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In 2020–2021, a qualitative study was undertaken using an interpretive description methodology to identify what triggers grief in the first 2 years following the death of a beloved family member, and to gain other helpful insights about grief triggers from bereaved Canadian adult volunteers. In that study, a purposive sampling method was used to select 10 bereaved Canadian adult volunteers for in-depth, semi-structured interviews. This paper reports on the humor findings, as revealed to be a particularly complex grief trigger for many participants, as well as a periodic way for most to manage or live with their grief. Participant quotes and an extended discussion are included to illustrate the importance of these humor findings in relation to grief, and to inform bereaved people, bereavement service providers, and the general public about both helpful aspects and some cautionary considerations about humor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While bystander intervention education has demonstrated promise as a strategy to reduce dating and sexual violence (DSV) on campus, little is known about whether survivors on whose behalf the interventions take place find these helpful. This paper uses qualitative, in-depth interviews with 33 DSV survivors to explore their perspectives on bystander intervention. Results indicate that while some interventions were identified as helpful, especially those that provided support to the survivor, many were not helpful enough or even harmful. Further work is needed to understand the consequences of bystander action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Empirical studies suggest that gratitude positively influence the quality of life of palliative patients and relatives. However, the literature is marked by a lack of conceptual clarity about what gratitude is and whether it can bring about individual and social benefits. Aim: This paper explores how palliative care patients and relatives understand gratitude, how discursive representations of gratitude may affect their positions, perceptions and relations, and how to conceptualise gratitude in the palliative context. Design: We examine 33 gratitude letters written by patients and relatives and 25 semi-structured interviews conducted as part of a pilot gratitude intervention study. We use a qualitative approach, thematic analysis, within a conceptual framework of discourse analysis. Settings/participants: Data were collected from 23 patients and 13 relatives recruited through three hospital palliative care services in French-speaking Switzerland. Results: Participants articulate gratitude in five ways: (1) appreciating others; (2) love; (3) need to reciprocate; (4) appreciating the little things; (5) solace amid serious illness. While some of these representations are sources of positive emotions and outlook, wellbeing and hope, others may confirm self-perceptions of powerlessness and burden. These results support a tridimensional conceptualisation of gratitude in palliative care as source of individual benefits, valuing closest relationships and moral obligation. Conclusion: Our study suggests that gratitude is a key to a good (end of) life, whilst highlighting potential negative effects. It could help healthcare professionals to better understand what gratitude means to patients and relatives, which may facilitate awareness and fostering of gratitude in palliative care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Narrating or storytelling is a fundamental practice for human survival and a means for finding meaning in experiences and for enhancing self-understanding. The use of story has been present in nursing since its origins. Biographical narrative has rarely been used as a research method in nursing, and there are no examples conceptualizing biographical narrative research methods within a unitary science perspective. The purpose of this paper is to describe one specific narrative methodological approach—the biographical narrative research method—and to link the method to the science of unitary human beings as a means of creating a unitary understanding of the storied nature of human-health experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reflects on the value of diary methods in the context of a qualitative, longitudinal narrative inquiry exploring the higher education decision-making of further education students in England. Event-based diaries were used alongside interviews and focus groups over a 14-month period to gain in-depth insights into the reasons and influences informing their decision-making trajectories. I explore the challenges, successful approaches and advantages of employing diary methods with young people in this context. Challenges consisted of maintaining participant engagement, which was overcome by combining methods and incorporating a reactive co-participatory element. Yet, a number of advantages emerged from participants' engagement with diary keeping which enhanced the richness of the data; this inspired deeper reflections on decision-making and influences and provided a private space for participants to disclose personal difficulties that could not be obtained via interviews. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports findings of a qualitative study examining the perceptions of 21 Australian women professionals who conduct home visiting with families experiencing intimate partner violence. There is scant evidence documenting how home visiting professionals adapted practice to address the safety concerns of women and their children within the context of the pandemic. Practitioners noted an increase in the risk level and complexity of intimate partner violence (IPV), including the ways that perpetrators weaponized the pandemic to exert power and control over women and children. Practitioners reported on their rapid adaptation of practices, to ensure the continuation of services which included moving to online delivery methods, wearing PPE, and negotiating practice from a distance. While responses to these changes were mixed, most reported their desire to continue to use online platforms post-pandemic, reporting increased safety, flexibility, and accessibility for the majority of clients. This research addresses a gap in respect of professionals' perceptions of the issues facing survivors of IPV and of their professional practice during the COVID-19 pandemic. As policies, practices, and protocols continue to adapt to the challenging environment posed by the pandemic the experiences of professionals and service users are critical to inform these changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a time of heightened bigotry and racialized violence, it is critical for social workers to engage in anti-racism practice. What leads White individuals to embrace this framework is less explored in scholarship. This paper presents data from an exploratory narrative inquiry with 10 White helping professionals in the Northeastern US who adopted an overtly anti-racism approach in their work. Narrative is a "cultural tool" through which individuals make sense of themselves and circumstances within context (Dauite et al., 2015: 48). Narrative inquiry involves uncovering the stories embedded within the overt stories told. With focus on pivotal childhood experiences, the themes taken up in this paper include the influence of family of origin values about race, exposure to racial difference, and experiences leading to the adoption of anti-racism tenets. The themes emerged as participants reflected on the self-discovery of racialization; initial exposure to racial inequity; and the impetus for them to become active in efforts to counter White supremacy. The paper aims to add to research on the engagement of White individuals in anti-racism efforts, an essential task for US social work as a predominantly White profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Global literature on medical travel focuses on patients from high-income countries traveling to middle-income countries reputed for providing high quality care at significantly lower costs. However, little is known about the movement of wealthy foreign patients to high-income countries such as the USA, the UK or Switzerland. Objective: In this paper, we focus on Swiss medical tourism stakeholders and their strategies to attract a niche of self-paying foreign patients to undergo medical treatment in Switzerland. We describes how they harness the label of 'Swiss quality' healthcare to promote Switzerland in global medical travel industry. Methods: We conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 30 medical tourism stakeholders including 15 healthcare professionals (HCPs) treating self-paying foreign patients in publicly funded and privately owned hospitals in French- and German-speaking regions of Switzerland. The data were inductively coded using thematic analysis. Results: We present their views on 'Swiss quality' healthcare under three themes: health-related human resources, Swiss medical infrastructure, and foreign patients' perceived trust in the 'Swiss quality' label. Participants equated Switzerland's global image and 'Swiss quality' as a 'brand' and believed that foreign patients' trust in 'Swiss quality' is a unique selling point of Swiss healthcare system. Conclusion: By problematizing the use of 'Swiss quality' label to attract wealthy patients to Switzerland, we highlight a few ethical questions that deserve further scrutiny. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This paper provides a report of social validity and its usefulness in understanding study effects. Social validity data were drawn from a larger single-case study designed to investigate the effectiveness of the Matrix Approach in the practice of early intervention visual impairment professionals. Methods: Qualitative measures were used to assess social validity. According to Wolf (1978), validation of a study should encompass the significance of goals, appropriateness of procedures, and importance of outcomes. Therefore, data sources were created to provide evidence of social validity in these areas including pre- and post-intervention interviews of parents and professionals. Results: Three themes emerged from the social validity data. These are organized under the topics introduced by Wolf (1978) and identified as measures of quality by Horner et al. (2005). The themes are (a) Goals: role of the parent as learner and the professional as expert before using the Matrix Approach, (b) Procedures: helpfulness of coaching and the structure of the Matrix Approach, and (c) Outcomes: personal and professional growth as a result of using the Matrix Approach. Discussion: Evaluation of social validity in single-case research is an important component in a study's design and in interpreting the study's outcomes. Wolf's framework proved valuable in promoting a robust evaluation of study effectiveness, especially when incorporated into the study design. Intentionally planning to measure social validity held the researchers accountable to the practical needs of the participants. In fact, there is value in gathering social validity data at various points in a study. Further, hearing the perspective of stakeholders can provide valuable insights as researchers seek to understand the complexities of change evident in the outcomes of a study. Implications for Practitioners: Collaborative planning is an essential component of early intervention. The Matrix Approach shows promise as a mechanism to foster such collaboration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Successful adoption of POCTs (Point-of-Care tests) for COVID-19 in care homes requires the identification of ideal use cases and a full understanding of the contextual and usability factors that affect test results and minimise biosafety risks. This paper presents a scoping-usability and test performance study of a microfluidic immunofluorescence assay for COVID-19 in care homes. Methods: A mixed-methods evaluation was conducted in four UK care homes to scope usability and to assess the agreement with qRT-PCR. A dry run with luminescent dye was conducted to explore biosafety issues. Results: The agreement analysis was conducted on 227 asymptomatic participants (159 staff and 68 residents) and 14 symptomatic participants (5 staff and 9 residents). Asymptomatic specimens showed 50% (95% CI:1.3%−98.7%) positive agreement and 96% (95% CI: 92.5%−98.1%) negative agreement with overall prevalence and bias-adjusted Kappa (PABAK) of 0.911 (95% CI: 0.857−0.965). Symptomatic specimens showed 83.3% (95% CI: 35.9%−99.6%) positive agreement and 100% (95% CI: 63.1%−100%) negative agreement with overall prevalence and bias-adjusted Kappa (PABAK) of 0.857 (95% CI: 0.549−1). The dry run highlighted four main sources of contamination that led to the modification of the standard operating procedures. Simulation post-modification showed no further evidence of contamination. Conclusion: Careful consideration of biosafety issues and contextual factors associated with care home are mandatory for safe use the POCT. Whilst POCT may have some utility for ruling out COVID-19, further diagnostic accuracy evaluations are needed to promote effective adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of vignettes in research and education is well documented. Documentation of how vignettes are developed and content validity is established, however, are rare. The purpose of this paper is to describe a method for development and establishing content validity of vignettes that can be used to assess student performance and research participant outcomes. This three-phase method was designed to validate seven vignettes for a future research project. Content validity index survey and expert panel interviews were used to inform improvements in validity. Findings showed that clinical vignettes were improved with respect to content relevance (from 0.93 to 0.96) and importance (from 0.68 to 0.93). Developing validated vignettes is essential when used to measure outcomes in education and in research. This three-phase method of vignette development and validation is feasible and effective in improving content validity of vignettes and can be used in other education and research projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]