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Thesis (MCurr)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) are critical concerns worldwide; this is particularly true of South Africa. The consequences of HIV infection and complications of AIDS are a challenge that extends into the nursing profession and into the community of student nurses. Support groups can form an important part in educating nursing students about HIV and AIDS, as well as in supporting nursing students through the processes of counselling, testing and managing the physical, as well as other impacts of this syndrome. When considering the current situation at an Eastern Cape nursing college and the literature reviewed on this topic, the research question posed for this study was: ‘Why is the support offered by the HIV support group to the nursing students having such a limited effect on the students’ motivation to participate in HIV counselling and testing (HCT) and support activities to de-stigmatise HIV/AIDS?’ The aim of this study was to explore and describe the nursing students’ experiences and perceptions of the support group activities in order to improve the relevance of this initiative for students. The objectives of this study were to - Explore and describe the student’s experiences and perceptions of the support group activities - Identify and describe the student’s expectations of the support group. A qualitative approach with an exploratory and descriptive design was used to elicit data to answer the research question. Ethical approval was obtained from the Health Research Ethics Committee and access to the college campus was obtained through the appropriate authorities. The accessible population for this study were 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year students at one campus of the provincial nursing college in the Eastern Cape. In-depth individual interviews were conducted with eight participants who met the study inclusion criteria of having had experience of the support group and its activities. Interviews were recorded and transcribed by the researcher. Content analysis was used to analyse the interview data through applying Tesch’s eight steps of analysis. Data analysis revealed that participants did not experience the support group as helpful; although they had joined the support group they remained fearful of receiving test results and what their future may hold should they be diagnosed as being HIV positive. The participants experienced rejection and discrimination by the support group committee members; they also identified that the committee displayed hypocritical behaviours and a lack of respect for confidentiality of information which further undermined the functioning and influence of the group. Results revealed that joining the support group means one is automatically stigmatised as being HIV positive. The support group committee members were seen to be inaccessible having only limited communication with participants. Recommendations from the study were to hold personal and group development sessions for the committee and interested students to assist them in learning how to manage ethical issues related to counselling and testing, how to conduct effective campaigns to de-stigmatize HIV/AIDS, and to determine clearly what the purpose of this particular group is that it may better meet the needs of the student group. Limitations of this study were that the qualitative research approach that was applied limited the generalisation of the findings. The study focused only on experiences and perceptions of the undergraduate nursing students on one campus of the nursing college about the support group and its activities. Thus, the study offered an initial insight into the current negative perceptions of students towards the support group and offered a foundation for further investigation. In conclusion, experiences and perceptions of the support group were explored and elaborated on. Currently, the support group does not offer the support the students would like to be available as the fundamental functioning of the group is compromised by a lack of trust between students and the committee members. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die menslike immuungebreksvirus (MIV) en verworwe immuniteitsgebreksindroom (VIGS) is wêreldwyd kommerwekkende aangeleenthede, veral met betrekking tot Suid-Afrika. Die gevolge van MIV-infeksie en komplikasies van VIGS is uitdagings wat die verpleegberoep en die verpleegstudente-gemeenskap met verreikende gevolge raak. Ondersteuningsgroepe kan ’n belangrike rol speel om verpleegstudente in verband met MIV en VIGS op te lei, asook om ondersteuning te bied deur middel van die prosesse van berading, toetsing en die bestuur van die fisiese en ander gevolge van die sindroom. Toe die huidige situasie by ’n Oos-Kaapse verpleegkollege, asook die literatuuroorsig oor die onderwerp in oënskou geneem is, is die navorsingsvraag vir die studie gestel: “Waarom het die ondersteuning wat deur die ondersteuningsgroep aan die studentverpleegsters aangebied word so ’n beperkte effek op die studente se motivering om deel te neem aan MIV-berading en toetsing, asook ondersteuningsaktiwiteite om MIV/VIGS te destigmatiseer?” Die doel van hierdie studie was om die verpleegstudente se ervaringe en persepsies van die ondersteuningsgroep se aktiwiteite te ondersoek en te beskryf, ten einde die relevansie van hierdie inisiatief vir die studente te verbeter. Die doelwitte van hierdie studie was om die student se: - ervaringe en persepsies van die ondersteuningsgroep se aktiwiteite te ondersoek en te beskryf - verwagtinge van die ondersteuningsgroep te identifiseer en te beskryf. ’n Kwalitatiewe benadering met ’n ondersoekende en beskrywende ontwerp is gebruik om die data aan die lig te bring om sodoende die navorsingsvraag te beantwoord. Etiese goedkeuring is van die Universiteit van Stellenbosch se Gesondheidsnavorsingsetiekkomitee verkry en toegang tot die kollege-kampus is deur die betrokke owerhede verleen. Die toeganklike bevolking vir die studie was eerste-, tweede-, derde- en vierdejaarstudente by een kampus van die provinsiale verpleegkollege in die Oos-Kaap. Deurtastende individuele onderhoude is met agt deelnemers gevoer wat aan die studie se inklusiewe kriteria voldoen het en wat ondervinding het van die ondersteuningsgroep en hul aktiwiteite. Data is deur die navorser opgeneem en getranskribeer. Inhoudelike analise is gebruik om die data van die onderhoud te analiseer deur Tesch se ag stappe van analise toe te pas. Analise van die data het aan die lig gebring dat deelnemers nie die ondersteuningsgroep as behulpsaam ervaar nie. Ten spyte van aansluiting by die ondersteuningsgroep bly hulle angstig vir wanneer toetsresultate ontvang moet word en wat dit vir hul toekoms mag inhou indien hulle MIV-positief gediagnoseer word. Die deelnemers het verwerping en diskriminasie deur die ondersteuningsgroep se komitee-lede ervaar; hulle het ook skynheilige optredes en ’n gebrek aan respek vir vertroulikheid van inligting wat die funksionering en invloed van die groep verder ondermyn, geïdentifiseer. Resultate het aan die lig gebring dat aansluiting by die ondersteuningsgroep beteken dat hulle outomaties gestigmatiseer word as MIVpositief. Die komitee van die ondersteuningsgroep word gesien as ontoeganklik met beperkte kommunikasie met die deelnemers. Aanbevelings vanuit die studie sluit in die opvoeding en die ontwikkeling van ’n komitee en belangstellende studente om etiese kwessies te bestuur wat verband hou met berading en toetsing, veldtogte om MIV/VIGS te destigmatiseer en om duidelik te bepaal watter tipe ondersteuningsgroep hierdie betrokke groep moet nastreef om te wees. Beperkinge van hierdie studie is dat ’n kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering toegepas is wat die veralgemening van die bevindings beperk het. Die studie het slegs gefokus op ervaringe en persepsies van die voorgraadse verpleegstudente op een kampus van die verpleegkollege aangaande die ondersteuningsgroep en hul aktiwiteite. Sodoende, gee die studie ’n aanvanklike insig in die huidige negatiewe persepsies van studente oor die ondersteuningsgroep en bied ook ’n grondslag vir verdere ondersoeke. Ten slotte, ervaringe en persepsies van die ondersteuningsgroep is ondersoek en daarop uitgebrei. Tans bied die ondersteuningsgroep nie die ondersteuning wat die studente benodig nie, vanweë die fundamentele funksionering van die groep se gebrek aan vertroue deur studente in die komitee-lede.

This study explored the experiences of members of an OCD support group, utilising a qualitative design, social constructionist approach, and a systemic framework. Participants were obtained through purposive sampling; data was collected via faceto- face semi-structured interviews with four participants. It emerged that these participants attended two OCD support groups (initial support group and sub-support group). The participants’ experiences were analysed using thematic analysis. Major findings: the participants’ motivation to attend both support groups was to reduce their OCD symptoms and improve functioning. The initial support group was a professional-led psychoeducational support group while the sub-support group was a self-help psychotherapeutic group. The groups also complemented each other with information from the initial support group being implemented in the sub-support group. The participants reported to have benefitted from participation in both support groups as their OCD symptoms reduced and their daily functioning improved. Recommendations for future research were discussed. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

SAMMANFATTNING Bakgrund: Det finns omfattande vetenskaplig grund för att pappors delaktighet i deras barns liv främjar hälsa och gynnar en positiv utveckling hos barnen. Studier har även visat att stöd från hälso- och sjukvården främjar pappors delaktighet. Inom barnhälsovården erbjuds bland annat föräldrastöd i grupp och tanken är att män och kvinnor ska vilja medverka i lika stor utsträckning. Pappor deltar dock i mycket lägre grad än mammor. En av utmaningarna för barnhälsovården är därför att finna former för föräldrastöd i grupp som tilltalar alla föräldrar. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att beskriva utformningen av föräldrastöd i grupp samt BVC-sjuksköterskornas uppfattningar kring utformningen och pappors deltagande. Metod: Studien genomfördes som en tvärsnittsstudie med ett strukturerat frågeformulär i webbformat som datainsamlingsmetod. Materialet analyserades med icke-parametrisk statistik. Resultat: Resultatet visade att tidpunkten som föräldrastöd i grupp erbjuds på tycks vara av betydelse för pappors deltagande, både vad det gäller tid på dygnet och barnets ålder. Analysen visade på skillnader i BVC-sjuksköterskornas uppfattningar kring pappadeltagandet utifrån vilken typ av vårdcentral de arbetade på samt om de hade fortbildning i genusfrågor. Slutsats: Sociodemografiska faktorer kan ha betydelse för BVC-sjuksköterskornas uppfattningar kring pappors deltagande i föräldrastöd i grupp, men detta behöver undersökas ytterligare. / ABSTRACT Background: There is extensive scientific evidence that fathers' involvement in their children's lives promotes health and positive development in children. Studies have also shown that support from health professionals promote fathers' involvement. Group parental support is offered within the Child health care (CHC) service with the goal that mothers and fathers participate equally. Fathers, however, participate to a much lower extent than mothers. One of the challenges the CHC faces is to design parental support groups that will appeal to all parents. Aim: The aims of this study were to investigate the structure of parental support groups and the CHC nurses' perceptions of the structure and father participation. Method: The study was conducted as a cross-sectional study using a structured questionnaire in web format as data collection method. Data were analyzed with non-parametric statistics. Results: The results found that the time at which parental support groups are offered seems to be crucial for father participation, both with regard to time of the day and age of the child. The analysis showed that there were differences in the CHC nurses' perceptions of father participation based on the type of health center they were working in, and whether or not they had training in gender issues. Conclusion: Socio-demographic factors may be of importance for CHC nurses' perceptions of father participation, but this needs to be investigated further.

This mixed-method study explored how students in a doctoral educational leadership cohort at one university used the cohort structure as a learning community or as a method of social support. Survey data were collected from 45 past and present cohort students and qualitative data were collected from three focus groups of 15 participants total. The survey measured four factors: General Cohort Experience, Trust Within the Cohort, Network, and Community of Learners. Quantitatively, one cohort was found to be significantly different from the others in terms of Trust Within the Cohort; and the 60 hour cohorts were found to be more satisfied with the cohort experience than the 48 hour doctoral cohorts at the university studied. The theme of trust and support from and to fellow members both during and after the cohort had dissolved was a strong recurrent theme in this study. Cohort members felt that they developed and strengthened their skills professionally as a result of participating in the cohort; however, they first had to develop a sense of community and trust with their fellow members in order to learn from them.

The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences and perceptions of behavioral factors that contribute to successful weight loss in male bariatric patients. By analyzing participant experiences and perceptions, this study contributes to a better understanding of which factors are most important in the postoperative phase of gastric bypass in males owing to successful weight loss. Although there is a tremendous amount of quantitative research within the bariatric population, there is a significant gap within the qualitative literature as it relates to male outcomes. As such, by conducting interviews with 10 postoperative male gastric bypass patients, this study was able to further understand how and why these participants obtained successful weight loss. Furthermore, by identifying relevant categories and thematic responses from the participants, this study may serve future researchers in designing other qualitative studies that target best practices in males for successful weight loss outcomes. The findings of this study indicate that participants found greater weight loss success by following proper eating behaviors and engaging in physical activity whereas support group attendance was not found to be an important factor in successful weight loss. This study also revealed that follow up with the bariatric nurse coordinator was greatly viewed as a positive step in adjusting to lifestyle postsurgery. As such, this supportive role by the nurse coordinator may provide further impetus for the ways in which bariatric personnel interact with patients who might not always be able to see their surgeon for follow-up.

Master of Science / Department of Journalism and Mass Communications / Nancy Muturi / This study was designed to explore how Alzheimer’s caregivers use Facebook support groups. Specifically it describes what kinds of activities caregivers engage in when in Facebook support groups, explores the motivation behind participation, and details perceived advantages and disadvantages of the groups. Whether Facebook support groups are considered a primary and accurate source of disease information was also explored. The study was qualitative in nature and consisted of 20 caregiver interviews, conducted via phone and Skype. Guided by uses and gratifications theory (Katz, Blumler & Gurevitch, 1974), the study employed six research questions to fully explore the experiences of caregivers in Facebook support groups. Generally speaking, the study identified the primary theme of community, and three subthemes including context, advice and emotional release/support. There were also significant findings on the primacy and accuracy of information. The ability to more fully understand these themes in the context of the caregiver experience will provide health care professionals with a foundation on which they can build effective ways to tap existing Facebook support groups and bolster support as the Alzheimer’s epidemic grows exponentially between now and 2050.

Thesis advisor: Belle Liang / Traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors often experience isolation from their primary support network following their injury (Marsh, Kersel, Havill, & Sleigh, 1998). Computer-mediated support groups (CMSGs) offer a virtual platform for individuals with complex medical concerns to exchange emotional and informational support (Braithwaite, Waldron, & Finn, 1999). To date, no research has examined the use of CMSGs, such as TBI-related Facebook support groups, for TBI survivors. There is also limited research investigating how emotional and informational support provided and received (i.e., supportive exchanges) relate to well-being and online relational health (Liang et al., 2002). This study examined the relationship between four supportive exchanges and well-being and relational health for TBI survivors using TBI-related Facebook support groups, as well as whether a gender norm—emotional control—and network preference moderated these relationships. Participants included 191 TBI survivors recruited across 14 TBI-related Facebook support groups. Multiple regression analyses tested whether four supportive exchanges directly predicted well-being and relational health after controlling for age and extraversion. Results revealed that supportive exchanges did not predict well-being. However, emotional support provided, emotional support received, and informational support received all predicted higher levels of online relational health. Informational support provided predicted lower levels of online relational health. Additional multiple regression analyses tested whether emotional control and four aspects of network preference moderated the relationship between supportive exchanges and well-being and relational health. Although higher levels of emotional control directly predicted lower levels of relational health, and a preference for weak-tie support networks (e.g., online acquaintances) predicted lower levels of well-being, the moderating effects were generally not significant. The findings underscore the importance of supportive exchanges in developing online relational health for TBI survivors using Facebook support groups. It also suggests that this relationship was not dependent on emotional control and network preference. Future research should investigate other factors affecting supportive online communication for TBI survivors and when they may benefit most from online support. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2018. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Counseling, Developmental and Educational Psychology.

A presente dissertação procura colaborar na compreensão dos entraves existentes na Fundação Casa quanto à aplicação da medida sócio-educativa - sob a ótica da teoria de René Kaës - no que se refere às produções inconscientes tecidas pelos sujeitos do grupo, tendo os temas da violência e das formações psíquicas intermediárias primazia na discussão. Remeterá ainda o leitor à história das instituições voltadas ao atendimento da infância e juventude, a fim de situar a Fundação Casa em sua dimensão \'transgeracional\'. Para tanto, apresentamos uma investigação sobre os processos históricos de atendimento à infância e juventude assim como o atual panorama da violência em nossa sociedade. Na pesquisa de campo foram utilizados os seguintes instrumentos: entrevistas grupais com a equipe pedagógica, técnica, de segurança e adolescentes de uma unidade de internação; foi feita uma análise qualitativa dos discursos daí surgidos, a partir da teoria psicanalítica, segundo a abordagem de Kaës. A discussão aponta para existência de alianças inconscientes que impedem a ligação de processos psíquicos entre os grupos da instituição e sustenta a violência como mantenedora da estrutura institucional. / The present dissertation intends to understand the obstacles in social and educational measure application by Fundação Casa - under René Kaës\' theory - concerning unconscious productions maintained by the group subjects. In our discussion, we give priority to violence and intermediaries\' psychic formations. It still mentions the history of youth and infancy care institutions, aiming to situate Fundação Casa in its \'transgenerational dimension\'. By this way, we investigated the historical process of youth and infancy attendances as well as the contemporary violence view in our society. Further to the field research we used the following instruments: group interviews with pedagogical, technical and security staff and young internees followed by a qualitative analysis of discourses, by Kaës\' group psychoanalysis theory. The discussion suggests the existence of unconscious alliances that obstructs the link psychic process among institutional groups and sustains the violence as the maintainer of institutional structure

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-21T14:42:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Jordana de Oliveira.pdf: 782345 bytes, checksum: 34d3a1f6ac29ccaefb1e90d96f2a4102 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-16 / Arising from the Statute of the Institution of Child and Adolescent - ECA in 1990 and the formation of a new standard alluding to the adoption, emerged the so-called the Adoption Support Groups in order to break the targeted adoption goodwill and create a new right culture guided the ACE based on the principle adoption as children's rights guarantee and adolescents. It was at this juncture that came the Support Group to Adoptions Needed - GAAN in Ponta Grossa - PR from an extension project of the State University of Ponta Grossa - UEPG and was later continue his work to turn into an Organization Institute - NGO. On this basis, the this work study object was the formation of citizenship of children and adolescents from the work done by GAAN in the adoption process, and the universe of research the GAAN and as sample participants and significant subject in the formation of GAAN who were selected from the technical Snowball methodology. The research is qualitative in nature, because the attention was turned to social facts and their interpretation. It was also made use of exploratory research in the process. Research instruments consisted of the bibliographical research, documentary research, systematic observation and semi-structured interview. The analysis of the data occurred from the content analysis which were established four categories from the speeches of the subjects being: mobilization, demands around the adoption perspectives on the adoption and citizenship. It was observed during the research that GAAN enables the formation of citizenship from the adoption from work carried out in support of the necessary adoptions and enable children and adolescents who have their rights secured by way of adoption, most prepared parents to receive them. It was noted also that the group won its place in society pontagrossense and performs his actions today from a networking with the Children and Youth Court. / Decorrente da instituição do Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente – ECA no ano de 1990 e da formação de uma nova norma alusiva à adoção, surgiram os denominados Grupos de Apoio à Adoção com o intuito de romper com a adoção voltada a benevolência e criar uma nova cultura de direito pautada no ECA tendo como princípio a adoção como garantia de direitos da criança e do adolescente. Foi nesta conjuntura que surgiu o Grupo de Apoio às Adoções Necessárias – GAAN no município de Ponta Grossa – PR a partir de um projeto de extensão da Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa – UEPG e posteriormente houve continuidade ao seu trabalho ao transformar-se em uma Organização Não Governamental – ONG. Com base nisto, o objeto de estudo deste trabalho foi a formação da cidadania das crianças e adolescentes a partir do trabalho realizado pelo GAAN no processo de adoção, sendo o universo da pesquisa o GAAN e como amostra os sujeitos participantes e significativos na formação do GAAN que foram selecionados a partir da técnica metodologia Snowball. A pesquisa é de caráter qualitativa, pois a atenção foi voltada aos fatos sociais e a sua interpretação. Foi feito uso também da pesquisa exploratória no decorrer do processo. Os instrumentos de pesquisa utilizados consistiram na pesquisa bibliográfica, pesquisa documental, observação assistemática e entrevista semiestruturada. A análise dos dados levantados se deu a partir da análise de conteúdo onde foram estabelecidas quatro categorias a partir das falas dos sujeitos, sendo: mobilização, demandas em torno da adoção, perspectivas acerca da adoção e formação da cidadania. Observou-se no decorrer da pesquisa que o GAAN possibilita a formação da cidadania a partir da adoção decorrente do trabalho realizado em prol das adoções necessárias e por possibilitar a criança e ao adolescente, que tem seus direitos garantidos pela via da adoção, pais mais preparados para recebê-los. Notou-se ainda que o grupo conquistou o seu espaço na sociedade pontagrossense e realiza suas ações hoje a partir de um trabalho em rede com a Vara da Infância e Juventude.