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Yes / Objective: This article gives an in-depth insight into the ways in which communication between midwives and the birthing woman shape the birth experience. Background: Birth is a significant life event for many women that can have profound, long-lasting effects on how they see themselves as women and mothers. Within the literature the importance of control over the birth experience and the support that the birthing woman receives from midwives is stressed. Methods: Six women who had recently given birth participated in one-to-one semi-structured interviews designed to explore the kinds of support they received before, during and after their birth. An inductive thematic analysis was employed in order to identify and explore key issues which ran throughout the interviews. Results: Within the interviews the importance of being an active mother, someone who made decisions in relation to her labour, was stressed. The analysis explores the ways in which communication style and compassionate care either enabled or prevented women from adopting the position of ‘active’ mother. Conclusion: It is argued that a personal connection with midwives and clear and open communication which places the birthing woman in a position of control are key to positive birth experiences.

Background COVID-19 brought about unprecedented changes to health care systems, putting a strain on nurses, including those in rural hospitals. The accounts of nurses who worked during COVID-19 can help to increase understanding of this strain and how nurses can be supported during such crises. The aim of this study was to increase the understanding of rural acute care nurses’ experiences during COVID-19 and identify what challenged and supported them. Methods This study was completed using a qualitative description design, supported by the Society-to-Cells Resilience Theory. Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants with a target sample size of 10-30 nurses. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between March and May of 2023 via Zoom software; lasting from 60 to 90 minutes each. Content analysis was conducted by the primary researcher, with checks by a secondary researcher on two interviews for coding accuracy. Results Six Ontario rural acute care nurses participated in the study. Three related categories of factors emerged from the analysis; individual, workplace, and community factors. At the individual level, nurses faced social isolation, but were supported by their family and their own optimism. A key workplace factor that contributed to their distress was poor working conditions, including ineffectual management. However, they were supported emotionally by their coworkers. Lastly, the community could have a positive or negative effect depending on how supportive they were of nurses during COVID-19. Conclusion Strong support systems, resource availability in the workplace, and active and supportive management increased nurses’ well-being and resilience in the rural workplace. These findings can be used to inform future policy and management decisions in rural workplaces, especially during times of crisis, to prevent turnover and worsened mental health in rural nurses. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / COVID-19 brought about unexpected changes to healthcare systems, putting a strain on nurses, including those in rural hospitals. This study aimed to learn more about the experiences that rural acute care nurses had during COVID-19, to see what was stressful for them and what helped them to deal with their stress. This study used a qualitative descriptive design to gather this information. Rural nurses were interviewed about their experiences during COVID-19, and this information was summarized. It was found that they experienced stressors, such as poor working conditions and loneliness, in the home, workplace, and in the community. However, people in these places could also offer support. Rural nurses appreciated when their workplace had adequate staff and equipment present for them to complete their work. This study showed how important it is for management to understand the needs of nurses particularly during times of crisis.

Consumers of mental health services are recognized as experts due to their rich lived experiences. Because of their expert status, they are expected to play a vital role in the re-shaping of mental health systems by determining what culturally competent services look like and how services are provided to culturally diverse populations. Therefore, it is essential that the consumers' voices, choices and roles in transforming the mental health system are included in assessing the cultural competence of mental health counselors (New Freedom Commission, 2003). There is a significant gap in the literature regarding the consumers' unique perspective (Pope-Davis et al., 2002). There is a need for both qualitative studies and studies that focus on consumers to gain a deeper, richer insight of the consumers' perspective (Rubin & Rubin, 1995). A qualitative phenomenological design was used to give voice to three participants regarding their perceptions of cultural competence in the counseling relationship. Phenomenological interviews were used to explore in depth and with diversity the participants' subjective meaning of the lived experience (Denzin & Lincoln, 2003). Constant comparative research methods were used to analyze the data. Four themes naturally emerged from the data. Theme 1) Defining Cultural Competence was discussed as being inclusive of all differences; not focusing solely on race or ethnicity, including more than recognizing obvious differences, and counselors' willingness to raise and engage in the issue of culture. Theme 2) Counselor Attitude participants voiced that counselors' attitude plays a significant role in whether certain topics are broached and how much is shared about the topic. They reported what counselors convey through their attitude and interactions as being more important than what they convey verbally. Theme 3) The Counseling Relationship was discussed in regard to the importance of counseling relationships that fosters an environment of safety where sharing information and teaching and learning is reciprocal between counselor and consumer and Theme 4) Counselor Attributes were found to be more important than counseling techniques and theories. The findings are presented in a discussion of themes with narratives developed about each case. / Ph. D.

This research reflects a qualitative exploration of the timeliness of pursuits of higher education by females who were classified as non-traditional students at Concord College in southern West Virginia. The researcher studied females, educated in West Virginia, who had completed at least 30 semester hours, and who were at least 25 years of age at the time of admission. The study focused on identifying several factors common to many non-traditional students, including the factors that influenced them to not pursue their education as traditional students, the factors that changed so they recognized higher education as a viable option for themselves, and the factors that influenced them, positively or negatively, in their perseverance to continue in an undergraduate program. / Ph. D.

No / This paper explores the responses of 17 participants to using photo-elicitation as part of a project exploring their daily experiences of work-life balance. We explicitly asked participants about their experiences of using the method that involved taking photographs of their work-life balance experiences and interpreting these photographs through participation in semi- structured interviews. Participants took 108 photographs in total. We explore important methodological issues for researchers seeking to use these methods and explain that photograph-elicitation has much to offer management and organizational researchers. A major benefit of the method is the role of photographs as a ‘conversational technology’ in encouraging re-interpretation and reflection of experiences in a manner not always achieved when using other qualitative techniques.

The purpose of this study was to conduct a qualitative inquiry into how parents at the Virginia Tech Child Development Laboratory School in Blacksburg, VA define and attempt to understand their school culture. This study was guided by the following points of inquiry: 1) to understand the ways the parents articulate their conceptualization of the lab school culture, 2) to examine how parents negotiate change in the school, 3) to identify any social, political, and/or historical factors that caused this transformation, and 4) to inform best practice in the school. Participant observation, interviews, a reflective journal, and thematic analysis were used to gain a deeper understanding of this topic. Particular attention focused on social, political, and historical factors that influenced parent understanding of the school culture. Analysis of the interviews conducted with 11 parents who currently have children enrolled in the school and entries from my personal research journal reveal the need for dialogue and careful listening of parents thoughts, beliefs, values, and goals related to the lab school in order to achieve a sense of shared understanding (Bruner, 1990) and intersubjectivity (Vygotsky, 1978) around this notion of our school culture. Suggestions for building a shared culture for learning and teaching involving all the protagonists-- children, parents, teachers, staff -- are discussed. Implications for future research on understanding school cultures are presented for consideration. / Master of Science

Yes / Background: The role of medical imaging in the investigation of suspected child abuse is well documented. However, the role of the radiographer as an instigator of such concerns is less well understood. The fast-paced development of related technology and the evolution of the profession into new areas of work is argued to have impacted upon the traditional interaction between patient and professional; thus requiring a contemporary analysis of current practice. Objective: As part of a wider multimethod thesis, this qualitative study sought to fill a gap in the literature with regard the role of the radiographer in child safeguarding by exploring their knowledge of, attitude towards and practical experience of the phenomenon. Participants and setting: Online, semi-structured interviews were conducted with n=12 radiographers from across England between 2020 and 2021. Recruitment occurred via an initial survey and interviews were conducted online. Methods: Verbatim transcripts were analysed using a framework analysis approach to create initial codes which led to themes for discussion. Results: The framework analysis approach resulted in the identification of three constituent themes: (1) Patient, (2) Examination and (3) Radiographer. Each constituent themes were built from a comprehensive coding of the data. Analysis of these themes are presented in terms of quotes and diagrammatic depiction. Conclusion: For radiographers to be able to identify child safeguarding concerns, alignment of these constituent themes is necessary with the radiographer being the theme that can be greater controlled in terms of knowledge and attitude. Conceptually, this analysis could be extended to other professionals. Contemporary practice within medical imaging has made it more challenging to assess some physical and social signs of child safeguarding concern, and thus for the alignment to occur, as compared with previous generations. To maximise the contribution, education needs to account for wider paediatric practice and the imaging modality utilised by the radiographer. A case study approach demonstrating the potential that exists for the profession to contribute would be beneficial. Interprofessionally, greater involvement of radiographers in the assessment and escalation of any concerns could provide benefit to the patient. / This research was undertaken as part of internally funded PhD at University of Bradford, UK.