Occupational stress and coping strategies in experienced Australian veterinarians.

BACKGROUND: Veterinarians have been identified as being at particularly high risk of stress in the workplace, this predisposes them to anxiety, depression and suicide. Previous quantitative studies have identified causes of stress and common coping strategies used by veterinarians. The current research aimed to gain a deeper understanding of the experience of veterinarian stress and ways of coping using qualitative methods. METHOD: Twelve practicing small animal veterinarians in Australia were recruited. They took part individually in semi-structured research interviews. Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to design the study and to analyse the transcripts. RESULTS: Analyses of the interview data identified an overarching theme: spending less time working in clinical settings and four main themes: Preoccupation, self-doubt, conflicting responsibilities (between care of the animal, the human client and financial demands of the business) and insufficient support. CONCLUSION: The results give a deeper understanding of sources of stress and the difficulties experienced in coping. These findings can help explain why veterinarians are leaving the profession or reducing their work hours, as well as emphasize the importance of continuing education of veterinarians on self-care and coping with stress, help with resolving ethical dilemmas, and working as a team.

First-time mothers' experiences of preparing for childbirth at advanced maternal age.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the lived experiences of preparing for childbirth for nulliparous women aged 35-44 and determine how mature first-time mothers' can be better supported regarding childbirth preparation. DESIGN: The research study comprised a cross-sectional qualitative design utilising Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to provide a deep exploration into the experience of mature age women. SETTING: Participants resided in South Australia and Victoria, Australia, in regional, suburban and inner-city locations. PARTICIPANTS: Fourteen nulliparous women aged 35-44 were recruited in their third trimester of pregnancy using purposeful sampling. METHOD: Data were collected by conducting in-depth semi-structured interviews during 28-36 weeks of pregnancy. Data were transcribed and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to identify themes of mature first-time mothers' preparations for childbirth. FINDINGS: The super ordinate theme "Building confidence for childbirth" describes mature first-time mothers' experience of preparing for childbirth. This process appears to influence women's information seeking behaviour, expectations of healthcare providers, and reflections on birth planning. CONCLUSIONS: Participants sought various support and interactions with healthcare providers, both helpful and unhelpful, with nulliparous women of advanced maternal age undertaking various preparations with the intention of a positive childbirth experience. Participants were seeking support from friends, along with conducting their own independent research and activities. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: It is evident that more and more women in developed countries are delaying having children into their late thirties and over, and these women report various levels of support from health practitioners. Healthcare professionals have the potential to foster more trustful relationships and empowering interactions with women, provide various resources regarding childbirth preparation, and sensitive birth planning assistance that supports women's agency along with managing risk. Guidelines based on this and other research in managing the antenatal care of women of advanced maternal age would ensure consistency, particularly in terms of risk management and childbirth.

Parent Perceptions of Psychosocial Outcomes of Equine-Assisted Interventions for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

This research explored parents' perceptions of the psychosocial outcomes of their children's experience of receiving equine-assisted interventions (EAI). Participants were the parents of six children (aged 3-14) diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Five semi-structured interviews were conducted and the transcript data was analysed using Interpretative phenomenological analysis. Four super-ordinate themes emerged from the analysis: (1) child's improved self-concept and enhanced emotional well-being, (2) child's improved self-regulatory ability, (3) social benefits for the child, and (4) unexpected outcomes. EAI was perceived by the parents as having several levels of psychosocial benefits for their children. These benefits may also extend to parents and family through ecopsychological and "flow on" effects associated with the children's involvement in EAI programs.

Heart and spirit: research with psychoanalysts and psychoanalytic psychotherapists about spirituality.

In qualitative interview research with 25 psychoanalysts and psychoanalytic psychotherapists in London, Sydney and Melbourne, the author explored how these clinicians experienced, conceptualised and worked with spiritual issues. Bringing to bear their experience on both sides of the couch, this 'information-rich' sample of mainly senior practitioners reflected on a psychoanalytically informed view of spirituality, and its understanding in clinical practice. Two methods of analysis were used. The technique of 'narrative finding' was followed by coding of core ideas, themes and concepts expressed. Participants noted that spirit may be the 'blind spot' of psychoanalysis, and reflected that what they had wanted in their own analyses--and consider that what patients want--is to be able to have spiritual issues addressed in a similar manner to other matters, not prejudged as infantile or pathological. In participants' concepts and experience of spirit, a comfort/challenge dimension was identified. Comfort was taken in having a 'wider view', a more inclusive sense of inter-relatedness, with challenge involving a heightened sense of the unknown and a greater degree of uncertainty.