'Good Morning Fitfam': Top posts, hashtags and gender display on Instagram

Social networking sites are important platforms for visual self-presentation online. This article investigates how content producers present their gender identities on the social networking site, Instagram. We draw upon and develop Goffman’s analytic framework to understand the self-presentation techniques and styles users employ online. Conducting a visual content analysis of clean eating–related top posts, we examine how users deploy clean eating hashtags and how the architecture of Instagram constrains and enables certain identities around shared lifestyles and commercial interests. Our findings reveal the symbolic significance of hashtags for group membership and the degree to which gender identities on Instagram are configured around platform interfaces

First year nursing students’ experiences of social media during the transition to university: a focus group study

Background: Social media platforms are useful for creating communities, which can then be utilised as a mean for supportive, professional and social learning. Objective: To explore first year nursing student experiences with social media in supporting student transition and engagement into higher education. Design: Qualitative focus groups. Methods: Ten 1st yearBachelor of Nursing students were included in three face-to-face focus groups. Data were analysed using qualitative thematic content analysis. Results: Three key themes emerged that illustrates the experiences of transition and engagement of first year student nurses using social media at university. (1) Facilitating familiarity and collaboration at a safe distance, (2) promoting independent learning by facilitating access to resources, and (3) mitigating hazards of social media. Conclusion: This study has demonstrated the importance of social media in supporting informal peer–peer learning and support, augmenting online and offline relationships, and building professional identity as a nurse

Editorial: Defining, profiling and locating older people: an inner city Afro-Caribbean experience

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Moorley, C.R. and Corcoran, N.T. (2014), Editorial: Defining, profiling and locating older people: an inner city A fro‐C aribbean experience. J Clin Nurs, 23: 2083-2085. which has been published in final form at doi:10.1111/jocn.12487 This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. The group labelled ‘older people’ has attracted various definitions, opinions and perspectives across the globe (Victor 2010). The main reason for this is the way different cultures view ageing and the ageing process. The predominant opinion is that being ‘old’ is a biological and social context; for example, a calendar age is used to mark ageing, linking ‘old’ to biological ageing. There are also commonly held markers of old age, for example retirement age, state pension age or becoming a grandparent

Improving the physical health assessment of people with serious mental illness

Individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) die on average 20 years younger than the general population. The aim of the review described in this article was to examine relevant literature on the physical health of those with SMI and identify examples of physical health tools that have been evaluated. Four electronic databases were searched and areas identified included side effects of psychotropic medications, obesity, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, risky sexual behaviour, poor dietary intake and physical inactivity. The authors conclude that physical care of people with SMI can work well when physical and mental health care providers work in unison to facilitate an integrated care pathway. Additional training is required for mental health nurses in physical health care

A comparative study focusing on the clinical decision making processes of nurse practitioners versus medical doctors using scenarios within a secondary care environment

Subjects This study was conducted from May 2012 to January 2013. Aim To investigate the decision-making skills of secondary care nurse practitioners compared to those of medical doctors. Background A literature review was conducted, searching for articles published from 1990 to 2012. The review found that nurse practitioners are key to the modernisation of the National Health Service. Studies have shown that compared to doctors, nurse practitioners can be efficient and cost-effective in consultations. Design Qualitative research design. Methods The information processing theory and think-aloud approach were used to understand the cognitive processes of 10 participants (5 doctors and 5 nurse practitioners). One nurse practitioner was paired with one doctor from the same speciality, and they were compared using a structured scenario-based interview. To ensure that all critical and relevant cues were covered by the individual participating in the scenario, a reference model was used to measure the degree of successful diagnosis, management and treatment. Results The data were processed for 5 months, from July to November 2012. The two groups of practitioners differed in the number of cue acquisitions obtained in the scenarios. In our study, nurse practitioners took three minutes longer to complete the scenarios. Conclusion This study suggests that nurse practitioner consultations are comparable to those of medical doctors within a secondary care environment in terms of correct diagnoses and therapeutic treatments. The information processing theory highlighted that both groups of professionals had similar models for decision-making processes. SUMMARY STATEMENT Why is this research or review needed? • The purpose of this research was to highlight the similarities in decision-making skills between nurse practitioners and doctors during consultations. • To highlight to other multi-disciplinary teams that nurse practitioners are equally as capable as doctors in making diagnoses and prescribing further studies or treatment. • To help provide clarity on the role of the nurse practitioner. What are the key findings? • Nurse practitioners and medical doctors used similar cognitive decision-making skills. However, medical doctors were able to chunk more information and used less cue acquisition (history taking) to reach a diagnosis and thus finished their consultations quicker than nurse practitioners. • The more experienced (> 2 years) nurse practitioners were comparable to medical doctors in their consultations. • The two professions showed different consultation styles; nurse practitioners were more holistic, whilst medical doctors were more paternalistic. How should the findings be used to influence policy/practice/research/education? • This study may influence government policy, as it provides more clarity regarding the nurse practitioner’s role and responsibilities. • This study may affect caring practices, as multi-disciplinary teams may acknowledge the nurse practitioner’s abilities, assign them a variety of patients and organize opportunities for further training. • This study contributes to the number of studies that have confirmed that consultations performed by nurse practitioners are comparable to medical doctors’ consultations

Stroke among African-Caribbean women: lay beliefs of risks and causes.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate African Caribbean women's subjective accounts of stroke and how this impacted on their lives and identify beliefs attributed to the causes of stroke in this post stroke. BACKGROUND: In the UK, those from African or African Caribbean ethnicity are at an increased risk of stroke, and stroke risks are double that of the UK White population. This is because diabetes and hypertension are more common in those of African and African Caribbean ethnic groups. The main risk factors for stroke are high blood pressure, alongside obesity and overweight, poor diet and lack of physical activity. DESIGN: A qualitative study using interpretative phenomenological analysis. METHODS: Data were collected via semi-structured indepth interviews for six African Caribbean women. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to deconstruct the data and facilitate developing themes. RESULTS: Six semi-structured interviews were completed with women aged 47-85 years. Two themes emerged (1) the role of lifestyle and biological risk factors linked to the causes of stroke and (2) the role of spirituality, in identifying the lay beliefs and causes of stroke. CONCLUSION: Alternative explanations of the causes of stroke that include witchcraft, or wishing someone wrong suggests a lack of perceived control over stroke. This may suggest a focus on less visible risk factors such as hypertension, familial history or diabetes and will need inclusion in health promotion materials. Lay beliefs such as witchcraft can co-exist amicably alongside modern medicine, as long as they do not hinder access to medication, treatment or risk factor management of stroke. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: The results demonstrated that nursing care and health promotion materials should emphasise on obesity, overweight and management of these through diet and physical activity to prevent stroke occurring

Being Responsive: Promoting LGBTI Health and Well-being.

In the past decade there has been considerable positive change regarding the civil rights and liberties of those from lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) communities. For example, the decriminalisation of homosexuality, the recent recognition of marriage and civil partnerships in some European, American and North and South American and Australasian countries, as well as the passing of anti-discriminatory laws that support equality. While these positive changes are welcomed there are areas that remain a challenge for LGBTI individuals and communitie

Fathers’ presence in the birth room – implications for professional practice in the Caribbean

Aims or Objectives: This study explored the perspectives of Obstetricians and Registered Nurses/Midwives on the presence of expectant fathers in the birth room. Methods: A qualitative research design was used to explore perceptions and attitudes of Obstetricians and Registered Nurses/Midwives. Data were collected using five focus group and five key informant interviews and analysed using van Manen’s [2007. Phenomenology of practice. Phenomenology & Practice, 1(1), 11–30] interpretative phenomenological approach. Results: Four themes emerged (i) perception of the Obstetrician/Registered Nurse/Midwife, (ii) demands on the practitioner, (iii) support for staff and (iv) potential challenges for practice. While participants held positive views, the nature of the birth experience could have negative implications for themselves and expectant fathers. Poor communication could exacerbate negative perceptions in emergency settings. Conclusions: The presence of expectant fathers in the delivery room could have a positive impact on the birth experience for mothers, fathers and health professionals in the Caribbean. However, it could be challenging in emergencies

The condom imperative in anal sex – one size may not fit all: A qualitative descriptive study of men who have sex with men (MSM).

Aims and objectives: To explore men who have sex with mens’ views about condom use when having anal intercourse. Background: Internationally, health promotion campaigns utilise behavioural change strategies to support men who have sex with men to always use condoms when having anal sex with other men. The health promotion message given to this group is consistent and explicitly stated; use a condom every time for anal sex regardless of relationship status. Design: Qualitative analysis of data from a cohort of New Zealand men who have sex with men. Methods: A total of 960 useable questionnaires were completed; 571 online and 389 in hard copy. Qualitative data were analysed using a thematic data analytic process. Results: Three themes relating to condom use in men who have sex with men were identified. These are: “Safer sex is good sex”, “Condom use is good but …” and “I use condoms sometimes”. Conclusions: The range of responses towards condom use for anal sex in MSM in our sample, reveal this as a complex public health issue, with not all MSM willing to consistently use condoms. Relevance to clinical practice: It is important that nurses do not assume that all MSM are willing to use condoms for anal sex, and should create opportunities for MSM to raise any concerns about the use of condoms. In this way, nurses can assist in providing information that may help MSM to make decisions that will minimise risk of contracting infections associated with sexual activity