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Gaining Strength (gaining + strength)
Selected AbstractsReceiving power through confirmation: the meaning of close relatives for people who have been critically illJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 6 2007Åsa Engström Abstract Title.,Receiving power through confirmation: the meaning of close relatives for people who have been critically ill Aim., This paper is a report of a study to elucidate the meaning of close relatives for people who have been critically ill and received care in an intensive care unit. Background., Falling critically ill can bring about a difficult change in life. In previous reports such events are described as frightening experiences, and close relatives are described as an important source of support in this difficult situation. Method., A purposive sample of 10 adults, eight men and two women, narrated how they experienced their close relatives during and after the time they were critically ill. The data were collected in 2004. The interview texts were transcribed and interpreted using a phenomenological hermeneutic approach influenced by the philosophy of Ricoeur. Findings., One major theme was identified, experiencing confirmation, with six sub-themes: receiving explanations; a feeling of being understood; a feeling of safety; gaining strength and will-power; having possibilities and realizing their value. Close relatives served as tools for the person who was ill, facilitating better communication and an increased ability to do various things. Simultaneously, feelings of dependence on the close relatives were expressed. There were descriptions of loneliness and fear in the absence of close relatives and, in order to feel safe, the participants wanted their close relatives to stay near them. Conclusion., Close relatives are vital, as they are the ill person's motivation to stay alive and to continue the struggle. Their presence is of great importance for the ill person and must be facilitated by staff. [source] Interaction between caregivers and families expecting a malformed childJOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 1 2003Hanna Maijala MNSc RN Background. Earlier research has shown that the care of families expecting a malformed child should be intensified and that the topic is understudied. Aim. This study aimed at generating a practical nursing theory of interaction between caregivers and families expecting a malformed child, as experienced by families. Methods. A grounded theory study was undertaken at a university hospital, Finland. Data consisted of semi-structured interviews with 29 mothers and fathers, analysed using the constant comparative method. Findings. The interaction process starts with the confirmation of the diagnosis. It usually comes as a shock to the parents, and gives rise to questions about the nature of the malformation, family members' relationship with themselves, family relationships and relationships with people outside the family. These questions are crucial to the family's coping and form the core of interaction. Families' own coping strategies are either reinforced or undermined by caregivers' actions and are reflected in parents' expectations about caregivers, which in part account for their actions and experiences of interaction. The care system as an interactive environment is part of a process which results in the experiences of being helped or being left without help. The core of the interaction process comprises two dimensions: gaining strength and losing strength in relation to malformation issues. Conclusions. The findings of the study are consistent with earlier research and complement it by providing a detailed delineation of the interaction from the perspective of the family. They can be used to formulate recommendations for improving caregivers' interactive skills and awareness of the topic through training. The care system should be developed to ensure that families receive psychological support and that the family as a whole receives proper care. Consideration of the viewpoint of siblings is a challenge for further research. [source] Caregivers' experiences of interaction with families expecting a fetally impaired childJOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING, Issue 3 2004Hanna Maijala MNSc Background., On the basis of earlier research, caregivers' actions when interacting with clients should be developed. However, nursing research has focused little attention on the interaction between caregivers and families expecting a fetally impaired child. Aim., The study aimed at generating a practical family nursing theory of caregivers' interaction with families expecting a malformed child. Methods., A grounded theory study was undertaken at Tampere University Hospital in Finland in 1999,2000. Data consisted of semi-structured interviews with 22 (n = 22) nurses and doctors. The data were analysed using the constant comparative method. Results., The interaction process starts when a caregiver informs the parents of the fetal impairment. The process is influenced by caregivers' attitude towards issues related to the family's life situation. Caregivers' views of their job, and of human coping and cultural attitudes towards these issues are also of importance. These factors account for their goals in the interaction, which, in turn, underlie their actions. When the caregiver's interpretation is that the family accepted the help provided, the outcome of the interaction is satisfaction with having been able to help. Correspondingly, in the case of an opposite interpretation, the caregiver experiences strain caused by inadequacy of the help he/she is providing. The core of interaction consists of two dimensions: gaining strength and losing strength in relation to impairment issues. Conclusions., Caregivers' views of helpful interaction were consistent with earlier research on the subject, but the findings of this study showed that more attention should be focused on the family as a whole. Furthermore, caregivers rarely criticized their own actions, thus their interaction skills should be upgraded by focusing on systematic self-assessment through training. Nursing research deepening our understanding of why interaction fails is warranted. Relevance to clinical practice., The study results can be used in the family nursing practice as tools in reinforcing the caregivers' ability to helpful interaction with families expecting a fetally impaired child. The results may enhance caregivers' systematic self-evaluation and conscious use of the self. [source] Assessing online issue threats: issue contagions and their effect on issue prioritisationJOURNAL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS, Issue 4 2002W. Timothy Coombs Abstract To be effective, issue managers must develop a sophisticated understanding of the Internet's effect on issues management. Our current understanding is in an early phase of description. We know that the Internet makes it easier for publics to form so they can press an issue but precious little is known of how the dynamic operates. The issue contagion perspective is offered as an explanatory and prescriptive device. The idea of an issue contagion posits that the Internet provides a means for altering issue priorities, often with blinding speed. One route for change is altering the likelihood; a common evaluative tool for prioritising issues that assesses the probability of an issue gaining strength and requiring action. Through various Internet communication channels, attempts can be made to change the likelihood of an issue requiring attention and action , an issue manager will witness shifts in issue prioritisation. This paper details why likelihood is important, how it can be altered via the Internet, and the implications for issue managers. Copyright © 2002 Henry Stewart Publications. [source] | ||||||||||