Psychosocial experience of the Covid-19 crisis among people who use or inject drugs in Algeria: A community-based qualitative study.

The COVID-19 crisis had a global impact and many marginalised groups, such as people who use or inject drugs, are more vulnerable to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and its consequences due to their pre-existing health inequalities. Moreover, people who use/inject drugs are also criminalised in some countries such as Algeria. This analysis aimed to explore the psychosocial experience of the COVID-19 crisis among people who use/inject drugs in Algeria. Twenty-nine qualitative interviews were conducted in 2021 with a community-based approach. Results of the thematic content analysis showed the intersectional effects of the COVID-19 crisis among people who use or inject drugs through the experience of a double crisis: one related to COVID-19 and the second to their specific difficulties related to drug use. Addressing social inequalities in health of people who use or inject drugs, through better recognition of their rights and needs, is crucial to improving their health.

Psychosocial Impacts of Infertility among Omani Women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome: A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: To understand the psychosocial experience of infertility among women with polycystic ovarian syndrome in Oman. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 Omani women diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and infertility across two fertility clinics, in Muscat-Oman. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed analysed verbatim and qualitatively using the framework approach. RESULTS: Four main themes emerged from participants' interviews related to the cultural aspects around infertility, the impact of infertility on participants' emotions, the effects of infertility on couples' relationship and self-management strategies for dealing with infertility. Culturally, women are expected to conceive soon after marriage, and most participants were blamed for the delay rather than their husbands. Participants experienced psychosocial pressure to bear children, mainly from in laws, where some admitted that their husbands' family suggested they remarried for having children. The majority of women mentioned being emotionally supported by their partners; however marital tensions in the form of negative emotions and threats of divorce were apparent in couples that had been experiencing infertility for longer time. Women were emotionally feeling lonely, jealous and inferior to other women with children and concerned that they would not have children to look after them in older age. Although women who had experienced infertility for a greater duration seemed to become more resilient and cope better, other participants described how they were using different strategies to cope with infertility including taking up new activities; whereas others admitted moving out from their in laws' house or avoiding social gatherings where the topic of children was likely to come up. CONCLUSION: Omani women with PCOS and infertility experience significant psychosocial challenges given the high value placed on fertility within the culture as a result they seem to adapt a variety of coping strategies. Health care providers may consider offering emotional support during consultations.

Psychosocial Experiences Related to Dietary Behavior of Japanese Lactating Women: A Qualitative Study.

Adequate dietary intake during the lactation period is important for breast milk components, postpartum recovery, and physical and mental health. This study aimed to clarify the psychosocial experiences related to dietary behavior around one month postpartum among Japanese lactating women. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 women between February and June 2022 in Osaka, Japan. The data were analyzed using qualitative descriptive approaches. Four core categories were identified. All participants had a [desire to have healthy meals for themselves or their families] to improve their postpartum health, regain their pre-pregnancy body shape, produce sufficient and good-quality breast milk, and keep their families healthy. Some participants, who had [subjective difficulties in getting information on diet and preparing meals] due to insufficient or complicated information and viewing meal preparation as a burden, used [services and support regarding their postpartum diet] to alleviate these difficulties. They had [postpartum-specific appetite and dietary views], including an increased appetite triggered by breastfeeding and postpartum stress and the effects of the dietary changes during pregnancy. Some of these psychosocial experiences were influenced by Japanese traditional customs in the postpartum period and familiar food preferences in the Japanese. Healthcare professionals should consider these experiences when providing tailored dietary guidance.

Microtia and craniofacial microsomia: Content analysis of facebook groups.

OBJECTIVE: An increasing number of patients use social media for health-related information and social support. This study's objective was to describe the content posted on Facebook groups for individuals with microtia and/or craniofacial microsomia (CFM) and their families in order for providers to gain insight into patient and family needs and experiences to inform clinical care. METHODS: Two months of posts, images, comments, and "like" responses from two Facebook groups in the US and the UK were recorded and analyzed using content analysis. A secondary analysis identified statements of emotion. RESULTS: Posts (N = 254) had a total of 7912 "like" responses, 2245 comments, and 153 images. There were three categories of posts: seeking guidance (43%; 9 themes), promoting events/news (33%; 5 themes), and sharing experiences (24%; 3 themes). Across categories, 16% of posts had emotional content. Most comments were responding to posts seeking guidance, including medical care (20%), surgical care (9%), and hearing aids (5%). Promotional posts often aimed to increase CFM awareness. Posts sharing experiences were generally positive, with the highest number of "likes". CONCLUSIONS: Facebook groups members frequently exchanged health-related information, suggesting value placed on input from other families and the convenience of seeking information online. Posts also promoted awareness and shared experiences. Clinical care implications include the need for easily accessible accurate and tailored CFM-related health education. Additionally, providers should demonstrate awareness of health information on social media and may address the potential emotional impact of CFM by facilitating access to resources for social support.

Work matters: Diabetes and worklife in the second diabetes attitudes, wishes and needs (DAWN2) study.

AIMS: The aim was to understand diabetes-related barriers and successes that people with diabetes (PWD) have in the context of work outside the home. METHODS: The DAWN2 survey of adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus contained open-ended items about living with diabetes. All responses to these questions were reviewed and references to worklife were extracted for analysis. An emergent coding schema was developed and validated by two independent coders (kappa = 0.875). RESULTS: In total, 328 PWD wrote about work, 93 (28%) with type 1 and 235 (72%) with type 2, of whom 90 took insulin. Analysis generated five themes: (1) Work as context for learning about diabetes; (2) Work as an arena for personal achievement and self-identity with diabetes; (3) The demands of work conflict with the demands of diabetes self-care; (4) Discrimination and stigma in the context of work; and (5) Social support in the context of work. Several of these themes identify challenges relating to the impact of diabetes upon work, and vice-versa. However, coping strategies and supportive social relations generated affirmative psychosocial experiences. CONCLUSION: The challenges that diabetes, its treatment, and its complications can have for working adults highlights the importance of social support in the work environment.

Healthcare and psychosocial experiences of individuals with craniofacial microsomia: Patient and caregivers perspectives.

OBJECTIVE: Craniofacial microsomia (CFM) is primarily characterized by underdevelopment of the ear and mandible, with several additional possible congenital anomalies. Despite the potential burden of care and impact of CFM on multiple domains of functioning, few studies have investigated patient and caregiver perspectives. The objective of this study was to explore the diagnostic, treatment-related, and early psychosocial experiences of families with CFM with the aim of optimizing future healthcare delivery. METHODS: Forty-two caregivers and nine adults with CFM responded to an online mixed-methods survey. Descriptive statistics and qualitative methods were used for the analysis. RESULTS: Survey respondents reported high rates of subspecialty evaluations, surgeries, and participation in therapies. Some participants reported receiving inaccurate or incomplete information about CFM and experienced confusion about etiology. Communication about CFM among family members included mostly positive messages. Self-awareness of facial differences began at a mean age of three years and teasing at mean age six, with 43% of individuals four years or older reporting teasing. Teasing often involved name-calling and frequent reactions were ignoring and negative emotional responses. Participants ranked "understanding diagnosis and treatment" as a top priority for future research and had the most questions about etiology and treatment guidance. CONCLUSIONS: The survey results on the healthcare and psychosocial experiences from birth through adulthood of individuals with CFM reinforce the need for ongoing psychological assessment and intervention. Healthcare provision could be improved through establishing diagnostic criteria and standardized treatment guidelines, as well as continued investigation of CFM etiology.

The psychosocial experiences of women with breast cancer across the lifespan: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the psychosocial experience of women with breast cancer from a lifespan perspective by examining the findings of qualitative studies. METHODS: A meta-aggregate review of 24 qualitative studies was undertaken. To be included, studies must include women with a breast cancer diagnosis and focus on younger or older women (as defined by the study), or compare a psychosocial issue across the lifespan. Eight databases were searched systematically. RESULTS: Study participants ranged in age from 26 to 91 years. Sixteen studies focused on younger women, six focused on older women, and two included women across the lifespan. A total of 155 findings were extracted from the studies and were aggregated into 11 categories. These were synthesized into four synthesized findings: (a) dealing with cancer, (b) the importance of caring, (c) the aftermath of cancer, and (d) fertility and infertility. CONCLUSIONS: Further research is required to explore these findings, and to examine the needs of older women in particular. Delineating the similarities and differences in the needs of women across the lifespan will inform the development of psychosocial interventions for all women with breast cancer.

Relapse experience in Iranian opiate users: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: To understand the relapse process, it is required to notice the clients learned behaviors and environmental contexts. We aimed to explore and describe relapse experiences of Iranian drug users. METHODS: This is a grounded theory study and twenty two participants were selected using purposive sampling, snowball and theoretical sampling. After obtaining written informed consent, data gathering was done by means of in-depth semi-structured interviews. According to Strauss and Corbin three phases of open coding, axial coding and selection coding were done for qualitative analysis and continuous comparison. During the research period Guba and Lincoln criteria were used to be reassured of the accuracy and rigor of the study findings. RESULTS: The main categories of this study were craving and conflict, family stress and psychological indicators of relapse that emerged in three phases including recovery, tension and pre-relapse. High anxiety, withdrawal, rationalization and lying were the most common symptoms. CONCLUSION: Family reactions and social conditions play a key role in relapse. Relapse process is an active and multidimensional event in which the clients experience a psychosocial status continuum from recovery to relapse. Most psychological problems are seen in the tension phase.