The experience of prophylactic bilateral mastectomy in women to reduce the risk of breast cancer: An interpretative phenomenological analysis

Abstract Objectives: Increasing knowledge of genetics has found that a mutation to the BRCA 1 or 2 genes are associated with a high risk of developing breast cancer throughout the lifespan. A woman with this genetic mutation may consider preventive surgery to reduce the risk of breast cancer. This involves a prophylactic bilateral mastectomy to remove the breasts when there is no cancer present and may be followed by breast reconstruction. This study aimed to explore the lived experience and psycho-social impact on women of this surgery. Design: Interpretative phenomenological analysis was employed in an in-depth study of a small sample of eleven female patients with BRCA 1/2 genetic mutations who had undergone preventive surgery of prophylactic bilateral mastectomy. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were carried out. The transcripts of those interviews served as the data for an interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results and conclusions: Three themes were identified from the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to convey the lived experience of participants. These were (1) focus on reduced risk of cancer; taking control, relief and benefit finding, (2) a focus on relationships; family life, medical professional and BRCA support group and other women with lived experience, and (3) Focus on experiencing surgery and impact on self; the importance of reconstruction, loss of sexual attractiveness, impact on self from negative reaction of others and adjusting to surgical results. The implications are discussed in relation to the current literature and clinical practice

Teaching children to read : an investigation of teachers' self-efficacy beliefs

D.App.Ed.PsyThe systematic review and empirical research presented in this thesis investigates the development of teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs in teaching children to read. The Systematic Review examines the effectiveness of professional development on increasing teachers’ self-efficacy (TSE) in teaching children to read whereas the empirical research focusses on exploring the development of high teacher self-efficacy beliefs about teaching reading, specifically in relation to struggling readers. Both pieces are concerned with how to support the development of TSE beliefs about reading instruction. The systematic review investigates professional development in relation to methods of teaching children to read and the impact of this on teachers’ self-efficacy. The study focuses on eight empirical studies whereby the effectiveness of professional development on in-service and pre-service teachers’ self-efficacy is considered. Findings suggest that overall there is evidence to suggest that professional development on teaching children to read has a positive impact on teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs in teaching children to read. The Bridging Document discusses the conceptual framework which links the Systematic Review with the Empirical Research. It also explores and reflects upon methodological issues. The empirical research considers the development of teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs, in teaching children who are struggling to read. Audio-recorded, individual, interviews were conducted with six Key Stage one teachers with Critical Realist grounded theory used to analyse the transcripts. Teachers described and reflected upon their experiences of teaching children to read, who were struggling. The emergent theory tells us that teachers’ perception of success and failure, developing subject knowledge within a supportive school ethos are factors which contribute to the development of positive teacher self-efficacy beliefs

Effect of Land Use Change on South Texas Bats

Bats were acoustically recorded in South Texas over the summer of 2017. Nine species of bats were recorded and identified

Struggling to Survive: Slavery and Exploitation of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon

The report sets out a pathway to deliver tangible and lasting change. It examines the different ways in which slavery is occurring among Syrian refugees in Lebanon and the multiple factors that combine to force people into situations of slavery. Addressing these risk factors will require the commitment of a broad range of stakeholders, including the Lebanese government, international governments, international organisations, NGOs and donors