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Background: Therapists and counsellors increasingly use online video applications to offer treatment in place of face‐to‐face delivery. In the alcohol treatment sector, this offers a range of potential benefits for treatment providers. However, the impact of working remotely via video on the therapeutic relationship remains unclear and under‐researched. Aims: This study aimed to explore how alcohol treatment clients make sense of the relational aspects of therapy delivered remotely, and to examine how the use of remote therapy might disrupt existing ideas around the therapeutic relationship. Methodology: This study utilised a qualitative design using thematic analysis, with 15 participant interviews with adult service users from a single treatment provider. All participants had previously undertaken at least four 1‐h online therapy sessions. Findings: The themes that were identified highlighted the significance of the participants' own homes as the site of therapy, with emphasis on the comfort of the home, and the presence of family members and pets. Participants stressed the importance of viewing the face of the therapist, the establishment of a therapeutic bond and specific therapist qualities. Participants also reflected on issues around denial and avoidance associated with self‐image and identity. Discussion There are nuanced and potentially unforeseen consequences of undertaking therapy for alcohol problems via video, relating to the significance of the therapy environment and relationship between client and therapist. This may include issues of shame, denial and avoidance, which are of particular significance for clients experiencing difficulties associated with alcohol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The intelligent search engine Bing can be used as a method and a means of determining the author of a Ukrainian-language test. Bing helps to find information about a text fragment and its author, but the search results may be inaccurate or incomplete. The main purpose of the paper is to study the effectiveness of establishing the authorship of literary texts by state-of-the-art artificial intelligence tools based on ultra-short excerpts. Methodology. Ten Ukrainian authors with a rich body of fiction reflecting various aspects of Ukrainian culture and history were selected, as well as random fragments of 3–7 words each from different works of these authors. An experiment was conducted to determine the authorship of 2,000 fragments. Findings. Using the Python programming language and the skpy package, we developed software that sends questions and receives answers from the Bing bot built into Microsoft Skype. The answers were checked for the name of the author of the phrase and the corresponding title of the work. According to the results, Ivan Franko has the highest percentage of answers where the author's name was mentioned (65%), and Oleksandr Dovzhenko has the lowest result (23%). The answers were analyzed by the length of the fragments. Of course, the longer the length of a text fragment, the greater the likelihood of accurately identifying its authorship. Features of the author's style are manifested in 20–40 % of short fragments. The remaining 60–80% may be commonly used language constructions that the author relayed from the external environment. Originality. In this work, for the first time, the method of checking the authorship of fragments of Ukrainian-language text using the Bing bot with artificial intelligence is presented. A comparative analysis was performed and experiments were given to determine the authorship of short fragments of 3–7 words. It has been established that even quite small fragments of the text have signs characteristic of the original style of the author of artistic works. Practical value. It has been determined to what extent experts in determining the authorship of natural language texts can rely on existing state-of-the-art artificial intelligence tools in combination with an extensive database of texts in the Internet space.

Sex workers may show extreme sensitivity to power relations during qualitative research due to the previous experiences of stigmatization and marginalization. The purpose of this article is to analyze how technologically mediated communication between researchers and participants during an interview may influence the scope of control exercised by the interactional partners. During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, I conducted 16 qualitative phone and videoconference interviews with female sex workers in Poland discussing the social stigmas they encounter. Each interview was followed up with extensive field notes that were analyzed using the procedures of grounded theory methodology. These very field notes serve as the basis for the paper herein. As a result of the analysis, I distinguished areas of power negotiated by the interviewer and interviewees in successive phases: before, during, and after the interview. The sense of control over the respective aspects of a study may contribute to the establishment of a more democratic power relationship between the researcher and the participants who belong to a population bearing a stigma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Psycho-Oncologie is the property of Tech Science Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Today, technological applications provide language learners with many possibilities to improve their learning. Online learning environments create opportunities for more flexibility, interaction, and collaboration in a way different from face-to-face learning environments. This study attempted to investigate the effects of synchronous distance education on the oral comprehension of Iraqi English language learners. The participants were 19 Iraqi English as a foreign language (EFL) learners in a language institute in Karbala, Iraq. All learners were following the same language course at the B1 level. These learners were randomly divided into three groups: the face-to-face control group, the experimental group taught via the Adobe Connect platform, and the experimental group taught via the Skype application. The data were collected through pre- and post-oral proficiency tests. The findings showed significant differences in the improvement of oral comprehension among the three groups. Experimental groups scored significantly higher than the control group. Moreover, the results indicated that the Adobe Connect-based instruction had a better effect on the learners’ oral comprehension in comparison to the Skype-based instruction. Concerning the performance of males and females in the experimental groups, the findings showed a significant difference between females and males in the Adobe Connect condition, with females showing more improvement. However, no significant difference was observed between males and females in the Skype group. The study stresses the mediation of virtual classrooms in enhancing EFL learners’ learning achievements. Relevant pedagogical implications for classroom practice in EFL education are presented and discussed and some suggestions are made for future research

According to Mayan (2009), being a qualitative researcher entails various activities “It is a pleasure to share life and learning with others to make sense of our reality jointly. Non-experimental qualitative research is not only conducted with people but also performed through people.” According to its many definitions, qualitative research entails significant interpersonal contact. Throughout the process of qualitative research, from strategy to implementation, effective communication is essential. While numerous new qualitative research tools have emerged over the last several decades, those linked to communication technology have emerged as the most important and impactful. Because there is little information available regarding communication technologies in qualitative research, this article aims to produce an overview of the new developing technologies currently being used. For that, the writer has reviewed several pieces of literature on qualitative research. As surfaced from the literature, qualitative research has transformed to new heights using modern techniques. Therefore, qualitative researchers must keep up to date with the latest technological advances to get maximum productivity.

This study focuses on the role of ICT in transnational communication between family members, mainly between elderly parents and adult children living abroad. A semi-structured interview study (N = 32) was conducted during Fall 2015 in three neighborhoods in the city of Sousse, Tunisia. In the study, Skype played a central role in the respondents' transnational communication and a driving factor of technology adoption. Families used Skype to communicate with their migrant family members and virtually engage in family activities such as cooking and attending wedding events through the screens of their laptops, tablets, and mobile phones. In other words, Skype evolved from a simple online communication medium to a platform for a transnational family space; it assumes a Tunisian identity and essence stemming from the social practices and experiences of the Tunisian users and becomes shaped by their values and traditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Videoconference interviews have a bad reputation in social sciences, and are often criticized on the grounds that they would have negative effects on the quality of the data and the relationship between the interviewer and the interviewee (technical difficulties, emotional barrier, lack of contextual elements in the interview, etc.). The objective of this article is to question this preconception based on an interview survey conducted with women who are candidates for or have undergone bariatric surgery. I show that in this research context, videoconferencing has proven to be beneficial since it grants more control to the interviewees, which has the effect of reducing the asymmetry in the survey relationship, and of encouraging self-disclosure. The objective is less to promote video interviewing over traditional face-to-face interviewing than to ask in which contexts and with which populations this medium may be preferable to physical co-presence.

The article describes the use of the Skype electronic communicator in maintaining contact between prisoners and their relatives. The data collected by the Office of the Polish Ombudsman shows that penitentiary units have appropriate the technical capabilities to use the discussed form of social communication. Online meetings of inmates with their families have gained particular importance during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The publication indicates the possibility of using electronic means of communication by convicts, as well as the difficulties in accessing these tools by remand prisoners. Attention was also paid to general access to websites by prisoners.

The use of telephone and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) interviews has become necessary owing to the legal restrictions and safety measures introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. This has furthered scholarly dialogue surrounding the choice of interview mode, and the assumption that face-to-face interviews are the "gold standard" [Novick, 2008: 397]. The general public has also become more accustomed to utilising VoIP in their day-to-day lives. In this article, I discuss this change in communication methods and the impact it could have on interview modes. Nevertheless, the researcher's and participant's contexts remain paramount when deciding which interview mode to employ. For this reason, Oltmann's model [Oltmann, 2016] has been extended to include VoIP, providing a more complete framework for researchers to make an informed decision when contemplating interview modes.

Background and objectives: How do qualitative researchers collect meaningful and representative data, and engage in action research, when constrained by cost, distance or unforeseen events? In our work investigating health and older-person services in Tasmania, we had to confront this question in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, redesigning our methodological approach to support participant engagement in qualitative group research to meet unpredictable pandemic isolation and ethics requirements. Study type: Rapid review. Methods: We searched three academic databases, limited to the past 5 years, cross-referencing to identify strategies to support online qualitative group research and assess the suitability of videoconferencing (specifically through Zoom and Skype) as a tool for participant engagement in qualitative group research. Results: After removing duplicates found across the three databases, 866 articles were screened by title and abstract. After manually searching citations deemed to add to our understanding of online qualitative methods, 66 articles were included in this rapid review. The review found that the strengths of videoconferencing include its cost effectiveness and ability to reach disparate populations, but that several concerns must be addressed to capture its benefits: rapport, technical issues, planning, privacy and equity. Conclusion: In response to the methodological challenge of engaging with participants without using routine face-to-face qualitative methods, our rapid review identified several advantages of using videoconferencing applications, such as Zoom or Skype, to facilitate research. However, to enhance data quality and the research experience for participants, consideration must be given to technical issues, planning, privacy and rapport. Underpinning these elements is consideration of equity of access.

This research note adds to a growing body of literature supporting Skype as an effective method for conducting interviews by describing its use in research on a sensitive topic in psychology. Considerations before beginning research and the advantages and disadvantages of using Skype in sensitive topics research are discussed. Drawing on our own research using voice-only Skype for conducting research into sexual identity, we conclude that Skype can be an effective method for getting detailed information from participants and should be considered as a useful tool in conducting research into sensitive topics. Key steps for setting up Skype for research on sensitive topics are included in a checklist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Previous studies have examined the association between frequency of contact with friends and relatives via internet and psychosocial factors (in terms of loneliness, life satisfaction and depressive symptoms). However, far less is known about such a link during the COVID‐19 pandemic, particularly based on nationally representative samples. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine this association among middle‐aged/older adults. Methods/Design: Data were taken from the short survey of the German Ageing Survey (June/July 2020, 3134 individuals in the analytical sample). The De Jong Gierveld scale was used to quantify loneliness, the Satisfaction with Life Scale was used to quantify life satisfaction and the 10‐item version of the Center for Epidemiological Studies‐Depression was used to quantify depressive symptoms. Results: Regressions showed that—compared to daily users—less frequent users of the internet for contact with friends and relatives reported increased loneliness, lower life satisfaction and more depressive symptoms. With regard to covariates, better psychosocial factors were associated with medium education (compared to low education), living with partner in the same household (compared to singles), better self‐rated health, and favourable COVID‐19 factors (in terms of decreased feeling that the Corona crisis is a threat for oneself, not having an infection with the coronavirus and an increased feeling that you can influence an infection with the coronavirus yourself). Conclusions: Data suggest that individuals with a high frequency of contact with friends and relatives via internet reported better psychosocial factors. Future research in other cultural settings are required. Key points: Nationally representative data were used (collected during the pandemic).Compared to daily users‐less frequent users of the internet for contact with friends and relatives reported increased loneliness, lower life satisfaction and more depressive symptoms.Daily contact with friends and relatives via internet may be particularly helpful when other ways to stay in regular contact (e.g., personal contact) are difficult or nearly impossible.Knowledge about such associations may assist in addressing individuals at risk for adverse psychosocial outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of tele-speech therapy on the recovery of patients with a stutter. This research was an interventional study conducted on the patients visiting two rehabilitation centres. In this study, patients with a stutter participated in the tele-speech therapy sessions via Skype. Stuttering Severity Instrument-Fourth Edition was used to determine the severity of stutter before and after the intervention. The results showed a significant difference in the mean scores of stuttering severity before and after tele-speech therapy (p = 0.001). Our findings showed a mean reduction of 13.8% in stuttering scores. More than half of the patients (56.6%) reported a "high" and "very high" satisfaction with this treatment method. Tele-speech therapy is an effective way for the treatment of stuttering patients irrespective of their age, gender, and educational background. This method can improve patient's speech and reduce stuttering. Tele-rehabilitation is an effective way to treat stuttering. Tele-speech therapy can be implemented for any group of stuttering patients. Participants were satisfied with the tele-rehabilitation intervention. Tele-speech therapy accelerates the treatment process. Tele-speech therapy eliminates patient travels to speech therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along with the developments of the internet and digital technology, teachers can have better opportunities to apply technology to improve learning and teaching a second or foreign language. When opting for any kind of technology, educational authorities should consider different aspects of employing technological tools in the process of learning and teaching. This study set out to explore the attitudes of English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers toward the educational use of Skype and its integration into the EFL classroom. The participants were five university professors who had experienced Skype-based instruction at Mustansiriya University in Iraq. A qualitative methodology, involving semi-structured interviews, was adopted for data collection. The findings indicated that there was a general positive tendency towards Skype-based instruction in higher education. Moreover, the results showed that teachers' beliefs, intentions, and perspectives on technology are significant factors which can determine how technology is integrated into the classroom. The teachers who had traditional views of language teaching and learning preferred blended instruction (in favor of more traditional methods). Those who held more constructivist conceptions of teaching and learning desired dominant technology-based EFL classrooms. The findings of this study may shed some light on how educational authorities can facilitate the integration of social media into EFL contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Speaking skill pedagogy has always remained a huge enigma for English as a Second Language (ESL) educators. Despite the challenges, the need to master the skills prevail in academia. The undergraduates especially those from the technical division seem to grapple with the ability to perform well in their studies and market their products upon employment due to the inability to communicate well in English. Nowadays, there are numerous platforms available for ESL learners to improve their speaking proficiency. Thus, this paper intended to study the effectiveness of using Skype as an online platform to help students enhance their confidence in speaking in English. 100 reflective journals of first year undergraduates who enrolled in an English course were collected. Meanwhile, 10 undergraduates were randomly selected to participate in the semi-structured interview. All the participants' reflections and views were analyzed and thematized using Transana software. Four main themes emerged: account possession; familiarity; challenges; and features. It was found that many participants were aware of Skype but did not have the account prior to the study. Majority of the participants admitted that Skype activities helped them to converse better which enhanced their motivation to speak in English more confidently and fluently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a randomized experiment targeting 322 Japanese high school students to examine the impacts of a newly developed English-language learning program. The treated students were offered an opportunity to communicate for 25 minutes with English-speaking Filipino teachers via Skype several times a week over a 5-month period as an extracurricular activity. The results show that the Skype program increased the interest of the treated students in an international vocation and in foreign affairs. However, the students did not improve their English communication abilities, as measured by standardized tests, probably because of the program's low utilization rate. Further investigation showed that the utilization rate was particularly low among students demonstrating a tendency to procrastinate. These results suggest the importance of maintaining students’ motivation to keep using such information and communication technology-assisted learning programs if they are not already incorporated into the existing curriculum. Having procrastinators self-regulate may be especially crucial.

Cybercrime is an activity utilizing electronic devices and network technology as tools or media to commit crimes. One of them uses the Skype application that is installed on the smartphone. In finding evidence from a cybercrime case, a forensic activity known as digital forensic must be carried out. This study aims to recover digital evidence that has been erased using the NIST framework and forensic tools such as Oxygen and Belkasoft. The results of digital evidence recovery from smartphone Samsung J2 in the removal scenario via the application manager, the Oxygen tool cannot recover deleted data and the percentage of success using Belkasoft is 26%. While the results of data recovery with the manual removal method the percentage of success using Oxygen was 63% and Belkasoft was 44%. Digital evidence recovery results from smartphones Andromax A on the erase scenario through the application manager, Oxygen and Belkasoft tools cannot recover deleted data. While manual removal of Oxygen by 61% and Belkasoft cannot restore data. It can be concluded the results of data recovery from both smartphones that are used according to the erasure method through the application manager, Belkasoft has better performance than Oxygen, and data recovery according to the method of erasing manually, Oxygen has better performance than Belkasoft.

The use of telephone and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) interviews has become necessary owing to the legal restrictions and safety measures introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic. This has furthered scholarly dialogue surrounding the choice of interview mode, and the assumption that face-to-face interviews are the "gold standard" (NOVICK, 2008, p.397). The general public has also become more accustomed to utilising VoIP in their day-to-day lives. In this article, I discuss this change in communication methods and the impact it could have on interview modes. Nevertheless, the researcher's and participant's contexts remain paramount when deciding which interview mode to employ. For this reason, OLTMANN's (2016) model has been extended to include VoIP, providing a more complete framework for researchers to make an informed decision when contemplating interview modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Within qualitative research in-person interviews have the reputation for being the highest standard of interviewer-participant encounter. However, there are other approaches to interviewing such as telephone and e-mail, which may be appropriate for a variety of reasons such as cost, time and privacy. Although there has been much discussion of the relative values of different interview methods, little research has been conducted to assess what differentiates them using quantifiable measures. None of this research has addressed the video call, which is the interview mode most like the in-person interview. This study uses quantifiable measures generated by the interview to explore the relative value of in-person and video call interview modes. Methods Interview data gathered by a qualitative research study exploring the views of people with IBS about hypnotherapy for their condition were used. In-person and video call interviews using the same topic guide were compared on measures of length (time and word count), proportion of time the interviewer was dominant, the number of topics generated (codes) and the number of individual statements on which those topics were based. Results Both interview methods produced a similar number of words and a similar number of topics (codes) were discussed, however the number of statements upon which the variety of topics was based was notably larger for the in-person interviews. Conclusion These findings suggest that in in-person study interviews were marginally superior to video calls in that interviewees said more, although this was on a similar range of topics. However, the difference is sufficiently modest that time and budget constraints may justify the use of some video call interviews within a qualitative research study.

Senior citizens may benefit from the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) despite the existence of several barriers and difficulties regarding their use. Skype is both a synchronous and asynchronous communication tool that enables to make calls and exchange messages. The purpose of this study was to assess the usability of Skype by describing and observing the difficulties of senior citizens in their use and to offer suggestions to improve the interface. In this exploratory study, direct observation and cognitive walkthrough were used and the participants were asked to perform the planned tasks in order to assess the errors, the need for assistance and task fulfillment, which were later compared to specific heuristics. Participants demonstrated difficulties in learning, efficiency and overpassing some mistakes. Most of them weren't able to conclude the proposed tasks, suggesting that Skype still needs some improvements in order to be considered agefriendly and therefore fully accessible

Background: Telestroke network can provide rapid access to specialized treatment and improves on‐site management of acute stroke patients through the "hub‐and‐spoke" model. In the northern part of Okayama Prefecture, there has been a regional gap of stroke care due to the shortage of stroke specialists and facilities. In addition, due to the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), it is required to reduce the unnecessary contact with stroke patients from other hospitals. Aim: We organized a novel cost‐free telestroke network with an image and video sharing for neurological diseases in the northern part of Okayama Prefecture to improve the stroke management in the area. Method: We prepared the tablet device on which Skype® application was installed for each hospital and recruited the patients who visited or hospitalized in the spoke hospitals and were suspected to have some neurological diseases from April 2019 to May 2020. The patient's clinical data were recorded and analyzed. Results: During the study period, 5 patients were recruited including the cases with the initial diagnosis of stroke or brain tumor. Among them, 2 cases were transferred to the hub hospital, 2 cases were transferred to other hospitals, and 1 case was treated on site under specialist's advice. Conclusion: The new telestroke network system may be beneficial for acute stroke management and reducing the unnecessary patient's transfer in the rural area, especially under coexistence with COVID‐19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isabel Allen is Editorial Director of BEAM (Built Environment and Architecture Media). Here she describes how three decades of innovation – and an ongoing delight in the poetic possibilities of the home – make AHMM perfectly positioned to deliver a new kind of housing that responds to the practical and psychological challenges of these extraordinary times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Video-calls have proven to be useful for older care home residents in improving socialization and reducing loneliness. Nonetheless, to facilitate the acceptability and usability of a new technological intervention, especially among people with dementia, there is a need for user-led design improvements. The current study conducted focus groups with an embedded activity with older people to allow for a person-centered design of a video-call intervention. Methods: Twenty-eight residents across four care homes in the South West of England participated in focus groups to aesthetically personalize and 'dress-up' the equipment used in a video-call intervention. Each care home was provided with a 'Skype on Wheels' (SoW) device, a wheelable 'chassis' comprising an iPad or tablet for access to Skype, and a telephone handset. During the focus group, residents were encouraged to participate in an activity using colorful materials to 'dress-up' SoW. Comments before, during and after the 'dress up' activity were audio recorded. Framework analysis was used to analyze the focus group data. Results: Older people, including seven with dementia were able to interact with and implement design changes to SoW through aesthetic personalization. Themes arising from the data included estrangement, anthropomorphism, reminiscence, personalization, need for socialization versus fear of socialization and attitudes toward technology. After this brief exposure to SoW, residents expressed the likelihood of using video-calls for socialization in the future. Conclusion: Care home residents enjoy engaging with new technologies when given the opportunity to interact with it, to personalize it and to understand its purpose. Low cost aesthetic personalization of technologies can improve their acceptability, usability, and implementation within complex care environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is the outcome of a series of video-calls between friends, colleagues, analysts. The authors felt the need to leave a mark of the feelings that in this emergency situation (i.e Covid-19) inhabits the analysis' rooms. Emotions of fear, sadness, anxiety, disbelief, confusion are weaved through exchange and dialogue; to the extent that places analyst and patient in a shared and intimate status, almost as if they wanted to fill the physical distance that is instead imposed. What are the analysts' responsibilities? Act as a container for the pervasive and nameless anxieties of the situation; allow patients to explore their internal world in a safe, warming and new context such as the online therapy. Moving around the three different points of view and the theoretical reference models, the article raises questions about online therapies in response to the current health emergency and about how this period could become an engine for reflection and change; finally, it opens up to a wider reflection on how Analytical Psychology can serve the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TV consumption has broken records in Spain during the COVID-19 lockdown period enforced in the country subject to State-of-Alarm provisions. Audience data have shown unprecedented consumption rates. Specifically, over 335 minutes of consumption per citizen per day; and a 2.1-million news-bulletin viewer growth in March (Barlovento, 2020a). TV script writers, camera operators, directors, editors and producers alike have been working under the strictest rules to comply with all the health and labour standards. The production team —specifically, its director— makes important decisions as regards pre-production, recordings, actual production and post-production. Upon going live, a director relies on their team’s professionalism, being ultimately responsible for deciding what —and how and when— is seen on screen, as well as for its visual quality. A director is the person at the heart and core of a program broadcast on TV (Bernad, 2016). This paper aims at bringing to public notice a change of method in live TV production team work during the first month of lockdown, as well as in the workplace shift. It also aims to reveal the increase in the use of video conferencing signals, Skype or WhatsApp, which have replaced the traditional satellite and radio frequency signals, a process entailing visible quality losses. The analysis system is based on questions posed to those professionals involved in TV broadcasts during the first month of State-of-Alarm enforcement by means of video calls, online surveys and WhatsApp messages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores methodological and ethical issues of researching with children, drawing on a project exploring children's perceptions of having a mother studying in Higher Education. While most prior research concentrates on a mother's view of her children, this article uniquely focuses on children's views on their mother. From analysis of the data and reflections on the research experience, the following themes emerged, the benefits and challenges of using drawing or Skype as a research method and ethical issues when working with children. Reflecting a view of children as competent and knowledgeable participants within research, I argue that children should be given opportunities to discuss a range of topics that concern them and advocate doing research 'with' rather than 'on' children. Throughout this article, the children's and mothers' voices are interjected to provide a narrative offering insights into family life from a child's perspective thus revealing the impact of this research on the mother. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research shows that veterans with mental health difficulties are reluctant to engage with treatment due to a number of practical and psychological barriers. Tele-therapy has been proposed as an alternative method of delivering therapy to ensure hard-to-reach groups receive the care they need. Objective: This study aimed to explore the acceptability of using tele-therapy for treating PTSD in a sample of UK veterans. Methods: Sixteen participants who had engaged with tele-therapy for PTSD were contacted following the cessation of their treatment, including those who had not completed the full course of therapy. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted and the transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Five key themes emerged: Effect of your own environment, Importance of good therapeutic alliance, Technicalities and practicalities, Personal accountability and Measuring change. Effect of your own environment was described with sub-themes of control over your own environment, lack of support between sessions and snap back to reality. The Importance of good therapeutic alliance encompassed putting a face to the name, impersonal feeling and no different from being in the room. Technicalities and practicalities depicted good preparation is key, the flexibility of Skype, technical aspects and session length and timing. Personal accountability detailed finding the time and space, managing attendance and engagement and moving forward. Measuring change illustrated negative past experiences with therapy, improving self-recognition and managing symptoms. Discussion: Tele-therapy appeared to be acceptable within this sample of veterans with many reporting overall positive experiences and improvements to their health. Future research is needed to foster a more supportive environment during and after therapy.

Abstract Background Older people in care may be lonely with insufficient contact if families are unable to visit. Face-to-face contact through video-calls may help reduce loneliness, but little is known about the processes of engaging people in care environments in using video-calls. We aimed to identify the barriers to and facilitators of implementing video-calls for older people in care environments. Methods A collaborative action research (CAR) approach was taken to implement a video-call intervention in care environments. We undertook five steps of recruitment, planning, implementation, reflection and re-evaluation, in seven care homes and one hospital in the UK. The video-call intervention ‘Skype on Wheels’ (SoW) comprised a wheeled device that could hold an iPad and handset, and used Skype to provide a free video-call service. Care staff were collaborators who implemented the intervention within the care-setting by agreeing the intervention, recruiting older people and their family, and setting up video-calls. Field notes and reflective diaries on observations and conversations with staff, older people and family were maintained over 15 months, and analysed using thematic analysis. Results Four care homes implemented the intervention. Eight older people with their respective social contacts made use of video-calls. Older people were able to use SoW with assistance from staff, and enjoyed the use of video-calls to stay better connected with family. However five barriers towards implementation included staff turnover, risk averseness, the SoW design, lack of family commitment and staff attitudes regarding technology. Conclusions The SoW intervention, or something similar, could aid older people to stay better connected with their families in care environments, but if implemented as part of a rigorous evaluation, then co-production of the intervention at each recruitment site may be needed to overcome barriers and maximise engagement.

English teachers frequently find students with a low level of oral proficiency but with a strong desire to put the language they are learning into practice. The lack of opportunities, time, and spaces to use the language both inside and outside the classroom to interact with others makes the situation even more challenging. This article was conducted as part of the final thesis in the master’s degree program in English Didactics from Universidad Surcolombiana, and which aimed at exploring the impact of using Skype as a complementary tool to foster oral production in a group of university students in Neiva, Colombia. Participants included four students from the first level of English with a basic command of the language. Theoretical constructs such the use of Skype in EFL, computer-mediated communication (CMC), social networking, cooperative learning, and oral production in CMC were taken into account. The pedagogical interventions in the study consisted of six Skype video-conferences between a teacher-researcher and the four participants. Data collection included video-conference transcripts, field notes, and students’ journals. The data were analyzed using qualitative methods. Findings evidence that Skype has a positive impact on the EFL context in areas like language learning, social interaction, and emotional influences.