The Impact of Sensory Modulation Interventions on Practice in Acute Inpatient Mental Health Settings: A Meta-Ethnography.

This review explores the transformative impact of sensory modulation interventions in acute inpatient mental health care setting utilising meta-ethnography. The methodology by Noblit & Hare guided the approach to creating the review. Searches of articles published within the previous 10 years were conducted in Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), MEDLINE, and PsycINFO. Searches aimed to identify rich qualitative data on the area of sensory modulation interventions and acute inpatient mental health care. Seven articles were selected for inclusion and a reciprocal translation synthesis was undertaken. Sensory modulation interventions emerged as a key alternative to traditional inpatient practices, including seclusion and restraint and the use of PRN psychotropic medication. It introduces a new dimension within care strategies that emphasise individual preferences and care plans that empower individuals. Sensory modulation interventions serve as an effective means to de-escalation that promotes shared responsibility between staff and individuals in care. The review highlights this practice as a departure from coercive practices and biomedical interventions, promoting meaningful therapeutic engagement. Our findings show that sensory modulation interventions have the potential to create a culture shift in acute inpatient mental health settings towards person-centred, recovery-orientated, trauma-informed clinical practice.

Comparative Analysis of Health- and Vision-Related Quality of Life Measures among Trinidadians with Low Vision and Normal Vision-A Cross-Sectional Matched Sample Study.

This cross-sectional study investigated the health-related and vision-related quality of life measures of adults with low vision compared to healthy individuals in Trinidad and Tobago. The health-related quality of life (HRQOL-14) and the National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25) were administered to 20 participants with low vision caused by diabetic retinopathy, retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma, and macular degeneration, as well as 20 participants with no visual problems (control). Participants were recruited from the University Eye Clinic in Trinidad and Tobago. Compared to the controls, more participants in the low-vision group had lower age-adjusted NEI-VFQ-25 scores (48.3% vs. 95.1%; p < 0.001), had poor general (47.5% vs. 10%, p = 0.004) and mental (100% vs. 10%, p < 0.042) health, experienced greater activity limitation due to impairment or health problems (85% vs. 20%, p < 0.001), needed help with personal care (27.5% vs. 0%, p < 0.009) and daily routine (67.5% vs. 0%, p < 0.001), and experienced sleep problems (97.5% vs. 65%, p < 0.001) and symptoms of anxiety (100% vs. 90%, p = 0.042). All the diabetic retinopathy participants (100%, p = 0.028) had two or more impairments or vision problems compared to none in the other low-vision participants. In summary, the HRQOL-14 and NEI-VFQ-25 scores were significantly reduced in low-vision participants, who also demonstrated a greater vulnerability to poor quality of life in the presence of diabetes retinopathy. These findings have important clinical implications regarding offering appropriate support and interventions to improve quality of life outcomes in individuals with low vision.

'First tonight, the contentious new code telling nurses to say, 'sorry for being white': Mental health nurses' beliefs about their Code of Conduct and cultural safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia's Code of Conduct for Nurses sets out the professional behaviour and conduct expectations for nurses in all practice settings. The publication of a revised version in 2018, which included expectations related to culturally safe and respectful practice and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples' health, caused reverberations beyond the profession of nursing. A controversy that the changes required nurses to verbally apologize for being white before their interactions with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people gained the attention of the mainstream media. This interpretation, which came from outside nursing, was disputed by the Board. Challenged by these events, the authors were interested in understanding the actual impacts of the changes from the perspectives of nurses in practice. This research, carried out nearly three years after publication, has focused specifically on the speciality of mental health nurses in this context. The objective of this research was to undertake a social analysis focused on the impact that changes in the Code have had on the culture of mental health nursing utilizing a qualitative methodology. Eight mental health nurses were interviewed. The research found that there was little evidence of any impact on mental health nursing practice. Many of the participants were unaware of the amendments to the Code, whilst those nurses who were aware did not perceive that it had led to any real change within mental health nursing or service delivery.

Ethnographic Insights into the Quality of Life and Experiences of People Living with Schizophrenia in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Schizophrenia is a complex and severe mental disorder affecting more than 20 million people worldwide. This study used focused ethnography to explore the everyday lives of 18 people living with schizophrenia in Zimbabwe and its impact on their quality of life (QOL). Data were collected using semi-structured interviews, observational fieldwork, and the short form of the World Health Organization QOL-BREF questionnaire. Those aged 20-40 years experienced poorer QOL than older people. Family dislocation, living with stigma and discrimination, cost of medications and limited and variable access to treatment and support disrupted participants' ability to enjoy life and function socially.

Navigating Nuances of Language and Meaning: Challenges of Cross-Language Ethnography Involving Shona Speakers Living With Schizophrenia.

For people living with schizophrenia, their experience is personal and culturally bound. Focused ethnography enables researchers to understand people's experiences in-context, a prerequisite to providing person-centered care. Data are gathered through observational fieldwork and in-depth interviews with cultural informants. Regardless of the culture, ethnographic research involves resolving issues of language, communication, and meaning. This article discusses the challenges faced by a bilingual, primary mental health nurse researcher when investigating the experiences of people living with schizophrenia in Zimbabwe. Bilingual understanding influenced the research questions, translation of a validated survey instrument and interview transcripts, analysis of the nuances of dialect and local idioms, and confirmation of cultural understanding. When the researcher is a bilingual cultural insider, the insights gained can be more nuanced and culturally enriched. In cross-language research, translation issues are especially challenging when it involves people with a mental illness and requires researcher experience, ethical sensitivity, and cultural awareness.