social, emotional, and economic) for their families and, mainly, for their grandchildren with Down syndrome. A need for information and training was observed when the grandparents talked about first being informed of the diagnosis and their concerns about the future of these grandchildren and their siblings. They made social demands, such as greater government involvement or more significant opportunities to access resources and rights for their grandchildren. The results are discussed, as are possible future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Pedagogy Studies / Pedagogika is the property of Vytautas Magnus University 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 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, first reported in late December 2019, is regarded as the most significant public health emergency of the century. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the current outbreak of COVID-19 has affected millions of people and killed hundreds of thousands in more than 200 countries, including Pakistan. Health-care professionals (HCPs) cannot minimize human interactions or isolate themselves from patients due to their jobs and moral duties. Hence, the outbreak needed HCPs to work in adverse and challenging conditions with possible mental health problems. In light of the stated background, this study aims to explore and understand the factors that impede HCPs to effectively treat COVID-19 patients in Karachi, Pakistan. Based on qualitative methods, a phenomenological approach was considered to record the true experiences of HCPs. Twelve doctors and nurses were recruited from five COVID-19 designated hospitals in Karachi, Sindh Province, using purposive and snowball sampling. Semi-structured in-depth telephone interviews were conducted from April 6 to 14, 2020, and analyzed through thematic analysis. The findings suggest that there were two types of constraints, institutional and personal, which were impeding HCPs to treat COVID-19 patients effectively. Institutional constraints include the poor condition of isolation wards, inadequate availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), excessive and uneven workload, and absence of emotional and psychological support in hospitals. Besides, personal constraints include nervousness due to the novel virus, a constant fear of becoming infected, fear of taking virus to family, extreme isolation and loneliness, and feeling of powerlessness. The study found that HCPs in Pakistan have been dealing with a high risk of infection, causing mental health problems such as stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. These mental health problems not only affect attention, understanding, and decision-making capacity of HCPs, which could hinder the fight against COVID-19, but they could also have a continuous effect on their overall well-being on a long-term basis. Therefore, the present study outlines important clinical and policy strategies that are needed to support HCPs as the pandemic continues.

Family therapy has advanced as an important therapeutic approach in Europe and, in Germany, future family therapists enter a three-year-training programme every year. Family therapist trainees (FTTs) have hardly been studied in terms of their value-orientations (VOs) and how they see the world. This study aims at researching the value-orientation developments in FTTs during the three-year training period and based on the Schwartz value model. A longitudinal study was carried out over a three-year period. The sample consisted of 65 FTTs. VOs were investigated using open questions in self-developed questionnaires. The findings show that FTTs focus mainly on VOs in the Schwartz value domain of "benevolence", followed by "self-direction" and "universalism". This shows that the well-being of others is in the centre of interest in FTTs. However, VOs which indicate a freedom to make decisions and be self-directed are also extremely important. The least-mentioned value domains include "power" and "stimulation", showing that FTTs are neither focused on status, wealth or richness, nor on excitement or a varied life. With regard to the Schwartz value dimensions, the dimension of "self-transcendence" was the most frequently mentioned, followed by "conservation", "openness to change" and "self-enhancement". Self-transcendence includes the value domains of benevolence and universalism and shows that the preservation and enhancement of welfare of other individuals are highly important, as well as VOs such as understanding, appreciation, tolerance and protection of human beings and the environment. So-called collectivist VOs seem to be more important to German FTTs than individualistic VOs: they focus on the needs of the social group and their VOs show that the systemic view is inherent in their social VOs. Findings further show that FTTs develop their professional identity while consciously strengthening their VOs. This study contradicts previous research which claims that FTs are, to a large extent, unconscious in respect of their VOs. The study shows that FTTs are aware of their VOs and this supports them in facilitating client-centred approaches and develop themselves as FT professionals. Recommendations for future research and practice are provided.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, first reported in late December 2019, is regarded as the most significant public health emergency of the century. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the current outbreak of COVID-19 has affected millions of people and killed hundreds of thousands in more than 200 countries, including Pakistan. Health-care professionals (HCPs) cannot minimize human interactions or isolate themselves from patients due to their jobs and moral duties. Hence, the outbreak needed HCPs to work in adverse and challenging conditions with possible mental health problems. In light of the stated background, this study aims to explore and understand the factors that impede HCPs to effectively treat COVID-19 patients in Karachi, Pakistan. Based on qualitative methods, a phenomenological approach was considered to record the true experiences of HCPs. Twelve doctors and nurses were recruited from five COVID-19 designated hospitals in Karachi, Sindh Province, using purposive and snowball sampling. Semi-structured in-depth telephone interviews were conducted from April 6 to 14, 2020, and analyzed through thematic analysis. The findings suggest that there were two types of constraints, institutional and personal, which were impeding HCPs to treat COVID-19 patients effectively. Institutional constraints include the poor condition of isolation wards, inadequate availability of personal protective equipment (PPE), excessive and uneven workload, and absence of emotional and psychological support in hospitals. Besides, personal constraints include nervousness due to the novel virus, a constant fear of becoming infected, fear of taking virus to family, extreme isolation and loneliness, and feeling of powerlessness. The study found that HCPs in Pakistan have been dealing with a high risk of infection, causing mental health problems such as stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. These mental health problems not only affect attention, understanding, and decision-making capacity of HCPs, which could hinder the fight against COVID-19, but they could also have a continuous effect on their overall well-being on a long-term basis. Therefore, the present study outlines important clinical and policy strategies that are needed to support HCPs as the pandemic continues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of the study was to arrive at an accurate description of health-related quality of life of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia patients.Methods: Thirteen semi-structured interviews were conducted in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.Results: Qualitative grounded theory analyses were performed using the participants' transcripts and revealed the following six categories: Impact of physical symptoms on daily life, Quality of family and social life, Emotional and psychological outcomes related to the disease, Knowledge having a severe disease and coping strategies to manage such disease, Recognition of the disease by professional colleagues and superiors, and Knowledge and understanding from health professionals in medical care.Conclusion: The definition of quality of life that emerged from the participants' transcripts was essentially related to health. Individuals with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia mainly focused on the physical, psychological and emotional impacts of the symptoms and their consequences on professional life and social activities. Family relationships were also highlighted in the participants' transcripts. As such, HHT patients used coping strategies to manage their disease. Finally, a particularly salient issue referred to the lack of knowledge concerning the rare nature of this disease and the ensuing inherent sense of misunderstanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the article is to reflect upon the possibilities offered by triangulation in qualitative research, with particular emphasis placed on action research. Various types of triangulation have been presented, including the most recommended multiple triangulation. A variety of advantages and functions of triangulation have been shown, first and foremost the ones which refer to dynamic, systemic and multicausal phenomena. All the theoretical considerations have been illustrated by the author's own research conducted in Poland, in one of the bilingual sections with Spanish language in the secondary school. The research concerned the development of students' discursive competence within the genre of an intercultural comparison, and its conditioning. The research used multiple triangulation: of data sources, of researchers, of methods and of data analysis, as well as temporal and special triangulation. The investigation is finished with conclusions of methodological nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is general agreement in the literature that the marketing of places as brands requires "a special type of marketing" (Ashworth 1993, p. 648). But while the problems inherent in place marketing are well documented (see for example Karavatzis and Ashworth 2005) very little attention has been given to the development of a theory of destination branding which can be used to guide destination brand managers and form the basis of future research. The conclusions from a review of the literature are tested against the experiences of practitioners (Churchill 1979) by means of 25 depth interviews with Senior Managers in 20 Destination Marketing Organisations. Five critical antecedents of successful destination branding are identified: stakeholder partnerships, brand leadership, departmental coordination, brand communications and brand culture. Two key mediating factors are also identified: brand reality and brand architecture. The managerial implications of these findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Traditional healing practice is an important and integral part of healthcare systems in almost all countries of the world. Very few studies have addressed the holistic scenario of traditional healing practices in Bangladesh, although these serve around 80% of the ailing people. This study explored distinctive forms of traditional healing practices in rural Bangladesh. Methods During July to October 2007, the study team conducted 64 unstructured interviews, and 18 key informant interviews with traditional healers and patients from Bhabanipur and Jobra, two adjacent villages in Chittagong district, Bangladesh. The study also used participatory observations of traditional healing activities in the treatment centers. Results Majority of the community members, especially people of low socioeconomic status, first approached the traditional healers with their medical problems. Only after failure of such treatment did they move to qualified physicians for modern treatment. Interestingly, if this failed, they returned to the traditional healers. This study identified both religious and non-religious healing practices. The key religious healing practices reportedly included Kalami, Bhandai, and Spiritual Healing, whereas the non-religious healing practices included Sorcery, Kabiraji, and Home Medicine. Both patients and healers practiced self-medication at home with their indigenous knowledge. Kabiraji was widely practiced based on informal use of local medicinal plants in rural areas. Healers in both Kalami and Bhandari practices resorted to religious rituals, and usually used verses of holy books in healing, which required a firm belief of patients for the treatment to be effective. Sorcerers deliberately used their so-called supernatural power not only to treat a patient but also to cause harm to others upon secret request. The spiritual healing reportedly diagnosed and cured the health problems through communication with sacred spirits. Although the fee for diagnosis was small, spiritual healing required different types of treatment instruments, which made the treatment implicitly expensive. Conclusions Traditional healing was widely practiced as the means of primary healthcare in rural areas of Bangladesh, especially among the people with low socioeconomic status. The extent of services showed no decline with the advancement of modern medical sciences; rather it has increased with the passage of time.

Overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics in secondary care is a key contributor to the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR); efforts are focused on minimizing antibiotic overuse as a crucial step toward containing the global threat of AMR. The concept of overtreatment has, however, been difficult to define. Efforts to address the overuse of medicine need to be informed by an understanding of how prescribers themselves understand the problem. We report findings from a qualitative interview study of 46 acute care hospital prescribers differing in seniority from three countries: United Kingdom, Sri Lanka and South Africa. Prescribers were asked about their understanding of inappropriate use of antibiotics. Prescriber definitions of inappropriate use included relatively clear-cut and unambiguous cases of antibiotics being used “incorrectly” (e.g., in the case of viral infections). In many cases, however, antibiotic prescribing decisions were seen as involving uncertainty, with prescribers having to make decisions about the threshold for appropriate use. Decisions about thresholds were commonly framed in moral terms. Some prescribers drew on arguments about their duty to protect public health through having a high threshold for prescribing, while others made strong arguments for prioritizing risk avoidance for the patients in front of them, even at a cost of increased resistance. Notions of whether prescribing was inappropriate were also contextually dependent: high levels of antibiotic prescribing could be seen as a rational response when prescribers were working in challenging contexts, and could be justified in relation to financial and social considerations. Inappropriate antibiotic use is framed by prescribers not just in clinical, but also in moral and contextual terms; this has implications for the design and implementation of antibiotic stewardship interventions aiming to reduce inappropriate use of antibiotics globally.

We examined an inclusive setting of 3- to 4-year-old children, focusing on the relations between teachers’ practices and the organization of spaces to promote peer interaction, in two distinct contexts, Brazil and Finland. A qualitative epistemology was applied. Participants included one pivot child (intellectual disability), his peers and teacher in each research context. Data consisted of video recordings and field diaries. Analysis followed a microgenetic model sustained by the network of meanings framework. Results uncovered: (a) contradiction between theory and practice regarding implementation of inclusion, (b) availability of objects and space division influenced more than the type and quality of material in peers’ interaction, (c) peers emerged as reference for the child with disability. Results indicated that cultural differences enhance the discussion on how multiple paths for inclusion can be implemented and open the reflection of the role of peers for materializing the participation of the child with disability.

A descriptive and cross-sectional study of 139 students of 2nd year of Licentiate in Nursing, belonging to the Health Nursing-Technology Faculty in Santiago de Cuba was carried out from September, 2017 to January, 2018, in order to evaluate the usefulness of a didactic material on Qualitative Investigation as a support tool to the subject Elements of Qualitative Investigation in Health. A high level of acceptance was obtained in the students who confirmed the clarity with which the contents and their quality are exposed and the importance of having a text that exemplifies and links the content of the investigation methodology with situations of the daily practice. This material favored the quality of the teaching - learning process, given the high marks, which were qualitatively higher to those of previous courses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study analyzes the consequences in the students' affections of 5 ° and 6 ° grades of primary victims of school violence. The work is of qualitative interpretive type realized from individual interviews and to focal groups. His analysis allowed the construction of four thematic blocks: Affections before the experience of violence, Academic consequences and discomfort on having been a victim of violence, Typology of the violence of which the child is victim and Characteristic personal of the victim of violence, in which it is detailed from the affective response of the students, his difficulties of academic performance and interactional, the characteristics of the situations of aggressiveness of which they are an object and body or psycho social elements in that the expression of violence is focused. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamical models for genomic regulatory networks are studied. Models include a sigmoidal function, weighted regulatory matrices, and 2 parameters. Description of attracting sets for some specific cases is provided. Examples with specific sigmoidal functions are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Family therapy has advanced as an important therapeutic approach in Europe and, in Germany, future family therapists enter a three-yeartraining programme every year. Family therapist trainees (FTTs) have hardly been studied in terms of their value-orientations (VOs) and how they see the world. This study aims at researching the value-orientation developments in FTTs during the three-year training period and based on the Schwartz value model. A longitudinal study was carried out over a three-year period. The sample consisted of 65 FTTs. VOs were investigated using open questions in self-developed questionnaires. The findings show that FTTs focus mainly on VOs in the Schwartz value domain of "benevolence", followed by "self-direction" and "universalism". This shows that the well-being of others is in the centre of interest in FTTs. However, VOs which indicate a freedom to make decisions and be self-directed are also extremely important. The least-mentioned value domains include "power" and "stimulation", showing that FTTs are neither focused on status, wealth or richness, nor on excitement or a varied life. With regard to the Schwartz value dimensions, the dimension of "self-transcendence" was the most frequently mentioned, followed by "conservation", "openness to change" and "self-enhancement". Self-transcendence includes the value domains of benevolence and universalism and shows that the preservation and enhancement of welfare of other individuals are highly important, as well as VOs such as understanding, appreciation, tolerance and protection of human beings and the environment. So-called collectivist VOs seem to be more important to German FTTs than individualistic VOs: they focus on the needs of the social group and their VOs show that the systemic view is inherent in their social VOs. Findings further show that FTTs develop their professional identity while consciously strengthening their VOs. This study contradicts previous research which claims that FTs are, to a large extent, unconscious in respect of their VOs. The study shows that FTTs are aware of their VOs and this supports them in facilitating client-centred approaches and develop themselves as FT professionals. Recommendations for future research and practice are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]