Perception of HIV risk-taking behaviors among youths incarcerated in a juvenile vocational training center : a qualitative study

Youths who are incarcerated often have high risk behaviors for HIV. A descriptive qualitative approach was used to gain an understanding about perceptions of HIV risk-taking behaviors among male youths who were incarcerated in a juvenile vocational training center in the north of Thailand. Multiple methods were employed to gather information from 42 male youth and included site document reviews, four focus group discussions (8 persons/group), 10 in-depth interviews, and participant observation. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Two themes emerged. The first theme was Personal perceptions of risky behavior and this had five subthemes: The nature of adolescents and risk behaviors, Stress in vocational training, Surviving the training, Needing the excitement of sex, and Sexual norms. The second theme, Social and environmental contexts encouraging HIV risk-taking behavior, involved three subthemes: Rules and regulations promoting risky behaviors, Incitement to risky behaviors, and Peer influence. Accurate understanding about HIV risk-taking behaviors of youths who are incarcerated will help nurses and other healthcare providers to provide sensitive health care to these youths and to mutually engage to support those incarcerated to reduce HIV risk-taking behaviors

Thai women's experiences of HIV/AIDS in the rural north : a grounded theory study

Thailand is a nation of some 60 million people, 2 million of whom are estimated to be HIV/AIDS infected and, of those who are infected, 80-90% were infected through heterosexual intercourse and 10-20% are women. In this research, the author discusses the situation in some detail.The experiences of HIV/AIDS infected Thai wives and widows in the rural north of the country are studied.A major contributing factor is the differential constructions of male and female status and sexuality in traditional Thai culture.These constructions are rooted in Theravada Buddhism, ancient mythology and folklore. Data was obtained from 24 participants in Chiangmai Province. The findings of the study revealed several problems with which participants were confronted and the processes they used to address them.It is suggested in the findings that any serious therapeutic interventions and interventionist research studies must be congruent with traditional Thai cultur

A Grounded Theory Study of Thai Family Caregiving Process for Relatives with First Episode Psychosis

This grounded theory study explored the family caregiving process for relatives with first-episode psychosis related to schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The study was conducted during May 2013-March 2014 in lower northeastern region of Thailand using semi-structured interviews and observations, and involved 31 participants from 18 Thai families. The data were analyzed by using Strauss and Corbin\u27s constant comparative method until theoretical saturation was achieved. The core category emerging from the data was Balancing family life, which consisted of three phases: 1) Communicating to gain support and understanding, 2) Capturing solution, and 3) Engaging in the family caregiving role. To keep balance in their family life, family members needed to encourage and support each other and gain understanding toward the illness on Phase I. They also consulted one another; got suggestions from older or senior person; or depended on the primary caregiver\u27s decision for capturing solutions for care for their relatives in Phase 2. Finally, in Phase 3 they developed their sense of caring; shared care responsibility; provided essential care and controlling illness symptoms once they engage in the family caregiving role. These rich findings provide insight into caregiving in the Thai family context, especially in how they interacted and helped each other in order to provide care for relatives with first episode psychosis. Understanding of this process can assist with the development of interventions to enhance family members\u27 abilities to take on the caregiver role and to provide effective care for their relatives with first-episode psychosis

Effects of Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Persoon Essential Oil Aromatherapy on Mood States and Salivary Cortisol Levels in Healthy Volunteers

Aromatherapy is one of the complementary therapies to improve health. The aromatic essential oils have been used in the treatment procedure through inhalation of essential oil vapor, massage, and herbal bathing. Litsea species are generally used in traditional medicine, and Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Persoon is a potent fumigant plant, used in cosmetics and foods as essence. The chemical composition of the essential oil of different parts of L. cubeba has been found to be varied. L. cubeba essential oil (LEO) is known for the treatment of cognition-associated discomforts. The current study assessed the impact of inhalation of LEO on mood states and salivary cortisol levels of healthy people. Fifteen healthy volunteers were involved in the study. The Profile of Mood States (POMS) Questionnaire and ELISA methods were employed to determine the mood states and salivary cortisol level, respectively. (-)-β-pinene, β-citral, cis- and trans-citral, citronellal, limonene, linalool, and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one were detected in LEO by GC-MS analysis. The heart rate and blood pressure were not affected significantly during LEO exposure. The inhalation of LEO significantly improved the total mood disturbance and reduced the confusion among the healthy human subjects. LEO inhalation reduced the salivary cortisol level at a notable level. The results of the current study warrant further studies on the beneficial effect of LEO aromatherapy in healthy and diseased subjects to uncover the therapeutic nature of the L. cubeba plant

Essential Oils, Phytoncides, Aromachology, and Aromatherapy—A Review

Chemical compounds from plants have been used as a medicinal source for various diseases. Aromachology is a unique field that studies the olfactory effects after inhaling aromatic compounds. Aromatherapy is a complementary treatment methodology involving the use of essential oils containing phytoncides and other volatile organic compounds for various physical and mental illnesses. Phytoncides possess an inherent medicinal property. Their health benefits range from treating stress, immunosuppression, blood pressure, respiratory diseases, anxiety, and pain to anti-microbial, anti-larvicidal, anti-septic, anti-cancer effects, etc. Recent advancements in aromatherapy include forest bathing or forest therapy. The inhalation of phytoncide-rich forest air has been proven to reduce stress-induced immunosuppression, normalize immune function and neuroendocrine hormone levels, and, thus, restore physiological and psychological health. The intricate mechanisms related to how aroma converts into olfactory signals and how the olfactory signals relieve physical and mental illness still pose enormous questions and are the subject of ongoing research. Aromatherapy using the aroma of essential oils/phytoncides could be more innovative and attractive to patients. Moreover, with fewer side effects, this field might be recognized as a new field of complementary medicine in alleviating some forms of physical and mental distress. Essential oils are important assets in aromatherapy, cosmetics, and food preservatives. The use of essential oils as an aromatherapeutic agent is widespread. Detailed reports on the effects of EOs in aromatherapy and their pharmacological effects are required to uncover its complete biological mechanism. This review is about the evolution of research related to phytoncides containing EOs in treating various ailments and provides comprehensive details from complementary medicine

Essential Oils, Phytoncides, Aromachology, and Aromatherapy—A Review

Chemical compounds from plants have been used as a medicinal source for various diseases. Aromachology is a unique field that studies the olfactory effects after inhaling aromatic compounds. Aromatherapy is a complementary treatment methodology involving the use of essential oils containing phytoncides and other volatile organic compounds for various physical and mental illnesses. Phytoncides possess an inherent medicinal property. Their health benefits range from treating stress, immunosuppression, blood pressure, respiratory diseases, anxiety, and pain to anti-microbial, anti-larvicidal, anti-septic, anti-cancer effects, etc. Recent advancements in aromatherapy include forest bathing or forest therapy. The inhalation of phytoncide-rich forest air has been proven to reduce stress-induced immunosuppression, normalize immune function and neuroendocrine hormone levels, and, thus, restore physiological and psychological health. The intricate mechanisms related to how aroma converts into olfactory signals and how the olfactory signals relieve physical and mental illness still pose enormous questions and are the subject of ongoing research. Aromatherapy using the aroma of essential oils/phytoncides could be more innovative and attractive to patients. Moreover, with fewer side effects, this field might be recognized as a new field of complementary medicine in alleviating some forms of physical and mental distress. Essential oils are important assets in aromatherapy, cosmetics, and food preservatives. The use of essential oils as an aromatherapeutic agent is widespread. Detailed reports on the effects of EOs in aromatherapy and their pharmacological effects are required to uncover its complete biological mechanism. This review is about the evolution of research related to phytoncides containing EOs in treating various ailments and provides comprehensive details from complementary medicine

Nursing students' and faculty members' experiences of online education during COVID-19 across Southeast Asia: a photovoice study

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused extraordinary disruptions to education systems globally, forcing a rapid switch from conventional to online education. Although some qualitative studies have been carried out exploring the online education experiences of nursing students and faculty members during the COVID-19 pandemic, to our knowledge, no study has used the Photovoice approach. Objectives: To explore the experiences of nursing students and faculty members as related to online education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design: A descriptive qualitative design using Photovoice was adopted. Setting: The study took place across five countries and one city in Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Hong Kong). Participants: Fifty-two nursing students and twenty-eight nursing faculty members who participated in online education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Each participant submitted one photo substantiated with written reflections. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Ethical approval was obtained from institution-specific ethics boards. Results: Three themes and eleven sub-themes emerged from the data. The three main themes were: 1) Psychological roadblocks to online education; 2) Developing resilience despite adversities; and 3) Online education: What worked and what did not