This study aims to explore, describe and thus understand the phenomenon of two-year college program students’ persistence within the context of Taiwanese culture and tradition; and to develop and provide a framework or patterns for understanding working adult students’ persistence for educators. By using a hermeneutic phenomenology approach, the persistence in learning experiences of specific participants was explored based on semi-structured interviews in two exploratory studies linked by a comprehensive literature review. The researcher’s own experience of persistence was also included as part of the study. The data were analysed by using thematic analysis and narrative construction. Findings reveal that participants persist with the support of enabling factors and application of coping strategies despite barriers. The intertwined relationship between the value placed on qualifications, identity recognition and views of persistence contribute to the concept of persistence. This concept develops through schemas emerging from the data: historical effect, cultural reproduction and identity construction. Under the influence of Taiwanese tradition and culture, this concept of persistence immerses into the participants’ knowledge ground and standpoints to understand the world they live in. The concept is defined as ‘no pain, no gain’ and includes dimensions of insisting on the right to study, fulfilment of dreams, being a role model of good study habits, personal growth and enrichment. Participants construct both social identity as graduates and personal identity as progressive, competent and respected individuals. The findings of this study benefit both theory and practice. Theoretical implications and recommendations include providing insights into the concept of persistence through development of schema that underpin factors contributing to working adult students’ persistence in Taiwan. Practical implications and recommendations include insights drawn from the perspective of Taiwanese culture and tradition to understand the experience of two-year college program working adult students to persist in a high level learning environment, which informs educators to see themselves as important sources of support and information, and thus able to assist their students to cope with the barriers to their learning, or to extend persistence outside their formal educational settings and maintain their learning.

This field study investigates the dissemination of an innovation through a descriptive analysis of the Structured Experiences for Use in the Classroom Project. Part I serves as an introduction to the field study and provides information about the role of the author in the Project, data collection methods and terminology used in the study. Part II provides a description of the operation of the Project and an analysis of the network of users of the innovation as well as some case studies of the users. Part III considers the operation of the Structured Experiences for Use in the Classroom Project in the light of the theory of the dissemination of innovations. This part also includes some conclusions about the theory and practice of the dissemination of innovations and raises implications for future practice and policy making. The Project team on the Structured Experiences for Use in the Classroom Project established a network of users of the innovation in order to further disseminate structured experiences and receive feedback on their use. The difficulties and the advantages of this approach are documented in the case studies in Part II. The conclusions from this field study raise questions and seek to indicate some directions in the areas of; the funding of projects, the styles of dissemination, the use of networks and the adoption of innovations.

<p>Stressrelaterad ohälsa återfinns bland de vanligaste orsakerna till sjukfrånvaro i Sverige enligt statistik 2009. För att namnge stressrelaterad ohälsa används bl a utbrändhet, utmattningssyndrom och utmattningsdepression. Den förstnämnda benämningen anses som en olämplig felaktigt förmedlande direktöversättning ifrån det engelska ordet burnout medan den andra och tredje benämningen används och fungerar som erkända begrepp. Det utmattade tillståndet innebär en mängd fysiologiska och psykiska besvär däribland den basala emotionen rädsla och komplexa emotionen ångest. Syftet med undersökningen var att djupstudera dessa emotioner i samband med utmattningssyndrom. I undersökningen deltog 8 personer med erfarenhet av fenomenet. Skriftligen beskrivna svar bearbetades och analyserades enligt metoden meningskoncentrering. I resultatet redovisas fysiologiska och psykiska upplevelser i samband med rädsla och ångest samt tankar och beteenden som upplevdes föregå och/eller förvärra rädslan och ångesten. Upplevelserna kännetecknades av mångfald och gemensamhet där djupgående beskrivningar kan bidra till en ökad kunskap och förståelse samt utgöra en grund för identifiering. Rädslan och ångesten utgör en del i en upplevd komplex problematik kring utmattningssyndrom .</p>

The primary purposes of this study were to explore the relationships among four work experiences (i.e., job variety, job autonomy, job stress, and job feedback) and coaches?? job satisfaction to examine the influence of institutional support (i.e., affective institutional support and financial institutional support) on job satisfaction, and to investigate if the relationship between the type of institutional support and job satisfaction differs (does not differ) between revenue generating sport coaches and non-revenue-generating sport coaches. To achieve these purposes this study examined the relationships among four work experiences and institutional support variables on job satisfaction. This study also examined differences between revenue-generating sport and non-revenue-generating sport coaches. Coaches (N = 599) in 7 sports (i.e., football, basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, and tennis) from NCAA Division I schools were asked to participate in this study. The response rate was a 34.7 % (208 / 599). Participants included 145 males and 63 females. Of the 208 completed and returned questionnaires, 100 (48.1%) were from revenue sport coaches (i.e., football and basketball). Meanwhile, 108 (51.9 %) were from non-revenue sport coaches. The results indicated that job variety, job stress, job feedback, affective institutional support, and financial institutional support were significantly related to job satisfaction. Namely, these three job experiences and two types of institutional support in the organizational environment impacted coaches?? attitudes, or job satisfaction. Further, for revenue generating sport coaches, financial institutional support was a significant indicator of job satisfaction; however, for non-revenue-generating sport coaches, affective institutional support held a stronger relationship to job satisfaction than did financial institutional support. Additionally, one of the job experience variables, job feedback, played a meaningful role to both coaches of revenue sports and coaches of nonrevenue sports in shaping job satisfaction.

Stressrelaterad ohälsa återfinns bland de vanligaste orsakerna till sjukfrånvaro i Sverige enligt statistik 2009. För att namnge stressrelaterad ohälsa används bl a utbrändhet, utmattningssyndrom och utmattningsdepression. Den förstnämnda benämningen anses som en olämplig felaktigt förmedlande direktöversättning ifrån det engelska ordet burnout medan den andra och tredje benämningen används och fungerar som erkända begrepp. Det utmattade tillståndet innebär en mängd fysiologiska och psykiska besvär däribland den basala emotionen rädsla och komplexa emotionen ångest. Syftet med undersökningen var att djupstudera dessa emotioner i samband med utmattningssyndrom. I undersökningen deltog 8 personer med erfarenhet av fenomenet. Skriftligen beskrivna svar bearbetades och analyserades enligt metoden meningskoncentrering. I resultatet redovisas fysiologiska och psykiska upplevelser i samband med rädsla och ångest samt tankar och beteenden som upplevdes föregå och/eller förvärra rädslan och ångesten. Upplevelserna kännetecknades av mångfald och gemensamhet där djupgående beskrivningar kan bidra till en ökad kunskap och förståelse samt utgöra en grund för identifiering. Rädslan och ångesten utgör en del i en upplevd komplex problematik kring utmattningssyndrom .

ABSTRACT Background: A diary often helps the critically ill patient better to understand her/his illness and fill gaps in memory regarding their experiences in the ICU. To date there appears to be a lack of research that specifically focuses on family members’ experiences of the use of a diary within the intensive care setting. Aim: The aim of the study was to explore how family members experienced a diary kept during their sick relative’s stay in the ICU. Methodology: A qualitative methodology and, in particular, a hermeneutic approach were deemed to be appropriate for the study. Eleven participants were interviewed relating to nine diaries. Collected data have been analysed using hermeneutic interpretation inspired by Gadamer. Findings: Family members experienced that the diary sustained strengthened and deepened the connection to their sick relative and confirmed the presence of family members at bedside. The diary worked as a forum for mutual exchange of information between nurses and family members which led to a feeling of being united with the nurses in understanding. This in turn created a sense of togetherness and the family members didn’t feel neglected. In addition the diary was experienced as an implied hope that the outcome of the ICU stay would be good, thereby lending strength to worried family members. Conclusion: The diary was experienced as a tool that enhanced family members’ wellbeing.

The purpose of this study was to describe how adolescents aged 12-18 years with inflammatory bowel disease experience their illness and what coping strategies they use to manage their illness and improve their wellbeing. The method used was a descriptive literature study, and the result of the study included 15 scientific articles. Our results showed that IBD affected the adolescent’s everyday life and social life with friends, family and activities. The adolescents also reported that they experienced a feeling of vulnerability, altered body image and that they saw themselves as different from healthy subjects. Adolescents with IBD have been shown to use the same coping strategies that healthy adolescents are using, that is, confrontational, evasive, independent and optimistic coping. The avoidance coping is more prevalent in adolescents with IBD, as the use of such strategies is specific for IBD because of illness symptoms. There is a need for more research directed at young people with IBD, since previous research is based mostly on adults' experiences of illness.

This qualitative case-study research investigated how Eastern European immigrant youth in a southern English public secondary school adjusted to and experienced the British educational system, which involves streaming students into levels of academic ability. The study focused on these students experiences of day-to-day life in a British secondary school and it explored the challenges and successes that they experienced. The study also investigated the experiences of teachers and administrators involved in the education of immigrant students. Through the use of student and faculty experiences, through recorded interviews, this study sought to understand how educators could improve the ways they are educating immigrant students.

Background: One in ten couples suffers from some form of involuntary childlessness or infertility in Sweden. Involuntary childlessness or infertility is when an individual or a couple has a desire for a child but are unable to conceive on their own. To suffer from involuntary childlessness can be a mental strain that can result in a personal crisis, where the existential issues become central and contested. Regardless of the reason for their changed life world is because of involuntary childlessness or infertility, it is always important for the nurse to have an understanding of individual’s life-changing world and experiences.  Aim: The aim of the study was to describe men and women experiences of involuntary childlessness during investigation and treatment. Method: Selected method was a literature review. The study was based on articles from systematic and unsystematic searches in databases and analyzed from the chosen method. Results: Four main themes emerged from the analysis, 'The changing life-world', 'The mental strain', 'Perceptions of relationships and social life' and 'experiences related to treatment'. Conclusion: Being involuntarily childless and infertile create a mental, physical and social stress. Clinically, this means a responsibility to offer a personalized support. For the nurse it is important to have an understanding of individual life-world and how the involuntary childlessness affects them.

Bakgrund: Klamydia är den vanligaste sexuellt överförbara sjukdomen i Sverige och i andra europeiska länder. I dagens samhälle finns det många förändringar i attityder och beteenden som leder till sexuellt risktagande. Klamydia är en väldigt förrädisk sjukdom på grund av dess många gånger asymtomatiska natur. På grund av det faktum att många individer är omedvetna om infektionen kan den orsaka mycket skada. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att få en inblick i hur kvinnor och män upplever en klamydiainfektion Metod: En litteraturbaserad studie med kvalitativ ansats. Resultat: Många negativa känslor avslöjades i samband med att få beskedet om infektionen. Exempel på några vanliga känslor är stigmatisering, smutsighetskänsla och förtvivlan. Män och kvinnor reagerade olika på beskedet. Oro för infertilitet och hur partnern skulle reagera vid avslöjandet var något som framkom. Många individer upplevde sig illa behandlade av vårdpersonal när de uppsökte vården. Konklusion: Infektionen utlöser negativa känslor och utmanar självbilden av att vara en skötsam person. Det är stor oro för komplikationer och att bli dömda av andra. Bemötandet i vården är något som kan påverka hur individen upplever sin infektion. / Background: Chlamydia is the most common STD in Sweden and other European countries. There are a lot of changes in attitudes and behaviors in the society today which leads to risky sexual activities. Chlamydia is a very traitorous disease because of its very often asymptomatic nature. The fact that a lot of people are unaware of the infection, it can cause lots of damage. Aim: The aim of this study was to get an insight in women and men`s experiences of having Chlamydia. Method: A literature review with a qualitative approach. Result: A lot of negative emotions were elicited in connection with the notification of the disease. Common feelings such as stigma, contamination and despair are a few examples. Men and women reacted differently to the notification. Concerns about infertility and how the partner would react when notified was something that emerged. A lot of people experienced bad encounters with the nursing staff when they sought care. Conclusion: The infection triggers negative feelings and challenge the self image of being a proper person. There is a great concern due to complications and becoming judged by others. The care encounters is something that can affect how persons experience its infection.