Search PubMed⌕ Search

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.

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

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Abatement of tropospheric ozone: effects of strategies to improve air quality on public health and other sectors.

The National Health and Medical Research Council's air quality goal for ozone in the troposphere (near the earth's surface) is 0.12 parts per million (ppm), averaged over one hour, similar to the United States standard, but less stringent than the guideline for Europe. We aimed to identify the environmental, economic and social changes that would be associated with changing the goal. Methods included literature review, economic assessments and group interviews. The group to benefit from lower exposures may include outdoor workers, school children and people not in regular day-time work indoors, because ozone is most prevalent during the daylight hours of the warmer months. A lower level could improve the yield of some crops. The causes and effects of tropospheric ozone are not appreciated except among groups with relevant commercial, industrial or scientific experience. However, the consultations identified frustration about the social problems caused by dependence on private motor vehicles. Short-term costs of compliance with a more stringent goal would fall principally on the users of transport. The value of the benefits was enough for many to support making the ozone goal more stringent, but those who required a demonstration of financial benefit (even including savings of health care costs) did not support any change to the goal. Based primarily on averted detriment to health, we recommend the more stringent level of 0.08 ppm (one-hour average) as the goal for the year 2005 in Australia and elsewhere. The addition of a goal with longer averaging time is also proposed.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2000

Students' perceptions of field experience in professional development: a comparative study.

The movement of the health care and education professions from an apprenticeship model in the early half of the century to the tertiary education sector has brought an awareness of the key role field experience or practicum plays in professional development. The literature has demonstrated that field experience during teacher education and clinical education is a valuable part of preparation for entry into the teaching and nursing professions. The purpose of this study was to compare and contrast the perceptions of final year students from three distinct undergraduate field experiences. Queensland University of Technology students from adult and workplace education, secondary education, and nursing participated in the study. Data were collected through a series of focus group interviews with groups of five to nine participants across the three discipline areas. Students described their expectations of the practical side of their learning and the learning outcomes that eventuated during the practicum.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

[Psychosocial adjustment of young adult to hemophilia: living like a normal person].

PURPOSE: To explore how young adults in their 20s adjust to hemophilia. METHOD: Grounded theory method guided the data collection and analysis. A purposeful sample of 15 young adults with hemophilia participated during the period of 2000-2001. The data were collected by semi-structured individual interviews, focus group interviews, and participant observations. All interviews were audio taped and transcribed verbatim. Constant comparative analysis was employed to analyze the data. RESULT: "Living like a normal person" emerged as the basic social-psychological process. Two dimensions of the self were identified: normal self and abnormal self. "Living like a normal person" means conscious effort to focus on normal self rather than abnormal self. Five subcategories were identified : 1) pretending as if he is not hemophiliac; 2) relieving the burden; 3) maintaining best physical conditions; 4) becoming independent; and 5) reconciliating with their mothers. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that young adults with hemophilia strive for living a life as a normal person. But there is a question whether it is good for their ultimate quality of life. The results indicate that our society needs to be more tolerant to differences that hemophiliacs have.

English Abstract↗
PubMed2002

Cultural feeding practices and child-raising philosophy contribute to iron-deficiency anemia in refugee Hmong children.

OBJECTIVE: Iron-deficiency anemia is high in refugee Hmong toddlers attending Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) sites in St. Paul, Minnesota. We investigated social and cultural reasons for feeding practices of Hmong parents that result in excessive milk and inadequate food intake among infants and toddlers contributing to iron-deficiency anemia. DESIGN: In-depth interviews with community members. Focus-group interviews with caregivers. Discussions of results with a professional healthcare group. SETTING: St. Paul, Minnesota in 1997-1998. PARTICIPANTS: Eight Hmong and 7 non-Hmong community members. Thirty-two Hmong parents in focus groups. Thirteen Hmong and 11 non-Hmong healthcare professionals. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Qualitative analysis identified themes from community and focus-group interviews. Professional group discussed meaning of results. RESULTS: To successfully adjust to American lifestyle demands, Hmong refugee families bottle-feed, rather than breast-feed, their infants. In the traditional demand pattern, bottle-feeding can cause infants to be given too much milk at the expense of solid food, and can teach them to prefer milk to food. As these infants become toddlers, caregivers have difficulty weaning them due to a child-raising philosophy of "hlu" that caters to children's desires. CONCLUSION: Hmong caregivers' child-raising philosophy of "hlu" coupled with feeding practices chosen to adjust to American society contribute to the high rate of iron-deficiency anemia in Hmong toddlers.

Acculturation↗
PubMed2003

A 'real puzzle': the views of patients with epilepsy about the organisation of care.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about how individuals who have a diagnosis of epilepsy have experienced healthcare services or their views about how they should best be organised to meet their ongoing needs. METHODS: Focus group interviews. Individuals with epilepsy were identified in 5 practices in Wales: 90 were invited, 40 confirmed attendance and 19 individuals attended interviews in 5 groups of size 6, 5, 4, 3 and 1 (Table 2). INCLUSION CRITERIA: individuals with a confirmed diagnosis of epilepsy, aged between 18-65. The exclusion criteria were learning disability or an inability to travel to interview locations. RESULTS: The individuals in these group interviews were not 'epilepsy activists' yet they remained critical in extended discussions about the services encountered during their patient careers, wanting more information and advice about how to adapt to problems, particularly after initial diagnosis, more involvement in decision making, rapid access to expertise, preferably local, and improved communication between clinicians. A central concern was the tendency for concerns to be silenced, either overtly, or covertly by perceived haste, so that they felt marginalised, despite their own claims to own expert personal knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: Users of existing services for epilepsy are critical of current systems, especially the lack of attention given to providing information, psychosocial support and the wishes of patients to participate in decision making. Any reorganisation of services for individuals with epilepsy should take into account these perceived problems as well as try to reconcile the tension between the distant and difficult to access expertise of specialists and the local but unconfident support of generalists. The potential benefit of harnessing information technology to allow better liaison should be investigated.

Delivery of Health Care↗
PubMed2006

Immigrant women family caregivers in Canada: implications for policies and programmes in health and social sectors.

Migration has become a profound global phenomenon in this century. In Canada, uncoordinated policies, including those related to immigration, resettlement, employment, and government funding for health and social services, present barriers to immigrant women caregivers. The purpose of this paper is to share relevant insights from individual and group interviews with immigrant women family caregivers, service providers and policy influencers, and discuss these in relation to immigration, health and social policy, and programme trends in Canada. The present authors conducted individual interviews with immigrant women family caregivers (n = 29) in phase 1, followed by two group interviews with women family caregivers (n = 7), and two group interviews with service providers and policy-makers (n = 15) in phase 2. Using an inductive approach, the authors employed thematic content data analysis. Immigrant women experienced barriers to health and social services similar to Canadian-born family caregivers, particularly those who have low incomes, jobs with limited flexibility and heavy caregiving demands. These immigrant women family caregivers avoided certain formal services for a variety of reasons, including lack of cultural sensitivity. However, their challenges were compounded by language, immigration and separation from family in the home country. The identified barriers to support reinforce the importance of modifying and expanding policies and programmes affecting immigrant women's ability to care for family members with illnesses or disabilities within the context of Canadian society. Participants recommended changes to policies and programmes to deal with information, transportation, language, attitudinal and network barriers. The various barriers to services and programmes which were experienced by immigrant women caregivers underscore the importance of reviewing policies affecting immigration, caregiving, and access to health and social services. Intersectoral collaboration among agencies is essential to reduce the barriers identified in the present study, and to establish services which are linguistically and culturally appropriate.

Asian People↗
PubMed2001

Conceptualization of a new stroke-specific outcome measure: the stroke impact scale.

Current stroke outcome measures are unable to detect some consequences of stroke that affect patients, families, and providers. The objective of this study was to ensure the content validity of a new stroke outcome measure. This was a qualitative study using individual interviews with patients and focus group interviews with patients, caregivers, and health care professionals. Participants included 30 individuals with mild and moderate stroke, 23 caregivers, and 9 stroke experts. Qualitative analysis of the individual and focus group interviews generated a list of potential items. Consensus panels reviewed the potential items, established domains for the measure, developed item scales, and decided on mechanisms for administration and scoring. Although the participants with stroke appeared highly recovered based on scores from conventional stroke assessments (Barthel Index and NIH Stroke Scale), stroke survivors and their caregivers identified numerous persisting impairments, disabilities, and handicaps. In general, stroke survivors described themselves as only about 50% recovered and reported that they had difficulty in activities in which they were not independent. To fully assess the impact of stroke on patients, we used the results of this qualitative study to develop a new stroke-specific outcome, the Stroke Impact Scale.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1991

The life experience and status of Chinese rural women from observation of three age groups.

Interview data gathered during 2 surveys in Anhui and Shejiang Provinces in 1986 and 1987 are used to depict changes in the social status and life situation of rural women in China in 3 age groups, 18-36, 37-55, and 56 and over. For the younger women, marriage increasingly is a result of discussion with parents, not arrangement, but 3rd-party introductions are increasing. They are active in household and township enterprises and aspire to more education and economic independence. The middle-aged group experienced war and revolution and now work nonstop under the responsibility system of household production, aspiring to university education for sons and enterprise work for daughters. The older women, while supported by their sons, live a frugal existence. In general, preference for sons is still prevalent and deep-seated. At the same time, the bride price and costs of marriage are increasing and of widespread concern. Rural socioeconomic growth is required before Confucian traditions are overcome.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

A qualitative exploration of rural feeding and weaning practices, knowledge and attitudes on nutrition.

AIM: An exploratory qualitative investigation was done to determine the feeding and weaning practices, knowledge and attitudes towards nutrition of mothers/caregivers of children up to 3 years old attending baby clinics in the Moretele district (South Africa). METHODOLOGY: Qualitative data collection on six relevant nutrition topics was done using focus group interviews. Trained moderators, using a pre-tested, structured interview schedule, interviewed participants in six age groups. Focus group interviews were taped, transcribed and translated. Content analysis produced systematic data descriptions and ethnography provided descriptive data. RESULTS: Breast-feeding was the choice feed and bottle-feeding was only given when breast-feeding was impossible. Solid food was introduced early (at 2-3 months) and a mixed family diet at 7-9 months. Milk feeds were stopped completely from 18-24 months. Weaning diets were compromised due to poor food choices, preparation practices and limited variety. The participant's nutrition knowledge regarding specific foods, their functions and recommended quantities was poor. The women adhered to their cultural beliefs regarding food choices and preparation practices. CONCLUSION: The data analysis revealed that inadequate nutrition knowledge and adherence to cultural practices lead to poor-quality feeding practices. Cultural factors and taboos have a powerful influence on feeding practices and eating patterns. Young mothers often find it impossible to ignore their ill-informed elders or peer group. Nutrition knowledge needs to be changed in a first step towards implementing improved feeding practices. Facilitated group discussions could focus on possible solutions for the identified nutrition-related problems.

Bottle Feeding↗
PubMed2006

Interview of patients by pharmacists contributes significantly to the identification of drug-related problems (DRPs).

PURPOSE: To investigate whether pharmacist interviews of hospitalised patients about their medication would result in identification of more drug-related problems (DRPs) than those found by usual care procedures and further to characterise the DRPs revealed at the interviews. METHODS: Patients from five internal medicine and two rheumatology departments in four hospitals in Norway were prospectively included in the study. Clinical pharmacists assessed DRPs by reviewing medical records and by participating in multidisciplinary team discussions. Drugs used, medical history, laboratory data and clinical/pharmacological risk factors were recorded (usual care procedure). A proportion of patients were randomly selected for interview with pharmacists. A quality team assessed the clinical significance of the DRPs. RESULTS: Seven hundred and twenty seven patients were included. Significantly more DRPs were found in the interview group (96 patients), an average of 4.4 DRPs per patient as compared to 2.4 DRPs in the non-interview group (631 patients) (p < 0.01). Of a total of 431 DRPs recorded in the interview group, 168 DRPs (39.9%) were disclosed through interviews. 'Need for additional drug', 'medical chart error', 'patient adherence' and 'need for patient education' were significantly more often recorded in this group. The quality team assessed 63% of the DRPs revealed in the interviews to be of major clinical significance. CONCLUSION: Significantly more DRPs were identified among the patients who were interviewed compared to those patients having only usual care examination. A high proportion of the DRPs identified in the interviews were of major clinical significance. The clinical pharmacists, with their way of interviewing, seem to fill a gap, ensuring that significant DRPs do not escape detection.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Addressing sexual abuse in the primary care setting.

OBJECTIVE: To describe factors that prompt pediatric practitioners to suspect child sexual abuse, the barriers to inquiry, and the approach to management of cases of possible abuse. DESIGN: Qualitative, descriptive, and case-based. METHODS: Six focus group interviews were conducted. Maternal and Child Health Bureau-sponsored collaborative office rounds groups nationwide participated in discussions of five vignettes. Each group interview lasted 1.5 hours and had 7 to 16 participants (n = 65). Audiotaped data were transcribed and analyzed independently for themes by two reviewers. RESULTS: Five themes emerged from the group interviews: anticipatory guidance, red flags, approach to management, terminology used in discussions, and barriers to inquiry. All groups discussed giving anticipatory guidance about sexual abuse. Half (3/6) believed girls were more likely to be victimized, and some (2/6) gave more anticipatory guidance to girls for this reason. Although some groups reported giving anticipatory guidance about sexual abuse, many reported inconsistencies in their practice. All groups identified historical, behavioral, and physical red flags for sexual abuse but believed that they were not trained in residency to recognize these signs. There was no consensus regarding the approach to management of cases of possible sexual abuse, and many participants did not know the types of questions that they should be asking children when they suspect abuse. Members of all groups reported using imprecise terms when they discuss sexual issues with families. Most (4/6) believed that it was a practitioner's responsibility to inquire about abuse but believed that their discomfort with sexual topics was a barrier to inquiry. All believed that the most significant barrier to inquiry was inadequate training in the area of sexual abuse and that cases are missed because of lack of training. CONCLUSIONS: Highly motivated pediatric practitioners reported that they give anticipatory guidance about sexual abuse inconsistently, that they were not trained to recognize red flags for sexual abuse, and that they do not have a consistent approach to cases of suspected abuse. Additionally, they reported that they are not comfortable discussing sexual issues and that they miss cases of sexual abuse primarily because of lack of training. Educational interventions that target these themes are essential to improve the ability of pediatricians to screen children and to intervene when sexual abuse is identified.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Patient satisfaction and information gain after the preanesthetic visit: a comparison of face-to-face interview, brochure, and video.

In this study we compared 3 methods of conducting the preanesthetic visit. We prospectively studied 197 consecutive surgical patients who were to undergo general anesthesia. The patients were randomized to a routine preanesthetic interview, a brochure plus an interview, or a self-made documentary video plus an interview. After the preanesthetic visit, the degree of patient satisfaction and information gain was quantified by a questionnaire for each method. The questions on patient satisfaction were assessed on a six-point scale, and those on information gain were assessed on a multiple-choice basis. The video plus interview group showed the highest point scores (98% of the possible maximum sum point score in patient satisfaction and 93% of the maximum sum score in information gain). In contrast, the patients of the brochure plus interview group revealed 93% for patient satisfaction and 80% for information gain, and in the standard interview group, the corresponding figures were 91% and 72%, respectively. The maximum sum scores in patient satisfaction and information gain were significantly different between the interview and the video groups, but not between the interview and the brochure groups. Therefore, these data suggest that the use of a documentary video to supplement a preoperative interview may enhance patient satisfaction and maximize information gain.

Anesthesia, General↗
PubMed2006

[Qualitative research: an introduction to focus group methodology and its application].

The focus group interview, an increasingly popular method in qualitative research, is used to obtain information that is highly accurate and relevant through a dynamic group interactive technique. Focus groups are used to gather ideas, opinions, perceptions, attitudes, and beliefs based on participants experiences in a defined area of interest. Focus groups can be used during the preliminary or exploratory stage of a study; during the course of a study (e.g., to develop or evaluate a particular / interesting program of activities); or after a program has been completed (e.g., to assess impact or generate further avenues of research). Focus group interviews can be used either as a method in their own right or as a complement to other methods, especially to check triangulation and validity. While our study concluded that focus group interviews are an "easy and cost efficient" method to collect quality data, validity and relationship issues between focus group data and other data must be determined and considered in the results. This article introduces the background, definitions, focus group process, participants, interview guidelines, moderator responsibilities, and data collection and analysis related to the focus group methodology.

Focus Groups↗
PubMed2003

Becoming a web-based learner: registered nurses' experiences.

AIMS: The purpose of the study was to describe Registered Nurses' experiences when taking a web-based course from either the workplace or home, and the impact of their learning on clinical practice. RATIONALE: Little is known about the web-based learners' experience, particularly when courses are accessed from the nursing practice setting. Even less is known about whether nurses transfer their web-based learning to clinical practice. METHODS: A qualitative design employing focus group interviews was used. Participants included hospital and community nurses from three Canadian provinces and one territory. Data were collected at three points over a 6-month period and analysed using a thematic analysis process. These findings emanate from a larger study using survey method and focus group interviews. RESULTS: The focus group interviews captured the hurdles nurses faced during the first weeks when they struggled with technology, re-framed their views of teaching and adjusted to web-based learning from home and work. These first stressful weeks were followed by a period during which nurses developed relationships with the teacher and peers that enabled them to focus on learning and prevented attrition. Most nurses reported the web course was convenient and that they would be interested and comfortable using technology for learning and work purposes in the future. Six weeks after the course was completed, nurses articulated a number of ways the course had improved their practice. CONCLUSION: Initial weeks in a web-based course can be very challenging for novice Internet users, however, most nurses who completed the course reported a positive learning experience. Nurses, employers and educators should evaluate computer skills, computer access and the learning environment when preparing for web-based learning.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Students' perceptions of the relative advantages and disadvantages of community-based and hospital-based teaching: a qualitative study.

AIMS: To obtain the perceptions of first-year clinical medical students of the relative advantages and disadvantages of community-based and hospital-based clinical teaching. METHODS: A qualitative study. A purposive sample of first-year clinical medical students who had experienced both community-based and hospital-based teaching was invited to participate in individual semistructured interviews or focus groups. Interviews and focus groups were audiotaped and transcribed to facilitate content analysis of the data. A total of 24 students participated in individual interviews and a further 18 took part in focus groups. RESULTS: Respondents identified advantages and disadvantages specific to teaching in each setting. Chief advantages of hospital-based learning were perceived to include learning about specialties and the management of acute conditions, and gaining experience of procedures and investigations. Community-based learning was perceived as particularly appropriate for learning about psychosocial issues in medicine, for increasing students' awareness of patient autonomy and for improving communication skills. In addition, aspects of organization and of teaching methods employed by community tutors, although not site-specific, were viewed as conducive to a positive educational experience. Students perceived some areas, such as clinical skills acquisition, to be equally well learned in either setting. DISCUSSION: As community-based teaching forms a greater proportion of the undergraduate medical experience, medical educators must find ways of determining the specific advantages that community and hospital settings can contribute to undergraduate learning and of using these resources effectively to develop comprehensive and integrated curricula. Innovations in teaching methods may also be necessary to provide an effective educational experience and promote active learning.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Early introduction of clinical skills teaching in a medical curriculum--factors affecting students' learning.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of the early introduction of clinical skills teaching on students' learning following an overhaul of the curriculum of a traditional Asian medical school. METHODS: Randomly selected medical students in Year I and II were invited to participate in 30 focus group interviews while all students were asked to assist with the questionnaire survey. Most students were contacted personally to help them understand the objectives of the study. Confidentiality was emphasised and a non-faculty interviewer was recruited for the interviews. RESULTS: Two hundred and eight of Year I/Year II students attended the lunchtime focus group interviews (response rate=86.7%) while 252 (73.5%) students returned the questionnaire. The majority of them (87%) agreed or strongly agreed that it was good to introduce clinical skills in the early years of the curriculum. They reflected that the course enhanced their learning interest and made them feel like doctors. They also made many constructive suggestions on how the course could be improved during the interactive focus group interviews so that the negative effects could be minimised. CONCLUSION: It is useful to introduce clinical skills in the early years of a medical curriculum. A comprehensive course evaluation, using both quantitative and qualitative methods, helps to collect useful information on how the course can be improved.

Clinical Competence↗
PubMed1993

Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) types I and II infection in sexual contacts and family members of blood donors who are seropositive for HTLV type I or II. American Red Cross HTLV-I/II Collaborative Study Group.

Interviews and laboratory testing were conducted for 168 contacts referred by former blood donors identified as seropositive for antibody to human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) or type II (HTLV-II). Thirty-two (28%) of 114 heterosexual contacts of seropositive donors, including 12 women and 20 men, were found to be antibody positive. None of 40 offspring (except one adult man who reported sexual contact in Puerto Rico) or 14 other (nonspousal) family members were seropositive. Thirty-one of the seropositive contacts were typeable as having either HTLV-I (52%) or HTLV-II (48%). Assessment of couples found that the median duration of the sexual relationship was significantly longer (p = 0.03) for those in which both partners were infected than in discordant pairs. Analysis of risk history data for 22 infected couples revealed that, in three cases, risk factors (Japanese ancestry or sexual contact with an injecting drug user) could be identified in the women, but not in their male partners. Among couples in which the male had the greater risk history, the risk factor was either a history of transfusion, birth or sexual exposure in an endemic area, or injected drug use. Counseling strategies for individuals with HTLV-I or HTLV-II infection should take into account the relatively high seroprevalence in their partners and should address the potential for sexual transmission in both directions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Sociocultural determinants of tobacco use among Cambodian Americans.

The objectives of this study included the following: obtaining qualitative information on tobacco use among Cambodian Americans, identifying cultural factors that influence tobacco use and acquiring information for the development of effective smoking prevention and cessation strategies. Data were collected by using demographic and behavioral questionnaires and focus group interviews. A total of 14 focus group interviews that covered cultural practices associated with smoking were administered. Statistical analyses included univariate frequency distributions and cross-tabulations. The subjects (n = 119) were Cambodian American volunteers who participated in social services programs offered by a community service organization. All subjects were 18 years of age or older and resided in the city of Long Beach. The principal outcomes measured were cigarette smoking and tobacco use. Other variables included reasons for smoking, traditional uses of tobacco, stress factors related to smoking and the perceived health effects of smoking. Predisposing, reinforcing and enabling factors associated with tobacco-use behaviors included peer group influences, smoking adopted as a coping method, tobacco used for medicinal purposes and smoking practiced within cultural traditions. The frequency of smoking was four times higher among males than among females. Smokers (n = 29) in comparison with non-smokers (n = 90) tended to be men (79% versus 33%), not married (68% versus 49%) and unemployed (79% versus 54%), and had attained somewhat lower levels of education. The role of cultural factors needs to be considered when designing appropriate smoking cessation strategies for Cambodian Americans.

Adult↗