Exploring how support workers understand their role in supporting adults with intellectual disabilities to access the Internet for intimate relationships.

BACKGROUND: Some adults with intellectual disabilities need support to access the Internet. This study explores how support workers understand their role in facilitating Internet access for intimate relationships. METHOD: Eight support workers in the West Midlands of the UK were interviewed face-to-face, using semi-structured interviews and a thematic analysis was used to interpret the data. RESULTS: Three main themes emerged; social and organizational dilemmas (including sub-themes of; role and moral positioning, expectations of support, and protected and reflective space), power and position and policy dilemmas. CONCLUSION: Support workers said that adults with intellectual disabilities should have access to the Internet for intimate relationships. There was a range of views on whether it was their job to support this. A lack of training in Internet use was highlighted.

'Using Q-methodology to Explore What is Valued from Child Sexual Exploitation Services: The Importance of Safety'.

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) is a complex international issue requiring specialist multi-agency support. There is evidence that survivors of CSE are likely to experience mental health difficulties and have long-term psychological needs in response to trauma. However evidence regarding services and interventions for these difficulties is limited. This study explored viewpoints of key stakeholders, such as young people and frontline staff, about CSE services. Participants were recruited from services that support young people who have experienced CSE. The sample consisted of 18 participants; nine young people and nine professionals. Q-methodology was used to investigate subjective viewpoints regarding this topic. Statements about CSE interventions and services were collected from the existing literature and validated to form a Q-set. Participants sorted the Q-set from most to least important. Q-sorts were subjected to factor analysis using Q-methodology software. Three factors were identified: (1) The importance of safety and attunement, (2) Managing trauma and mental health difficulties and (3) Family, normality, and a relaxed approach. All factors emphasized the importance of safety and trust between young people and professionals. Key areas that may benefit service design were identified. Primarily, young people are likely to benefit from specialist support promoting a trauma-informed and relational approach.

The dementia diagnosis: a literature review of information, understanding, and attributions.

This review examines how people understand and make sense of a dementia diagnosis. The review explores how lay frameworks and information presented at diagnosis may inform a caregiver's understanding of dementia in a family member. Existing qualitative research exploring how caregivers understand and make sense of dementia is reviewed. A literature search was conducted, and the results indicated that family carers often receive little or unclear information about dementia, with diagnostic information often delivered in euphemistic terms. Lack of clarity regarding diagnosis and prognosis creates uncertainty for caregivers and impacts future care planning. Caregiver's understandings of the condition vary, with some symptoms often not attributed to the condition. The literature highlights significant gaps and misconceptions in public knowledge regarding dementia, which raises questions about how family caregivers understand the condition. Further research is required to explore how information is presented to family carers at the time of diagnosis and how this is used to understand the condition.

Understanding the dementia diagnosis: the impact on the caregiving experience.

OBJECTIVES: There is a paucity of research surrounding disclosure from the perspective of caring partners, therefore this research explores how caring partners understand and make sense of diagnostic information. METHOD: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 spouses of people with dementia. Interviews aimed to elicit participants' understanding of dementia and the way that information was used to make sense of dementia. Interviewee accounts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. RESULTS: Four main themes emerged: lack of information; personal understanding and implications for adjustment; societal understanding and persistent stigma; and lack of partnership working. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis indicated a lack of information and continued support following a diagnosis. In the absence of information and support, caring partners described difficulty understanding and adjusting to behavioural, physical and psychological changes in their partner. A greater understanding of the condition was beneficial in terms of adjustment and emotional responses to a partner.

Distress, trauma, and recovery: adjustment to first episode psychosis.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the experiences that people with early psychosis are adjusting to and their perceived barriers to recovery. METHOD: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight participants. Grounded Theory was applied to the design and analysis. Sampling and coding ceased when saturation of the data was reached. Respondent validation was sought from participants. RESULTS: A theoretical model was developed using Strauss and Corbin's (1998) framework. A core category of distress was elicited, which was evident in all participants' accounts of their recovery. Overall six main categories were identified and it was proposed that individuals were adjusting to the distress of past experiences, uncertainty, a challenged identity, being in a psychiatric system, the reaction of others and social disadvantage. CONCLUSIONS: Recovery from the distress and trauma of early psychosis does not simply involve adjustment to and recovery from a single experience or set of symptoms. The results are discussed in relation to trauma, developmental, and social inequality frameworks. Specific implications for clinical practice include incorporating the findings within formulations, developing interventions that focus on trauma, identity, and uncertainty as well as addressing the social and systemic issues identified.