SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Group Interviews”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Understanding the breast cancer experience of Asian American women.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women and affects women across all ethnic groups. Although the psychosocial impact of breast cancer is being studied, there is little information on ethnic minorities. To better understand the breast cancer experience of Asian American women, we conducted key informant and focus group interviews. Six professionals participated in the key informant interviews. A total of 34 Asian American breast cancer survivors participated in focus group interviews, including Korean (n=10), Chinese (n=11), and a mixed Asian group (n=13). The common themes identified in this series of qualitative studies included: lack of knowledge about breast cancer; medical care issues such as cost and amount of time spent with physician; cultural factors related to beliefs about illness, gender role and family obligations (e.g. self-sacrifice) and language barriers; the importance of spirituality; and psychosocial concerns related to worry about children, burdening the family, body image and sexual health concerns. A primary source of support and coping for Asian American women with breast cancer was their spiritual beliefs. The results from this qualitative study have been used to prepare a survey instrument to examine these issues in a larger sample of Asian American women.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2006

Is there a language divide in pap test use?

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether primary language use, measured by language of interview, is associated with disparities in cervical cancer screening. DATA SOURCES: We undertook a secondary data analysis of a pooled sample of the 2001 and 2003 California Health Interview Surveys. The surveys were conducted in English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, and Vietnamese. STUDY DESIGN: The study was a cross-sectional analysis of 3-year Pap test use among women ages 18 to 64, with no reported cervical cancer diagnosis or hysterectomy (n = 38,931). In addition to language of interview, other factors studied included race/ethnicity, marital status, income, educational attainment, years lived in the United States, insurance status, usual source of care, smoking status, area of residence, and self-rated health status. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS: We fit weighted multivariate logit models predicting 3-year Pap test use as a function of language of interview, adjusting for the effects of specified covariates. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Compared with the referent English interview group, women who interviewed in Spanish were 1.65 times more likely to receive a Pap test in the past 3 years. In contrast, we observed a significantly reduced risk of screening among women who interviewed in Vietnamese (odds ratio [OR] 0.67; confidence interval [CI] 0.48-0.93), Cantonese (OR 0.44; 95% CI 0.30-0.66), Mandarin (OR 0.48; 95% CI 0.33-0.72), and Korean (OR 0.62; 0.40-0.98). CONCLUSIONS: Improved language access could reduce cancer screening disparities, especially in the Asian immigrant community.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

The needs of teachers of children with hearing loss within the inclusive education system.

In South Africa, the current movement towards the inclusion of children with disabilities, including children with hearing loss, is likely to have far-reaching consequences for both teachers and learners. Undoubtedly, needs will arise from teachers during the transition, especially in the areas pertaining to the audiological and educational management of children with hearing loss. Therefore, a descriptive research design was developed comprising of a questionnaire survey followed by focus group interviews to determine teachers' needs. The questionnaire survey explored the needs of 664 teachers while focus group interviews were conducted with 19 teachers of children with hearing loss. Teachers were mostly from special schools as only a very small number of children are educated outside these establishments. Findings revealed that, although participants realised the importance of various aspects of development of the child with hearing loss, they generally did not realise the importance of receiving support from an educational audiologist.

Attitude↗

PubMed2001

Masterworks of art and chronic illness experiences in the elderly.

AIM: This article presents findings of a qualitative study, conducted between 1997 and 2000, to investigate the plausibility of integrating masterworks of art with care of the chronically ill elderly, and to analyse perceptions about chronic illness among three groups: registered nurses, nursing students, and the elderly. BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE: Statistically the incidence of chronic illness increases in the elderly. Although pathophysiology of chronic illness is increasingly understood, few studies explore the experience of living with chronicity from the perspective of the elderly. Understanding and intervening appropriately for the elderly with chronic illness may contribute significantly to improving quality of life for this growing population. ETHICAL ISSUES AND APPROVAL: The study was approved through an Institutional Review Board. Facility permission and participant informed consent were obtained. Anonymity and confidentiality were protected. DESIGN: Using hermeneutic phenomenology and masterworks of art as a centre point for dialogue, the investigators explored the perceptions of nurses, students, and the elderly about living with a chronic illness. A purposive sample of 65 participants made up seven focus groups with which group interviews were conducted. Themes were explicated and analysed from audiotaped interviews until data saturation was reached. FINDINGS: Content analysis of focus group interviews revealed themes of social isolation, inevitable role change, and inertia-movement. Only the elderly acknowledged hope and a steadfast refusal to give up, while nurses and students viewed chronicity more negatively. Themes of social isolation and role change are consistent with other studies of the elderly. A paradox of inertia-movement in the chronically ill elderly has not been reported in the nursing literature. CONCLUSIONS: Paradoxical tension of inertia-movement in the chronically ill elderly appears to be linked to the broader concept of energy in nursing science, and to Parse's theory of human becoming. Masterworks of art can generate energy exchange between the elderly and caregivers, providing a plausible catalyst for meaningful interventions that transcend age and practice settings.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed2004

Integrating genetics as practices of primary care.

This study examines the responses of general practitioners (GPs) in Vic., Australia to an increased emphasis on genetics in primary care. A qualitative analysis of focus group interviews with GPs in regional and metropolitan areas and one focus group interview with genetics experts showed that despite the emphasis placed on genetics by the experts, GPs remained ambivalent to the routine integration of genetics into general practice. This response from GPs has been noted in several studies and is most commonly attributed to GPs' lack of knowledge about genetics. In this study we argue that a 'cognitive deficit' understanding of the problem excludes many of the factors that GPs regard as important in relating genetics to primary care. We show that GPs' ambivalence emerges from how they situate genetics within practices of patient care and in relation to what they regard as good patient management. We found that GPs respond most enthusiastically to genetics and genetic testing if they feel it changes their management in ways they consider of benefit to their patients. GPs have specialist skills in managing the heterogeneity of patient care and these skills enable them to situate genetics relative to the overall needs of patients. Preparing GPs to 'do' genetics when the need arises by finding ways to make genetics information available to them as the need arises would facilitate the integration of genetics as practices of primary care.

Family Practice↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Reflective practice: a meaningful task for students.

AIMS: To ascertain whether students found reflection to be a meaningful activity, whether there are perceived benefits associated with reflective practice and whether it is a valid process on which to assess the outcomes of a course relating to the competencies of specialist practice. METHOD: The attitudes of students attending a one-year degree course were examined using a focus group interview and a web discussion board. The evaluation of the focus group interviews and web-based discussion postings are discussed. FINDINGS: Reflective writing is considered a key component of portfolio assessment because it provides evidence of skills development and increasing clinical competence. There was no consensus on whether or not reflection is a meaningful activity. The students' learning style is pertinent to their perception of the usefulness of reflection. CONCLUSION: The findings indicated the scepticism with which some students approached the task, but they also identified that reflection had a positive impact on the practice of students more able to embrace the process in a meaningful way. There is scope to extend this work to examine the use of reflection in developing the growing body of practice knowledge that underpins nursing.

Creativity↗

PubMed2000

Influences on day-to-day self-management of type 2 diabetes among African-American women: spirituality, the multi-caregiver role, and other social context factors.

OBJECTIVE: Many African-American women are affected by diabetes and its complications, and culturally appropriate lifestyle interventions that lead to improvements in glycemic control are urgently needed. The aim of this qualitative study was to identify culturally relevant psychosocial issues and social context variables influencing lifestyle behaviors--specifically diet and physical activity--of southern African-American women with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted 10 focus group interviews with 70 southern African-American women with type 2 diabetes. Group interviews were audiotaped and transcripts were coded using qualitative data analysis software. A panel of reviewers analyzed the coded responses for emerging themes and trends. RESULTS: The dominant and most consistent themes that emerged from these focus groups were 1) spirituality as an important factor in general health, disease adjustment, and coping; 2) general life stress and multi-caregiving responsibilities interfering with daily disease management; and 3) the impact of diabetes manifested in feelings of dietary deprivation, physical and emotional "tiredness," "worry," and fear of diabetes complications. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that influences on diabetes self-management behaviors of African-American women may be best understood from a sociocultural and family context. Interventions to improve self-management for this population should recognize the influences of spirituality, general life stress, multi-caregiving responsibilities, and the psychological impact of diabetes. These findings suggest that family-centered and church-based approaches to diabetes care interventions are appropriate.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

[Could persons on sick leave learn to think differently about themselves and increase their participation in the workplace?].

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate an empowerment programme for improved quality of life and ability to work. At two places of work, a total of 112 employees with frequent sick-leaves over the last six months were invited to participate; 19 women attended. After the intervention the participants reported better coping and quality of life, and they worked more hours per week than previously. In their opinion, the improvement was due to the intervention. This paper relates their experiences and gives an account of their work participation one year later. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Questionnaires by the start of and soon after the intervention, telephone interviews and focus group interviews. RESULTS: Only minor differences were found after one year compared to just after the intervention. Nearly all the participants expressed more self-esteem and worked more hours per week. They particularly emphasised their new work consciousness and the benefit from the counselling received. INTERPRETATION: The results in this small group indicate that after one year the participants had kept most of the self-reconstruction of life that seemed to be achieved during the intervention.

Counseling↗

PubMed2002

Perceptions of cancer in an African-American community: a focus group report.

OBJECTIVES: To assess cancer perceptions, beliefs, and barriers to prevention among African-American residents of West Baltimore for the purpose of informing community cancer control initiatives. DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted focus group interviews with local healthcare providers and African-American Baltimore City residents. Focus group interviews were read and analyzed using qualitative analytic techniques, emphasizing themes and patterns in responses. RESULTS: The community member and local healthcare provider focus groups identified strikingly similar themes. In particular, participants in both groups discussed the pervasive fear and stigma associated with cancer within the African-American community. Both groups identified cancer fatalism, misperceptions of the nature of cancer and its treatment, competing priorities, and a 'crisis orientation' toward medical care as key barriers to prevention and early diagnosis. Participants in all focus groups were also acutely concerned about community distrust of the healthcare system. CONCLUSIONS: The principal themes identified in this hypothesis-generating study were potentially modifiable factors, giving rise to optimism that interventions informed by these results could have a substantial impact on cancer control in this community.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

[Seeking tuberculosis care in Chiapas, Mexico].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the process of seeking tuberculosis care and this process's impact on treatment adherence in the Mexican state of Chiapas, given that the two primary factors in successful tuberculosis (TB) control programs are early diagnosis and adherence to TB treatment. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study using group interviews with 11 groups of patients in three of the nine socioeconomic regions of the state of the Chiapas (Altos, Centro, and Fronteriza). RESULTS: The patients applied a variety of approaches in seeking care. The patients reported considerable delays in diagnosis due to problems that the patients themselves had and because of shortcomings in the care they received from the formal health care system. The treatment options that they followed were the result of their perceptions of the causes of TB and of the variety of traditional medical practices accepted in their communities. CONCLUSIONS: The lack of knowledge about TB encourages people to consider various alternatives for their care. Tuberculosis control in Chiapas requires an optimal utilization of the health services that exist in the state as well as a program of health education. TB control in Chiapas must take into account the social, cultural, and economic reality of the population.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Confirming mentorship.

BACKGROUND: Mentorship is related to nurses' success in nursing practice linked to professionalism, nursing quality improvement and self-confidence. AIM: To elucidate mentorship of recently registered nurses' view of themselves with regard to their development of nursing competencies by means of the Sympathy-Acceptance-Understanding-Competence (SAUC) model for confirming mentorship. METHODS: Questionnaires, personal interviews and focus group interviews were used for evaluation 2 years after the completion of a year of mentorship, the subjects being eight nurses. FINDINGS: The study showed that novice nurses evaluated their mentors as confirming, which is understood as a key factor for novice nurses' positively reinforced self-relation (perception of themselves) and self-knowledge linked to improved competencies in nursing practice such as more secure and motivated to nurse (S-phase), increased capacity to verbalize nursing situations (A-phase) and to reflect upon and evaluate patient situations based on patients' unique identities as individuals (U-phase), and improved abilities to support patients' own resources as individuals from a more holistic view and to establish collaboration with other professionals. CONCLUSION: Mentorship enabled novice nurses to nurse in a more reflective and holistic way, and their positively reinforced self-relation may be understood as a crucial ingredient for maintaining quality standards in nursing in the future.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Cultural sensitivity in physician-patient relationships: perspectives of an ethnically diverse sample of low-income primary care patients.

BACKGROUND: Health care providers and health care training institutions need more specific, relevant, and useful information for providing culturally sensitive health care. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine what patients considered to be culturally sensitive health care. RESEARCH DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: We conducted 20 focus group interviews with 135 mostly low-income primary care patients from three different ethnic/cultural groups (African American, European American, and Latino American). Focus group interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed into themes by two researchers using the constant comparative method. MEASURES: Participants' responses were grouped into primary and secondary themes. RESULTS: Results revealed the following universal themes of health care delivery by physicians that all three racial or ethnic groups identified as indicators of culturally sensitive health care: people skills, individualized treatment, effective communication, and technical competence. Results also revealed some ethnic group-specific themes. Other factors including physical environment characteristics (eg, culturally sensitive art, pictures, music, and reading materials) and office staff behaviors were unique indicators of culturally sensitive health care identified by African American and Latino American participants but not by European American participants. CONCLUSIONS: These findings can be incorporated into training programs for health care providers, possibly resulting in more effective health care delivery to patients from diverse cultural backgrounds. Future research is needed to evaluate the impact of incorporating patient-identified cultural sensitivity into health care delivery on important outcome measures such as patient satisfaction and treatment adherence.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Who helps the leaders? Difficulties experienced by cancer support group leaders.

GOALS OF WORK: Cancer support groups are an important source of support for cancer patients, yet little is known about the challenges and training needs of both professionally trained and untrained leaders. The aim of this study was to discover the difficulties experienced and training desired by cancer support group leaders. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven leaders of 34 cancer support groups participated in focus groups or individual interviews. Groups were purposively selected as representative of 173 support groups identified in New South Wales which were for adults with cancer and/or their adult carers and were not therapeutic or education-only groups. MAIN RESULTS: Difficulties identified included dealing with people's different communication styles and needs; dealing with recurrence, metastases and death; practical issues, including resources, setting the programme and funding security; maintaining personal balance and preventing burn out; establishing group credibility; dealing with group cycles; and leading groups in rural areas. Leaders also identified benefits and rewards from group leadership such as contributing to others' well-being, self-development and insight into others' lives. Non-professionally trained leaders experienced more difficulties, particularly in dealing with group process and practical issues. CONCLUSIONS: Difficulties identified were related both to working with a cancer population specifically and to working with groups in general. While some issues were common to both health professionals and non-health professionals, non-health professionals reported greater supportive needs. Clear guidelines, targeted training and development of better methods of support to reduce the stress and burn out experienced by group leaders are needed.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

The relationship between prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV and stakeholder decision making in Uganda: implications for health policy.

OBJECTIVES: To explore a selection of stakeholders' use of evidence and other reasons in the relative ranking of the prevention of mother to child HIV transmission with nevirapine in a setting of extreme resource scarcity. DESIGN: Group interviews using nominal group technique with provision of evidence. SETTING: One rural and one urban district in Uganda. PARTICIPANTS: People living with HIV/AIDS, people from the general population, planners, health workers and people with hypertension. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: relative ranking of prevention of vertical HIV transmission with nevirapine compared to nine other interventions for different conditions and evaluation of participants' use of evidence in the ranking. RESULTS: In the overall final ranking, prevention of vertical HIV transmission with nevirapine was ranked as number five compared to the other eight conditions. Treatment for childhood diseases and highly active anti retroviral treatment (HAART) for HIV/AIDS were ranked higher. Group specific ranking followed the same pattern, although the people living with HIV-group ranked HAART consistently as number one. CONCLUSIONS: Stakeholders seem to rank prevention of vertical HIV transmission lower than treatment for malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea. Policies considering prevention of vertical transmission of HIV should consider its implications. This study shows that stakeholders are open to considering evidence in assessing the relative priority of different interventions competing for scarce resources. More research is needed to develop methods that can involve representative stakeholders, including the public, in good and legitimate decisions on priorities.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Attitudes and behaviors of food donors and perceived needs and wants of food shelf clients.

OBJECTIVE: Explore the attitudes and behaviors of individuals who donate foods to food shelves and the perceived needs of the clientele using the food shelves in terms of cultural, health, and nutritional concerns. DESIGN: Qualitative methods (focus group interviews). SETTING: Focus groups (5 client and 7 donor) were conducted at food shelves, churches, and community centers. PARTICIPANTS: Client focus group members (n = 31) were mostly middle-aged and elderly individuals of mixed ethnicity and donor focus group members (n = 64) were mostly white and well educated and had incomes > $50 000. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): In-depth focus groups were conducted to obtain information regarding attitudes and beliefs of individuals who donate food and perceptions of needs among food shelf clients. ANALYSIS: Transcripts were analyzed systematically by coding comments according to categories and examining for common themes. RESULTS: Food donations did not match client needs for people with different ethnic backgrounds or age groups and food safety concerns. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: This study demonstrates the need for nutrition educators to work with food shelf and food bank directors regarding the education of staff and general population on appropriate food donations.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

How men view genetic testing for prostate cancer risk: findings from focus groups.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the values, beliefs, and attitudes that influence a man's intention to undergo or defer genetic testing for prostate cancer risk. DESIGN: Qualitative, using focus group interviews 12 focus groups were conducted to identify key values and beliefs about genetic testing for prostate cancer risk in anticipation of its future availability. SETTING: Medium-sized, mid-west, US city. PARTICIPANTS: Community sample of 90 lay men of diverse educational, ethnic, and age backgrounds. ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics and immersion/crystallization to identify themes and sub-themes. RESULTS: The major areas of concern were distilled into the following. THEMES: beliefs about consequences, expectations, benefits for patients, beliefs about barriers, and susceptibility concerns. CONCLUSION: Identifying these men's values will help health professionals anticipate the informational and ethical needs of patients in the informed consent process. Men will need to understand how such testing may affect their planning regarding future prostate health, and how medical information is used outside of the physician patient relationship.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Citizens Advice Bureaux in general practice: an illuminative evaluation.

A number of Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) have entered into partnerships with Health Authorities in order to provide advice in general practice surgeries as part of the health care services offered by the primary health care team. This illuminative evaluation has involved an exploration of the impacts of the service from the perspective of its users, the CAB advisers and the referral agents. Data was collected from questionnaires, individual interviews and focus group interviews from participants in both a rural and urban setting. The findings of the study suggest that locating CAB advisers in GP surgeries facilitates access for people who would otherwise be effectively excluded by reason of age, poor health, poverty or lack of transport. Overall, consultations with the CAB advisers were perceived very positively. This study would suggest that Citizens Advice Bureaux in GP surgeries are a viable and useful adjunct to primary health care teams in terms of information-giving, social support, up-take of benefits and co-ordination of services.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Patients and health professionals' perspectives on the sociocultural influences on secondary cardiac behaviour: a qualitative study of the implications in policy and practice.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the similarities and differences between patients and health professionals' perspectives on the sociocultural influences on secondary cardiac behaviour, and the implications in policy and practice. METHODS: Qualitative study using grounded theory research. We used a linked, phased study to ascertain the factors which helped shape patients' views about their heart problems and how these influence secondary cardiac behaviour. We also explored health professionals' perspectives on patients' views and interpretations. A total of 70 participants, 56 patients and 14 health professionals, took part in individual and group interviews and focus groups. RESULTS: Patients seemed in control of their heart condition and communicated a sense of satisfaction in how they manage it. To interpret the sociocultural influences on secondary cardiac behaviour, patients used theirs and community knowledge of heart disease, personal constructions of cardiac illness, together with their individual belief systems, particularly relating to lay health beliefs. Individual interpretations were unique and contextual, but there were many common views which did not differ between patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients and health professionals reported similar areas of influence but there were important differences in emphasis. Providers described the ambivalence between being positive about the future health of patients to boost their recovery process, and recognition that this positive outlook could be construed as a 'cure'.

Adult↗