Families of children in residential care:characteristics, obstacles and facilitators to intervention in the perspective of professionals

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Prematuridade e transição para a parentalidade. Vantagens no recurso ao software Nvivo num estudo grounded theory

No presente artigo salientamos a pertinência da utilização do software NVivo na análise de dados qualitativos, num estudo que tinha como objetivo aprofundar o impacto da prematuridade no processo de transição para parentalidade. Este estudo envolveu 20 casais, tendo sido realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas aos pais e mães em dois momentos da sua trajetória: no período de internamento dos seus bebés e 3 meses após a alta, num total de 76 entrevistas. A análise dos dados, orientada pelos princípios da grounded theory e suportada pelo software NVIVO, conduziu à identificação das dimensões centrais neste processo, dos aspetos particulares presentes nas vivências das mães e dos pais e ainda esclarecer acerca relação entre as dimensões ao longo do período estudado. O desenvolvimento de um modelo compreensivo da vivência dos pais e das mães nestas circunstâncias potencia a pertinência das implicações práticas, nomeadamente no que diz respeito ao apoio psicológico aos pais nestas circunstâncias.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A pertinência da investigação qualitativa no contexto dos Cuidados Paliativos: contributo para o conhecimento da experiência humana e avaliação do impacto da intervenção psicológica

info:eu-repo/semantics/draf

Trauma sensitive framework for organizations assessment: development and validity of a scale

Background. Trauma-sensitive approaches are usually based on general knowledge of the negative effects of traumatic stress, particularly in high risk contexts or where the impact is higher. However, we still need a robust and complete framework for organizational assessment.Objective. This presentation aims to present an instrument and framework for organizational trauma sensitive care assessment and promotion, with four transversal dimensions, adjustable to multiple contexts.Method. Based on a four dimensions model: training, policies and practices, physical environment and supervision, this team developed a scale firstly applied to residential care and schools. This approach provided a consolidated version composed of 42 Likert items adjusted to most contexts and adaptable to include extra items saturating context-specific topics. This scale was applied to 130 workers from the welfare system in Portugal.Results. Results for mean overall results are 136,3 (SD=30,0) internal consistency provides a Cronbach alpha of 0,96 for the whole scale, ranging from 0,87 to 0,97. The exploratory factor analysis has almost perfect fit with the expected structure, except for the training factor where some items saturated on policies and practices factor. The overall structure explains 58,7% of variance.Conclusions. There is good evidence of both reliability and validity of the scale. This scale will be useful for deep diagnosis of organizations’ needs and to evaluate effects of trauma-sensitive programs and for organizations' trauma sensitive care certification. Another advantage is its adaptability for several contexts like the ongoing efforts in refugees support organizations or health related hospital services.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Public knowledge and perceptions on family foster care: contributes to the development of foster care in Portugal

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Improving intervention with the families in portuguese residential care: Evaluation of a training process with professionals

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Trauma-sensitive residential care: perspectives of Portuguese professionals to spark change

Despite global pressure for deinstitutionalization of children in care, and recent legislative changes, Portugal remains a country with very high prevalence of residential care amongst at-risk children. These children were exposed to multiple traumatic events that can disrupt development. Thus, the expansion toward a truly sensitive approach to trauma is valuable, as it aims to increase awareness of its effects and ensure the best empathic care, providing a safe and healthy environment, with consequences also for the wellbeing of residential care staff. The present study aims to characterize the quality of residential care environments in Portugal through the lens of trauma-sensitive care, and to map professionals understanding of main domains, priorities and obstacles to change in this area. The study adopts a mixed method design, reporting on the perceptions of 85 professionals. Main findings show that professionals demonstrate better perceptions regarding physical environment but consider training and supervision as fragile dimensions. Qualitative data bring detail to these views, reinforcing the call for training to all staff and for continuous support to demanding job roles. This exploratory study highlights major aspects that urge to ensure trauma-sensitive residential care – supportive of professionals, to meet the needs of children and youth.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Foster care process: challenges and coping of youth and families

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Development and psychometric properties of a new questionnaire for assessing Mental Health Literacy in young people

Objectives: Several instruments assess constructs related to mental health literacy and to the stigma associated with mental health problems. However, most of them have conceptualisations that may limit the assessment of the mental health literacy concept in a more up-to-date and comprehensive perspective. Furthermore, some of the instruments’ structure may limit their use in large scale samples, in a short period of time and with repeated measures. This article presents the development of the Mental Health Literacy questionnaire (MHLq) and the studies to assess its psychometric properties. Methods: After item-pool generation, content validity was assessed by experts and a think aloud procedure. The MHLq was tested in two samples of students (study 1 n=239; aged between 12 and 15 years old; study 2 n=737; aged between 11 and 17 years old) to determine its psychometric properties. Results: Factor analysis procedures favoured a three-factor solution (with 33 items) of the MHLq. The questionnaire showed good internal consistency (total score α=0.84; Factor 1 first aid skills and help seeking - α=0.79; Factor 2 knowledge/stereotypes - α=0.78; Factor 3 self-help strategies - α=0.72); and excellent test-retest reliability, the ICC for the total score of MHLq was 0.88 and for the three dimensions of MHLq was 0.80 (Factor 1), 0.90 (Factor 2) and 0.86 (Factor 3). Conclusions: The MHLq is a practical, valid and reliable tool for identifying gaps in knowledge, beliefs and behavioural intentions, in large samples, allowing the development and evaluation of interventions aimed at promoting mental health in young people.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio