Qualitative health psychology research: diversity, power, and impact.

This special issue showcases a range of qualitative research projects conducted by health psychologists with a view to promoting greater uptake and development of qualitative research methods in the field. It is timely because qualitative methods have become prominent across psychology and health research and because major health research funders are now inviting qualitative research to help give voice to patient experiences. As a whole, the papers demonstrate the diversity, power, and impact of qualitative research conducted in health-related settings and show how traditional health psychology methods and concepts can be enriched in the process

The psychosocial impact of home use medical devices on the lives of older people: a qualitative study

Background Increased life expectancy and the accompanying prevalence of chronic conditions have led to the focus and delivery of health care migrating from the hospital and into people’s homes. While previous studies have investigated the integration of particular types of medical devices into the home, it was our intention to describe how medical devices are integrated into the lives of older people. Methods Adopting a qualitative study design, 12 older people, who used medical devices in the home, took part in in-depth, semi structured interviews. In 7 of the interviews participants and their partners were interviewed together. These interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically. Results Two themes were constructed that describe how medical devices that are used in the home present certain challenges to older people and their partners in how the device is adopted and the personal adaptations that they are required to make. The first theme of 'self-esteem’ highlighted the psychological impact on users. The second theme of 'the social device' illustrated the social impact of these devices on the user and the people around them. Conclusions We found that these devices had both a positive and negative psychosocial impact on users’ lives. An improved understanding of these psychological and social issues may assist both designers of medical devices and the professionals who issue them to better facilitate the integration of medical devices into the homes and lives of older people

How do parents experience being asked to enter a child in a randomised controlled trial?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>As the number of randomised controlled trials of medicines for children increases, it becomes progressively more important to understand the experiences of parents who are asked to enrol their child in a trial. This paper presents a narrative review of research evidence on parents' experiences of trial recruitment focussing on qualitative research, which allows them to articulate their views in their own words.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Parents want to do their best for their children, and socially and legally their role is to care for and protect them yet the complexities of the medical and research context can challenge their fulfilment of this role. Parents are simultaneously responsible for their child and cherish this role yet they are dependent on others when their child becomes sick. They are keen to exercise responsibility for deciding to enter a child in a trial yet can be fearful of making the 'wrong' decision. They make judgements about the threat of the child's condition as well as the risks of the trial yet their interpretations often differ from those of medical and research experts. Individual pants will experience these and other complexities to a greater or lesser degree depending on their personal experiences and values, the medical situation of their child and the nature of the trial. Interactions at the time of trial recruitment offer scope for negotiating these complexities if practitioners have the flexibility to tailor discussions to the needs and situation of individual parents. In this way, parents may be helped to retain a sense that they have acted as good parents to their child whatever decision they make.</p> <p>Summary</p> <p>Discussing randomised controlled trials and gaining and providing informed consent is challenging. The unique position of parents in giving proxy consent for their child adds to this challenge. Recognition of the complexities parents face in making decisions about trials suggests lines for future research on the conduct of trials, and ultimately, may help improve the experience of trial recruitment for all parties.</p

O adolescente e o diabetes: uma experiência de vida El adolescente y la diabetes: una experiencia de vida Teenagers with type 1 diabetes mellitus: life experience report

OBJETIVO: Compreender como o adolescente com diabetes mellitus tipo I vivencia sua experiência de doença e como lida com esta situação no cotidiano. MÉTODOS: O Interacionismo Simbólico foi utilizado como referencial teórico e a Teoria Fundamentada nos Dados como o referencial metodológico da pesquisa. Participaram do estudo 10 adolescentes com diagnóstico de diabetes mellitus tipo 1 há mais de um ano. RESULTADOS: Foram identificados dois fenômenos explicativos da experiência: não sendo normal ter diabetes e sendo normal ter diabetes. CONCLUSÃO: Os dois fenômenos não são isolados ou excludentes para o mesmo adolescente, parecendo haver períodos ou fases em que os adolescentes identificam-se e vivenciam ora um fenômeno ora outro, com maior ou menor intensidade.<br>OBJETIVO: Comprender como el adolescente con diabetes mellitus tipo I experimenta su enfermedad y como lidia con esta situación en lo cotidiano. MÉTODOS: El Interaccionismo Simbólico fue utilizado como marco teórico y la Teoría Fundamentada en los Datos como el marco metodológico de la investigación. Participaron del estudio 10 adolescentes que tenían diagnóstico de diabetes mellitus tipo 1 hace más de un año. RESULTADOS: Fueron identificados dos fenómenos que explicaban la experiencia: no es normal tener diabetes y es normal tener diabetes. CONCLUSIÓN: Los dos fenómenos no están aislados o se excluyen mutuamente para el mismo adolescente, pareciendo haber períodos o fases en que los adolescentes se identifican y viven una vez un fenómeno y otra vez el otro, con mayor o menor intensidad.<br>PURPOSE: To understand the life experience of teenagers with type 1 diabetes mellitus and how they cope with the disease in daily life. METHODS: The symbolic interactionism was the theoretical perspective guiding the study. Grounded theory served as the method for using the empirical data. Participants consisted of 10 teenagers with type 1 diabetes mellitus over a year. RESULTS: Two phenomena explaining their life experience emerged: "Regarding having diabetes as being normal" and "regarding having diabetes as being abnormal." CONCLUSION: The two phenomena were not isolated or excluded from the life experience of the same teenager; there were phases in which the teenagers experienced one of the phenomena and vice-versa with greater or less intensity