Medical faculty's perception of students' mental health: a qualitative survey study / Percepción de los profesores de medicina sobre la salud mental de los estudiantes: un estudio cualitativo / Percepção dos docentes de medicina sobre a saúde mental dos estudantes: um estudo qualitativo

This study sought to explore the perspective of medical faculty on the mental health of their students. This qualitative study based on a focus group is part of a longitudinal research that studied the mental health of Brazilian students. One group was conducted with faculty employed at a medical school. Topics discussed covered the concept of mental health and medical education. Six professors participated in one group. The mental health of medical students is a construct that encompasses emotional aspects, ability to solve problems and multiple facets of a human being, according to the participants. Artistic practices, moments of socialization and leisure were perceived as stimulating students' good mental health. Excessive demands generate competitiveness and the teacher's expectation of the student's good performance based on their own experience can harm the student's mental health. Participants also highlighted that a pedagogical reformulation that makes sense for the student's learning process is necessary to update traditional curricula. Medical students' mental health is influenced by experiences and exchanges during the medical school, mainly between professor and student, understood as necessary and inherent to the process of becoming physician. The findings of this study show the need for curriculum changes in the medical education process and updating teacher training for good practices that reinforce good mental health.

Este estudio buscó explorar la perspectiva de los profesores de medicina sobre la salud mental de sus estudiantes. Este estudio cualitativo basado en un grupo focal es parte de una investigación longitudinal que estudió la salud mental de estudiantes brasileños. Un grupo se llevó a cabo con profesores empleados en una escuela de medicina. Los temas tratados abarcaron el concepto de salud mental y educación médica. Seis docentes participaron en un grupo. La salud mental de los estudiantes de medicina es un constructo que abarca aspectos emocionales, capacidad de resolución de problemas y múltiples facetas del ser humano, según los participantes. Las prácticas artísticas, los momentos de socialización y el ocio fueron percibidos como estimulantes de la buena salud mental de los estudiantes. Las exigencias excesivas generan competitividad y la expectativa del docente sobre el buen desempeño del estudiante basándose en su propia experiencia puede perjudicar la salud mental del estudiante. Los participantes también resaltaron que es necesaria una reformulación pedagógica que tenga sentido para el proceso de aprendizaje del estudiante para actualizar los currículos tradicionales. La salud mental de los estudiantes de medicina está influenciada por las experiencias y los intercambios durante la carrera de medicina, principalmente entre profesor y estudiante, entendidos como necesarios e inherentes al proceso de convertirse en médico. Los hallazgos de este estudio muestran la necesidad de cambios curriculares en el proceso de formación médica y de actualización de la formación docente hacia buenas prácticas que refuercen la buena salud mental.

Este estudo buscou explorar a perspectiva dos docentes de medicina sobre a saúde mental de seus alunos. Este estudo qualitativo baseado em grupo focal faz parte de uma pesquisa longitudinal que estudou a saúde mental de estudantes brasileiros. Um grupo foi conduzido com professores empregados em uma faculdade de medicina. Os temas discutidos abrangeram o conceito de saúde mental e educação médica. Seis professores participaram de um grupo. A saúde mental dos estudantes de medicina é um construto que engloba aspectos emocionais, capacidade de resolução de problemas e múltiplas facetas do ser humano, segundo os participantes. As práticas artísticas, os momentos de socialização e de lazer foram percebidos como estimuladores da boa saúde mental dos estudantes. Exigências excessivas geram competitividade e a expectativa do professor pelo bom desempenho do aluno com base na própria experiência pode prejudicar a saúde mental do aluno. Os participantes destacaram também que é necessária uma reformulação pedagógica que faça sentido para o processo de aprendizagem do aluno para atualizar os currículos tradicionais. A saúde mental dos estudantes de medicina é influenciada pelas experiências e trocas durante o curso de medicina, principalmente entre professor e aluno, entendidas como necessárias e inerentes ao processo de tornar-se médico. Os achados deste estudo mostram a necessidade de mudanças curriculares no processo de formação médica e de atualização da formação docente para boas práticas que reforcem a boa saúde mental.

Perception of Medical Students Regarding Implementing Telemedicine Practice Activities at a University Center in Brazil / Percepção de Estudantes de Medicina sobre a Implementação de Vivências em Telemedicina em um Centro Universitário do Brasil

Objective: evaluate medical students' perceptions regarding implementing Telemedicine teaching during their undergraduate studies. Methods: this is a cross-sectional qualitative study with 30 medical students. Three focus group sessions were conducted, and the data were analyzed using a content analysis approach. Results/Discussion: the students recognized the importance of digital health strategies and digital information and communication technologies (ICTs) for the healthcare ecosystem. However, some students pointed out that this area is still challenging for some doctors who oppose Telemedicine. They reported a need for training professionals and students, emphasizing the need to improve skills and competencies for teleconsultation and other Telemedicine modalities. They stated that these experiences helped them enhance their empathy skills for establishing a good doctor-patient relationship. When referring to the negative aspects of the experiences, they mentioned the dependence on reliable internet connection and digital tools. Another limitation mentioned was the difficulty in conducting specific physical examination components. Conclusions: the students experienced Telemedicine activities in a safe healthcare environment, learning about the bioethical principles for responsible teleconsultations, understanding the limiting factors of the method, and having the opportunity to improve skills and competencies for their future professional practice.

Objetivo: avaliar a percepção dos estudantes de Medicina quanto à implementação do ensino da Telemedicina durante a graduação. Métodos: trata-se de um estudo qualitativo transversal com 30 alunos do curso de Medicina. Foram realizadas três sessões de grupos focais e os dados foram analisados através de uma abordagem de análise de conteúdo. Resultados/Discussão: os estudantes reconheceram a importância das estratégias de Saúde Digital e das Tecnologias Digitais de Informação e Comunicação (TIC) para o ecossistema de saúde. Contudo, alguns estudantes apontaram que esta área ainda é um desafio para alguns médicos que se opõem à prática da Telemedicina. Relataram a necessidade de capacitação de profissionais e estudantes, enfatizando a necessidade de aprimoramento de habilidades e competências para teleconsultas e outras modalidades de Telemedicina. Afirmaram que as vivências os ajudaram a melhorar as suas capacidades de empatia para estabelecer uma boa relação médico-paciente. Ao se referirem aos aspectos negativos das atividades, mencionaram a dependência de conexão confiável à internet e de ferramentas digitais. Outra limitação citada foi a dificuldade na realização de etapas específicas do exame físico. Conclusões: os estudantes vivenciaram as atividades de Telemedicina em um ambiente de saúde seguro, conhecendo os princípios bioéticos para a prática de teleconsultas responsáveis, compreendendo os fatores limitantes do método e tendo a oportunidade de aprimorar habilidades e competências para a sua futura prática profissional.

Avaliação da percepção dos professores sobre educação interprofissional em saúde por meio de grupos focais / Evaluación de la percepción de los profesores sobre educación interprofesional en salud por medio de grupos focales / Assessment of professors' perception about the interprofessional education in health using focus groups

Este estudo avalia a percepção de docentes de uma universidade pública brasileira sobre educação interprofissional (EIP). Professores de Medicina, Odontologia e Enfermagem participaram de grupos focais on-line síncronos refletindo sobre os seguintes tópicos: (1) disciplinas em comum; (2) projetos interprofissionais de pesquisa e extensão; (3) atenção aos determinantes sociais nos planos de tratamento aos usuários; e (4) práticas colaborativas durante a pandemia de Covid-19. Foi usada análise interpretativa descritiva para avaliar quatro grupos focais (n = 10) utilizando instrumento estruturado com 17 itens acerca dos quatro tópicos mencionados. Segundo os docentes, não existem disciplinas comuns entre os cursos da Saúde. Projetos de extensão e de pesquisa com abordagem interprofissional acontecem somente por poucas iniciativas individuais de professores. Segundo os participantes, os alunos consideram os determinantes sociais nos planos de tratamento. Ocorreram poucas práticas colaborativas durante a pandemia. Observou-se a necessidade de orientações sobre EIP para graduação.(AU)

Este estudio evalúa la percepción de docentes de una universidad pública brasileña sobre educación interprofesional (EIP). Profesores de Medicina, Odontología y Enfermería participaron en grupos focales on-line síncronos reflexionando sobre tópicos: (1) asignaturas en común, (2) proyectos interprofesionales de investigación y extensión, (3) atención a los factores determinantes sociales en los planes de tratamiento a los usuarios, y (4) prácticas colaborativas durante la pandemia de Covid-19. Se utilizó el análisis interpretativo descriptivo para evaluar cuatro grupos focales (n=10) utilizando instrumento estructurado con 17 ítems sobre los 4 tópicos mencionados. Según los docentes, no existen asignaturas comunes entre los cursos de la salud. Los proyectos de extensión y de investigación con abordaje interprofesional constituyen unas pocas iniciativas individuales de profesores. Según los participantes, los alumnos consideran los factores determinantes sociales en los planes de tratamiento. Hubo pocas prácticas colaborativas durante la pandemia. Se observó la necesidad de orientaciones sobre EIP para graduación.(AU)

This study evaluates the perception of professors on interprofessional education (IPE) from a public university in Brazil. Professors of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing participated in synchronous online focus groups reflecting on topics: (1) common disciplines, (2) interprofessional research and extension projects, (3) attention to social determinants in user treatment plans, and (4) collaborative practices during the Covid-19 pandemic. An accurate focus group transcription and interpretative descriptive analysis were used to assess four focus groups (n=10) using a structured instrument with 17 items about the 4 topics mentioned. According to professors, there are no common disciplines among health courses. Extension and research projects with an interprofessional approach are only individual initiatives by professors. According to participants, students consider social determinants in treatment plans. There were few collaborative practices during the pandemic. There was a need for IPE guidelines for graduation.(AU)

Implementation of National Leprosy Eradication Programme during COVID-19 era: A qualitative research

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic imposed new challenge to the implementation of the National Leprosy Eradication Programme. According to national data, after lockdown due to COVID-19, there was a 29% reduction in total leprosy cases reported in the first quarter (April-June) of 2020 in comparison to 2019. Objectives: To explore the difficulties faced by different stakeholders of the National Leprosy Eradication Programme like policy makers, doctors, grass root level health workers as well as leprosy patients during COVID-19 pandemic with respect to programme implementation and access to leprosy care. Materials and Methods: Qualitative research was undertaken including two focus-group-discussions held among six leprosy patients diagnosed after lockdown and nine ASHA workers as well as six in-depth interviews of doctors, leprologists, and programme managers. Ethics committee approval was sought and informed consent was obtained from all participants. All focus-group-discussions were electronically recorded and the in-depth interviews telephonically recorded, transcribed and translated from Bengali-to-English. Transcripts were separately coded by researchers and thematically analysed with the help of Visual-Anthropac software version 1.0. Results: Solitary focus on COVID-19 control, capacity building and information, education and communication, leprosy case search & surveillance, co-infection among health workers, transportation issues were the themes explored from focus-group-discussions of health workers and ASHA workers. Similarly, the present study identified six themes from in-depth interviews of programme manager, leprologists, programme manager as diagnostic difficulty, operational issues, rehabilitation issues, capacity building & information education and communication activities and way forward. Limitations: The research reveals the perceptions of rural population of Eastern India with high leprosy prevalence, which might not be applicable for urban areas or low prevalent districts Conclusion: The solitary focus of the administration towards COVID and shifting the infrastructure and human resource only towards the management of COVID can lead to resurgence of the leprosy. Having an organised framework of operations, catering to the need of the front-line workers in rendering services, utilizing the digital platform and social media, and focusing on rehabilitation would be needed to overcome the crisis

Development of an integrated telerehabilitation model in children with cerebral visual impairment in South India during the COVID-19 pandemic – A pilot study

Purpose: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID?19) pandemic affected the in?person rehabilitation/habilitation services in families with children with cerebral visual impairment (CVI) in India. This study aimed to develop a structured and family?centered telerehabilitation model alongside conventional in?person intervention in children with CVI to observe its feasibility in the Indian population. Methods: This pilot study included 22 participants with a median age of 2.5 years (range: 1–6) who underwent a detailed comprehensive eye examination followed by functional vision assessment. The visual function classification system (VFCS) was administered to the children and the structured clinical question inventory (SCQI) to the parents. Every participant underwent 3 months of telerehabilitation including planning, training, and monitoring by experts. At 1 month, the parental care and ability (PCA) rubric was administered to the parents. After 3 months, in an in?person follow?up, all the measures were reassessed for 15 children. Results: After 3 months of Tele?rehabilitation there were significant improvements noted in PCA rubric scores (P<0.05). Also, statistically significant improvements were noted in functional vision measured using SCQI and VFCS scores (P<0.05) compared to baseline. Conclusion: The outcomes of the study provide the first steps towards understanding the use of a novel tele?rehabilitation model in childhood CVI along?side conventional face?to?face intervention. The added role of parental involvement in such a model is highly essential.

Parental perception of facilitators and barriers to activity and participation in an integrated tele-rehabilitation model for children with cerebral visual impairment in South India – A virtual focus group discussion study

Purpose: This study utilized virtual focus group discussions to document the facilitators and barriers reported by the parents as part of the tele?rehabilitation service delivery model in India. Methods: This study included 17 participants who were enrolled into the Tele?rehabilitation program (16 mothers, 1 father) and the virtual focus group discussion (V?FGD) were conducted through a WhatsApp video call. Three V?FGDs were conducted involving two moderators and a note taker. The V?FGD, focused at extracting the perceptions of parents pertaining to facilitators, barriers and coping mechanisms to barriers related to the tele?rehabilitation model. Results: Thematic analysis resulted in four themes for barriers that included: family and support, time, parent and care taker, child and place of living related; facilitators reported included: continuous monitoring, accessibility to professional services, provision of resource materials and parental empowerment. Themes “family and support” and “child” were most reported by parents with children >3 years and ?3 years respectively. Finally, the barriers and facilitators were aligned with the chapters and codes of International Classification of Functioning, children and youth version (ICF?CY) environment and personal factors. Conclusion: This V?FGD highlights the importance of parental?centred and structured Tele?rehabilitation among children with CVI in India. The outcome of this study opens avenues for creating effective intervention.

Study on the impact of regular supervision and communication on the nursing practice environment based on employee needs / 中华医院管理杂志

Objective:To analyze the impact of implementing regular supervision and communication based on employee needs in the management of head nurses on improving the nursing practice environment, for reference for improving the nursing proctice environment.Methods:In December 2020 and January 2022, convenience sampling method was used to select 5 nursing unit nurses from a hospital which implemented regular supervision and communication based on employee needs(January to December 2021) as the research subjects. The survey was conducted using the Gallup Q12 questionnaire(Q12 questionnaire), which included 12 items from 4 dimensions: basic needs, head nurse support, team cooperation, and self growth. At the same time, a focus group interview method was made to interviews 10 survey subjects regarding their regular supervision and communication experiences.Results:A total of 165 survey subjects were included in this study, including 77 before and 88 after the implementation.The average total score of the Q12 questionnaire increased from 53.75 points before implementation of supervision communication to 56.96 points after implementation, with a statistically significant difference( P<0.05). The scores of the four dimensions of basic needs, head nurse support, team collaboration, and self growth increased from 4.59 points, 4.41 points, 4.50 points, and 4.45 points before implementation to 4.84 points, 4.69 points, 4.75 points, and 4.75 points after implementation, with statistical significances( P<0.05). The interview results showed that supervisory communication can create a humanistic care atmosphere, enhance team cohesion, enhance self-efficacy, improve work efficiency, solve problems in a timely manner, and improve nursing quality. Conclusions:Implementing regular supervision and communication based on employee needs can strengthen the connection between the head nurse and nurses, and enhance nurses′ recognition of basic needs, head nurse support, teamwork, and self growth. It was conducive to creating a good nursing practice environment, meeting the emotional and growth needs of nurses, and improving their job satisfaction.

Focus Groups in Brazilian Research: Current Scenario and Methodological Challenges / Grupos Focais na Pesquisa Brasileira: Cenário Atual e Desafios Metodológicos / Grupos Focales en la Investigación Brasileña: Escenario Actual y Desafíos Metodológicos

Abstract Based on an integrative review, this study aimed to critically discuss the use of focus groups in empirical research in Brazilian Psychology over the last two decades and to qualify the methodological decisions of those who opt for this approach. Scopus, Web of Science, and SciELO were consulted, finding 62 articles in national journals in the area. The primary contexts of use were work, education, health, and social, with wide theoretical diversity. There has been a significant growth of the technique in research in Psychology since 2002, despite the need for improvement in the description of selection procedures, group composition, number of participants, the script for conducting, analysis, and presentation of results. However, it is necessary to ensure alignment between objective, theory, and method to improve the use of focus groups in psychological interventions.

Resumo A partir de uma revisão integrativa, o objetivo do estudo foi discutir criticamente o uso de grupos focais nas pesquisas empíricas da Psicologia brasileira nas últimas duas décadas e qualificar as decisões metodológicas daqueles que optam por essa abordagem. Foram consultadas as bases Scopus, Web of Science e SciELO, encontrando-se 62 artigos em periódicos nacionais da área. Os principais contextos de utilização foram trabalho, educação, saúde e social, com ampla diversidade teórica. Conclui-se que houve um crescimento significativo da técnica nas pesquisas em Psicologia desde 2002, apesar da necessidade de aprimoramento na descrição dos procedimentos de seleção, composição dos grupos, número de participantes, roteiro de condução, análise e apresentação dos resultados. Contudo, é necessário garantir o alinhamento entre objetivo, teoria e método para melhorar o uso de grupos focais em intervenções psicológicas.

Resumen A partir de una revisión integradora, el objetivo de este estudio fue discutir críticamente el uso de grupos focales en investigaciones empíricas de la Psicología brasileña durante las últimas dos décadas y calificar las decisiones metodológicas de quienes optan por este enfoque. Se consultaron Scopus, Web of Science y SciELO, y dio como resultado 62 artículos en revistas nacionales del área. Los principales contextos de uso fueron el laboral, educativo, sanitario y social, con amplia diversidad teórica. Se concluye que hubo un crecimiento significativo de la técnica en la investigación en Psicología desde 2002, a pesar de la necesidad de mejorar la descripción de los procedimientos de selección, composición del grupo, número de participantes, guion de realización, análisis y presentación de resultados. Sin embargo, es necesario asegurar la alineación entre objetivo, teoría y método para mejorar el uso de grupos focales en intervenciones psicológicas.

Ethical dilemmas encountered in suicide research and management: Experiences of young mental health professionals

This study aimed to explore ethical dilemmas and challenges faced by young mental healthcare researchers and professionals working with survivors of suicide (hereinafter suicide survivors). Two focus group discussions (FGDs) Researcher FGD (with those engaged in suicide research) and Clinician FGD (with those providing treatment to suicide survivors) – consisting of open-ended questions and lasting for 70-90 minutes were conducted and analysed using Thematic Analysis. Five themes were identified: i) struggling with the incongruity of harm within benefit, ii) difficulty in delineating boundaries, iii) self-doubt in one’s professional competence, iv) nature of suicide straining the limits of confidentiality, and v) working with structural limitations. The study helps to understand the obstacles and dilemmas encountered in adhering to ethical principles while working with vulnerable individuals.

An Introduction to Qualitative and Mixed Methods Study Designs in Health Research

With the recognition of different population behavior and relevance of socio-cultural factors in health, health services and public health program contexts, qualitative research is increasingly being used in health research, including clinical trials. Qualitative research follows an inductive framework to explore and gain an in-depth understanding of the phenomena, especially why and how aspects, through techniques including interviews, focus groups and observations. It analyzes the textual data collected following one of the common analysis approaches: grounded theory, phenomenology, ethnography or participatory action research. Despite the divergence in principles, mixed methods research designs systematically combine the quantitative and qualitative methods for a comprehensive understanding on the issue. The commonly used mixed methods designs variably combine the purpose, priority, sequence, embedding and data integration. Mixed methods analysis requires strategic synthesis of the results to gain comprehensive knowledge for appropriate clinical or public health action.

Consumer perceptions of non-caloric sweeteners and the content of caloric and non-caloric sweeteners in ultra-processed products in Brazil / Percepções do consumidor sobre adoçantes não calóricos e o conteúdo de adoçantes calóricos e não calóricos em produtos ultraprocessados no Brasil

Abstract Food industries are reformulating their products to lower total sugar and caloric content. Caloric sugars are often substituted by or combined with non-caloric sweeteners. Our study analyzed information about the presence, number and type, and content of different sweeteners displayed on the ingredient list of 10 key ultra-processed products (UPP), from 3 different categories. It also assessed consumers' opinions, perceptions and understanding of caloric and non-caloric sugars used in UPPs using data from 12 focus group discussions. Results indicate a large diversity in sweeteners, frequent use of a combination of multiple caloric and non-caloric sweeteners, often in the same product, and a lack of disclosure of the amounts of non-caloric sweeteners on the nutrition labels. Qualitative analysis reflected the inconsistency of information on nutrition labels and the challenges in compliance with regulations. Participants were unsure about the different types of sweeteners, examples of artificial sweeteners and their potential health consequences. Presenting clearer additive and nutrition information would facilitate consumer comprehension and support healthy food choices.

Resumo Indústrias alimentícias estão reformulando produtos para reduzir a quantidade total de açúcar. Para reduzir a densidade calórica e manter o dulçor de seus produtos, açúcares são combinados com edulcorantes. Esse estudo teve como objetivo analisar as informações sobre a presença, número e tipo, e conteúdo de diferentes edulcorantes exibidos na lista de ingredientes de 10 produtos ultraprocessados, de 3 categorias diferentes. O estudo também avaliou as percepções e entendimento dos consumidores sobre adoçantes calóricos e não calóricos usados em produtos ultraprocessados, através da análise de discussões com 12 grupos focais. Observou-se combinação de açúcares com edulcorantes no mesmo produto e, frequentemente, ausência das quantidades dos edulcorantes nos rótulos nutricionais. Esses produtos voltados a crianças oferecem calorias reduzidas às custas do aumento da variedade e concentração desses edulcorantes. Os participantes mostraram-se confusos sobre os diferentes tipos de adoçantes e edulcorantes e suas possíveis consequências à saúde. Apresentar informações mais claras sobre os ingredientes e nutrição facilitariam a compreensão dos consumidores e os apoiariam em escolhas alimentares saudáveis.

Perspectives On Health Care Cost-Consciousness among Medical Students and Physicians

Introduction: Health care costs consciousness refers to care that aims to assess the benefits, harms and costs of interventions by the physicians. Rising health care costs have created an urgent need to improve physicians� knowledge on health care costs for providing cost conscious care. Objectives: This study was done to assess and compare the knowledge and attitude towards health care cost consciousness of the undergraduate medical students and interns. Methodology: A Mixed Method study was done using a standardized questionnaire among 388 medical students and a Qualitative approach using In-depth interviews with 15 practicing physicians and a Focus group discussion to understand their perceptions on cost-conscious care and their opinions on introducing Cost-conscious curriculum for the medical students. Data analysed using a framework analytical approach and NVivo12. Results: 84% of the students agreed that all health personnel should be familiar with health care costs, 84.5% agreed that inclusion of the health care cost consciousness in medical curriculum is important for their carrier. The themes emerged identified the various perceptions, determinants on health care costs, cost-conscious decision making and their responsibility as a physician. Conclusion: The physicians and interns strongly suggested including a structured learning on Cost-Conscious Care as a part of medical education to educate and train the future physicians.

Study on the construction of cognitive training program for elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment based on horticultural therapy theory / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective:To construct a cognitive training program suitable for elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment based on horticultural therapy, so as to effectively slow down the cognitive decline of patients with mild cognitive impairment.Methods:Through searching the Chinese and English database literature of cognitive intervention from July 2000 to July 2020 and field visits to nursing homes, the draft intervention plan was formed. Two rounds of focus group interview were held to consult experts in cognitive impairment and geriatric care, etc., and to revise the intervention plan.Results:In the two rounds of focus group interview, the expert positive coefficient was 100%, the expert judgment basis was 0.84, the expert familiarity degree was 0.84, and the expert authority coefficient was 0.84. In the end, a 10-week cognitive intervention program targeting six cognitive domains -- "visuospatial/executive ability", "memory ability", "language ability", "attention ability", "abstract ability" and "naming ability" was formed, and the implementation steps of the program were improved.Conclusions:The construction process of cognitive training program for patients with mild cognitive impairment based on horticultural therapy theory is rigorous, scientific and feasible, and can be used to guide the cognitive training of patients with mild cognitive impairment.

Male attitudes towards family planning in the Limpopo province of South Africa

Women often do not receive support from their partners with regards to familyplanning (FP), which can lead to hesitancy and inconsistent use. This study sought tounderstand the male attitudes that contribute to this.Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted in 2019 using focus group discussions (FGDs) with purposively selected men aged ≥ 25 years and in a relationship with a woman of childbearing age. An open-ended question guide was used to explore men's perceptions regarding FP. The discussions were recorded, translated and transcribed verbatim, whereafter transcripts were coded and analysed thematically. Results: Three major themes were identified, namely: (1) the advantages of FP, including financial benefits and the prevention of sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancy; (2) the disadvantages of FP, including perceived adverse effects on men and women, as well as marital difficulties; and (3) the exclusion of men from FP by health workersand their partners. Conclusion: Men felt ambivalent towards FP. They were aware of the benefits thereof, but were hesitant to allow their female partners to use contraceptives, because of several misconceptions about the adverse effects. This underscores the need to involve men in FP programmes.

Atuação do Professor de Educação Especial no Cenário da Pandemia de Covid-19 / Performance of the Special Education Teacher in the Covid-19 Pandemic Scenario

RESUMO: A atuação qualificada do professor de Educação Especial é condição fundamental para o apoio à inclusão escolar do público-alvo em diferentes contextos escolares. Este estudo objetivou analisar a atuação do professor de Educação Especial no cenário da pandemia da Covid-19. Os dados foram coletados por meio da técnica de grupo focal on-line, com a participação de seis professoras. Das experiências compartilhadas nos encontros, foi possível elaborar três eixos temáticos: Os desafios vividos pelas professoras da Educação Especial; Contextos vivenciados pelas professoras da Educação Especial na escola; e Fortalezas, perspectivas e pontos positivos da inclusão escolar. A inclusão escolar é um projeto coletivo que pressupõe ações coordenadas e exige adesão de todos os segmentos da sociedade civil, não apenas da escola. Os professores de Educação Especial perceberam-se implicados no processo inclusivo, ainda que não haja envolvimento total das equipes educacionais, o que os faz se sentirem isolados e desamparados diante de algumas situações desafiadoras. Compreender o olhar dos professores de Educação Especial oferece subsídios para o planejamento da Educação Especial, na perspectiva da inclusão.

ABSTRACT: The qualified performance of the Special Education teacher is a fundamental condition for supporting the school inclusion of the target population in different school contexts. Tis study aimed to analyze the role of the Special Education teacher in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected using the online focus group technique with the participation of six teachers. From the experiences shared in the meetings, it was possible to elaborate three themes: Te challenges experienced by the Special Education teachers; Contexts experienced by the Special Education teachers at school; and Strengths, perspectives and positive points of school inclusion. School inclusion is a collective project that presupposes coordinated actions and requires adherence from all segments of civil society, not just the school. Special Education teachers perceive themselves to be involved in the inclusive process, even though there is no full involvement of the educational teams, which makes them feel isolated and helpless in the face of some challenging situations. Understanding the gaze of Special Education teachers offers subsidies for the planning of Special Education, from the perspective of inclusion.

Perceptions of patients in the waiting line for bariatric surgery: contributions from the experience of an educational process / Percepções de pacientes na fila de espera para cirurgia bariátrica: contribuições a partir da experiência de um processo educativo / Percepciones de pacientes en la fila de espera para cirugía bariátrica: contribuciones a partir de la experiencia de un proceso educativo

The present study is a qualitative research with the objective of analyzing the perceptions of patients in the face of the challenges in the bariatric surgery line through focal groups. All patients were treated with an outpatient protocol, however, they were divided into two groups, one participated in the educational process and the other did not. Four categories of analysis were drawn up and discussed in the light of the current literature. Patients from the educational process were able to express themselves with greater positivity in view of the challenges and they showed better resources for going through the emotional suffering, the worsening of comorbidities and the risk of death. The results show the potential of education in health and of group work in the promotion of self-care and well-being.(AU)

O presente estudo trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa com o objetivo de analisar as percepções dos pacientes diante dos desafios na fila da cirurgia bariátrica por meio de grupos focais. Todos os pacientes foram atendidos com protocolo ambulatorial, porém, foram divididos em dois grupos, um participou do processo educativo e o outro não. Quatro categorias de análise foram elaboradas e discutidas à luz da literatura atual. Os pacientes do processo educativo conseguiram se expressar com maior positividade diante dos desafios e apresentaram melhores recursos para atravessar o sofrimento emocional, o agravamento das comorbidades e o risco de morte. Os resultados mostram o potencial da educação em saúde e do trabalho em grupo na promoção do autocuidado e do bem-estar.(AU)

El presente estudio se trata de una investigación cualitativa con el objetivo de analizar las percepciones de los pacientes ante los desafíos en la fila de la cirugía bariátrica por medio de grupos focales. Todos los pacientes fueron atendidos con protocolo ambulatorio, pero se dividieron en dos grupos, uno participó en el proceso educativo y el otro no. Se elaboraron y discutieron cuatro categorías de análisis a la luz de la literatura actual. Los pacientes del proceso educativo consiguieron expresarse con mayor positividad antes los desafíos y presentaron mejores recursos para pasar por el sufrimiento emocional, el agravamiento de las comorbilidades y el riesgo de muerte. Los resultados muestran el potencial de la educación en salud y del trabajo en grupo de la promoción del autocuidado y del bienestar.(AU)

Treinamento pliométrico e virtual para prevenção de lesões em mulheres jovens: uma abordagem qualitativa / Pliometric and virtual training for prevention of injury in young women: a qualitative approach

O objetivo do estudo foi explorar as opiniões das voluntárias de um protocolo de treinamento pliométrico associado a exercícios resistidos (TPER) e virtual (TV) para prevenção de lesões. Essa abordagem foi escolhida, pois as percepções dos pacientes em geral podem ser negligenciadas. A coleta de dados ocorreu com dois grupos focais (GFs), e para isso formalizou-se o convite a sete participantes de cada um deles que já houvessem finalizado o treinamento. Realizou-se um encontro, com duração média de 60 minutos para cada grupo de intervenção, e um moderador treinado o conduziu; as sessões foram gravadas em áudio e transcritas posteriormente para análise. As participantes relataram em ambos os treinos o aumento do condicionamento físico, resistência e força muscular. Concluiu-se que no TPER foi mais destacada a melhora do equilíbrio e estabilidade de membros inferiores, já no TV isso ocorreu em relação à concentração e à disposição para a rotina diária.

The aim of the study was to explore the opinions of the volunteers about the plyometric training protocol associated with resistance (PTRE) and virtual (VT) exercises for injury prevention. This approach was chosen considering that patients' perceptions in general could be neglected. Data collection took place with two Focus Groups (FGs) and to this end, an invitation was made to seven participants from both groups who had already completed the training. A meeting was held, with an average duration of 60 minutes for each intervention group, and a trained moderator conducted it; the sessions were recorded on audio and later transcribed for analysis. The participants reported the increase of physical conditioning, endurance and muscle strength in both training sessions. It was concluded that in PTRE, the issue of improved balance and stability of lower limbs was highlighted, while in VT the improvement of concentration and disposition for the daily routine.

Knowledge and consumption practices on probiotics in selected low to middle-income class Filipino mothers in an Urban City

Objective@#Mothers are exposed to various functional food components, including probiotics, which have a direct effect on the quality of their breast milk. Probiotics enhance the microbial composition of breast milk, making it more beneficial for the infant’s gut health. This study aimed to explore the extent of knowledge and dietary practices on probiotics among low- to middle-income healthy Filipino mothers in an urban area. @*Methods@#Data was gathered using three focus group discussions (FGD) participated in by low- to middle-income healthy Filipino mothers residing in Barangays West Rembo and Rizal in Makati City, Philippines. Prior to the FGD, preliminary interviews of selected participants and market surveys were done to determine the food items to be included in the FGD questionnaire. @*Results@#A total of 19 mothers participated in the FGDs. The most common probiotic sources identified were yogurt, fermented milk product (Yakult), miso and tausi. The most consumed probiotic source was fermented milk product (94.7% of participants), at least once a month; followed by powdered milk (78.9%), consumed daily. The most commonly reported influence for consumption of these food items was advertisements from television (89.5%). About 53% of the participants related probiotics to better digestion and increased immunity as heard from advertisements and through counselling by physicians. When asked to elaborate on how probiotics influence digestion and immunity, almost all participants had difficulty explaining the benefits.@*Conclusion@#Although majority of the participants consumed food sources of probiotics, they had limited knowledge on its other non-food sources and benefits. In addition, the consumed food source was confined to the food item that was most advertised on television. Thus, there is a need for health and nutrition experts to exert a stronger influence in the community by disseminating information regarding probiotics.

Removing barriers to healthcare through an intercultural healthcare system: Focus group evidence / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#Barriers to healthcare in Ghana are multifaceted. Many people, including patients and providers, face them at different levels. To address these barriers, there is a need to explore the role of an intercultural healthcare system. This paper explores and provides the first evidence on ways through which an intercultural healthcare system can reduce the sociocultural and economic barriers to healthcare in Ghana.@*METHODS@#Focus group discussions with 35 participants comprising 17 healthcare users, 11 formal healthcare providers and 7 alternative healthcare providers were conducted to gather data. Thematic analyses were performed on the transcribed data and presented based on a posteriori inductive reduction approach.@*RESULTS@#Findings reveal that an intercultural healthcare system in Ghana can help reduce barriers to healthcare, especially cultural, social and economic barriers, by fostering an enhanced relationship between culture and healthcare, promoting affordable healthcare and promoting effective communication between healthcare providers and users. Weak institutional support, lack of strong political will and commitment, lack of training to meet standards of practice, poor registration and regulatory measures, and lack of universal acceptance inhibit implementation of an intercultural healthcare system in Ghana.@*CONCLUSION@#The support for intercultural healthcare system and the agreement on its perceived ability to reduce social, cultural and economic healthcare barriers for service users offer an opportunity for policymakers to demonstrate a stronger political will and improved commitment for effective education and training, enforcement of regulatory measures, inclusion of intercultural healthcare in medical school curricula across the country, and community engagement.

Application of "blended learning + flipped classroom" in medical public elective courses / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Objective:To explore the application effect of "blended learning + flipped classroom" in public elective courses for medical students, and provide reference for the blended construction of related courses.Methods:Totally 229 medical students were selected as research participants, who were taught by "blended learning + flipped classroom". After the courses, the curriculum evaluation questionnaires and focus group interview were used to collect students' evaluation of this course. SPSS 22.0 statistical software was used to make descriptive statistics on the questionnaire data.Results:Totally 98.5% students preferred "blended learning + flipped classroom" teaching mode, and more than 93% students thought this teaching method could improve their learning interest, empathy, understanding and application of knowledge. The results of the qualitative survey extracted two themes, namely "improving learning autonomy" and "expanding comprehensive quality".Conclusion:Perfecting the "blended learning + flipped classroom" teaching mode of the medical public elective courses plays a positive role in improving the learning autonomy and comprehensive quality of medical students and optimizing the learning effect.