MAPS OF MARGINALIZATION: EXPLORING THE HEALTHCARE EXPERIENCES OF MEN AND WOMEN WITH FIBROMYALGIA

This qualitative study explored the retrospective and ongoing healthcare experiences of men and women who have a diagnosis of fibromyalgia (FM), a contested, chronic, and gendered condition of unknown origin. The research question was: How do men and women who have a diagnosis of FM experience interactions with healthcare providers? The study, which was epistemologically rooted in the critical theories of feminist poststructuralism and intersectionality, blended constructivist grounded theory with a participatory component, an arts-based research methodology called body-map storytelling. Thirty-five participants were recruited from the Greater Toronto Area and Kitchener-Waterloo. Ten participants completed in-depth interviews while 25 participants completed body maps within a series of focus group sessions. Through analysis of the verbal and visual data, four key findings emerged. First, participants experienced compromised healthcare due to structural barriers and unsupportive attitudes of healthcare providers. Second, participants’ experiences of compromised healthcare were impacted by systems of embodied differences. Third, participants resisted the system of compromised healthcare through strategies of self-management. Finally, participants described their experiences of helpful clinical practices, as well as their suggestions for improving FM healthcare services. The study contributes crucial information for the transformation of healthcare policies, programs and clinical practices for the FM population. As a form of applied research, the study has also helped give voice to and empower a marginalized population

Practice-based Qualitative Research: Participant Experiences of Walk-in Counselling and Traditional Counselling

Walk-in single session counselling is becoming a more widely used model for delivering mental health services across Ontario. This paper reports findings from the qualitative phase of a mixed method study, exploring the experiences of those attending walk-in counselling (WIC) model compared to the traditional service delivery model employing a wait list. We used a comparative case study design for the qualitative phase. Findings reveal that participant outcomes of the walk-in counselling model is influenced by accessibility, how a participant makes sense of the service, and the degree to which a participant is motivated and able to engage in counselling. WIC supports the mental health system by reducing wait lists associated with traditional service delivery models, and meeting the needs many people identify for immediate consultation. Other participants still perceive themselves as requiring ongoing counselling over time and involving in-depth exploration. This research supports health systems providing access to both models

The Image 1994: Soaring To The Top

Rowan College of New Jersey yearbook for the Class of 1994; 184 pages. Contents: Soaring to the Top p. 4, Seniors p. 17, Graduation p. 93, Faculty and Administration p. 98, Athletics p. 113, Organizations p. 150, Yearbook Staff p. 174.https://rdw.rowan.edu/yearbooks/1037/thumbnail.jp

The Summer Of The Pivot: Prioritizing Equity In Remote Instruction Through A Multidisciplinary Community Of Practice Initiative At A Canadian University

This article is about the multidisciplinary Community of Practice (CoP) initiative that was implemented in the summer of 2020- summer of the pivot- at a Canadian post-secondary institution to prepare faculty, staff, and students for remote teaching and learning while navigating pandemic conditions created by COVID-19. The CoP as a case study using Critical Theory as a theoretical framework examines the experiences of a collective group of faculty and staff from different disciplines leading a multidisciplinary university-wide initiative and the implications of the approach for promoting effective pedagogies for teaching and learning remotely. Findings based on feedback from workshop attendees, reflections from the CoP facilitators, and comments forwarded to senior administrators about the impact and the effectiveness of the program indicate positive results. It is recommended that although the CoP initiative was originally conceived as a response to the summer of the pivot, it should become an integral approach to promoting dialogue and innovative strategies to advance equitable practices in higher education by cultivating community networks. The findings serve to continue constructive dialogues and discussions about how universities can transition, pivot, and mobilize innovatively and creatively to prioritize equitable teaching and learning conditions that challenge the status quo. This requires a long-term commitment by higher education institutions to break away from historically normalized practices and invest in innovative ways to identify and meet the needs of various stakeholders

Guys Dont Have Breasts : The Lived Experience of Men Who Have BRCA Gene Mutations and Are at Risk for Male Breast Cancer

Men with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations are at increased risk of developing breast cancer and may have an indication for breast cancer screening using mammography. Since breast cancer is often viewed as a womans disease, visibilizing and understanding mens experience of having a BRCA mutation and specifically, of screening for breast cancer through mammography, were the objectives of this research study. The theoretical framework of interpretive phenomenology guided the process of data collection, coding, and analysis. Phenomenology is both a philosophy and research method which focuses on understanding the nature of experience from the perspectives of people experiencing a phenomenon, the essence of and commonalities among peoples experiences, and the ways in which people experience the world through their bodies. Data were collected via in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of 15 male participants recruited from the Male Oncology Research and Education (MORE) Program. This article reports findings about participants use of gender-specific language to describe their breasts, awareness of the ways in which their bodies changed overtime, and experiences of undergoing mammograms. This study is the first to describe men with BRCAs perceptions of their breasts and experiences of mammography in a high-risk cancer screening clinic. This study sheds light on an under-researched areabreasts and masculinitiesand could potentially lead to improved clinical understanding of mens embodied experiences of BRCA, as well as suggestions for improving the delivery of male breast cancer screening services