Charlotte Beer

Pregnant women's attitudes towards alcohol consumption

BackgroundThere is uncertainty as to whether there is a safe threshold for drinking alcohol during pregnancy. We explored pregnant womens attitudes towards drinking alcohol in pregnancy and their attitudes towards sources of information about drinking in pregnancy following recent changes in UK government guidance.MethodsA qualitative study involving individual, semi-structured interviews with 20 pregnant women recruited from community organisations in the UK. Interview transcripts were analysed qualitatively using thematic analysis.ResultsMost women found information and advice about safe levels of drinking in pregnancy confusing and lacking in evidence and detail. Although most women considered that there were risks involved with drinking in pregnancy and these perceptions influenced their behaviour, only six women reported abstinence. Women reported being influenced by advice from family and friends and their experiences of previous pregnancies. Many had received no individual advice from general practitioners or midwives relating to drinking during pregnancy.ConclusionPregnant women wished to take responsibility for their own health and make choices based on informed advice. In order to do so, they require clear and consistent advice about safe levels of drinking from policy makers and health professionals. This is an important issue as women might drink socially during their pregnancy.

Comparing patients’ and clinicians’ perceptions of elective single embryo transfer using the attitudes to a twin IVF pregnancy scale (ATIPS)

BackgroundThis study evaluated a questionnaire originally developed for use with health professionals to explore and compare patients’ and clinicians’ perceptions of elective single embryo transfer and twin births.MethodsIVF clinicians and patients attending an independent Fertility clinic were surveyed using the Attitudes to a twin birth scale (ATIPS) comprising two subscales: attitudes to twins (A-Twin) and attitudes to elective single embryo transfer (A-SET). After refinement total sample scores showed both subscales were reliable with Cronbach’s alpha >0.8 and item-total correlations >0.35.ResultsQuestionnaires were completed by 100 female IVF patients and 17 IVF clinicians. A-Twin subscale scores indicated neither the IVF clinicians nor female IVF patients demonstrated very positive attitudes to a twin birth although the IVF female patients were more in favour (t = 5.29, n = 117, p = <0.001). Responses suggest both groups would benefit from increased information about the risks of a twin birth for the baby. First cycle IVF female patients were significantly more positive about eSET (z = 3.94, n = 100, p = <0.001). Clinicians perceive both their colleagues’ and female patients’ negativity towards eSET; suggesting a role for education.ConclusionsThis study found the ATIPS to be a reliable measure which could be useful in evaluating interventions to promote single embryo transfer.

Qualitative Research into Mental Health: Reflections on Epistemology

In 2005, the Qualitative Methods in Psychosocial Health Research Group (QMiPHR) at the University of Nottingham was established as a forum to bring together academics, researchers and practitioners with an interest in qualitative methods. The group has provided colleagues in nutrition, psychiatry, psychology, social work and sociology with a forum for discussion around the question of how qualitative research is able to contribute to understanding mental health and the development of evidence‐based treatment. As a group, we asked ourselves where we stood in relation to the use of qualitative methods in mental health. While we are unified in our view that qualitative research is important and under‐utilised in mental health research, our discussions uncovered a range of views on the underlying philosophical stance of what it means to be a qualitative researcher in mental health. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of our discussions and our view that as qualitative approaches have become more widely accepted they have largely been assimilated within the mainstream ‘medical model’ of research. In this paper, we call for researchers to re‐engage with the philosophical discussion on the role and purpose of qualitative enquiry as it applies to mental health, and for practitioners and decision‐makers to be aware of the implicit values underpinning research.

Here everyone is the same - A qualitative evaluation of participating in a Boccia (indoor bowling) group: Innovative practice

This qualitative study explored the impact of a Boccia (modified indoor bowls) group on the lives of people with dementia and their carers. Semi-structured interviews with people with dementia (N = 6), carers (N = 10) and the group organisers (N = 6) analysed using thematic analysis revealed four main themes. ‘The struggle of being a carer’ was relieved by participating in the group and benefitting from the caring support and social aspects of “This group is a family”. “The unique nature of Boccia” helped it to provide physical and mental stimulation as well as being an inclusive and enjoyable group. These aspects contributed to many participants describing the group as a Dementia friendly environment where “Here everyone is the same”: treated as equals, without feeling hindered or defined by dementia. Boccia appears an exciting initiative but further research is needed to see if these findings can be replicated with other groups.

Evaluating the role of a humanoid robot to support learning in children with profound and multiple disabilities

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify ways teachers might employ a robot to achieve learning objectives with pupils with intellectual disabilities and potential outcome measures. Design/methodology/approach – A series of five case studies where teacher-pupil dyads were observed during five planned video-recorded sessions with a humanoid robot. Engagement was rated in a classroom setting and during the last session with the robot. Video recordings were analysed for duration of engagement, teacher assistance and number of goals achieved. Findings – Teachers identified a wide range of learning objectives ranging from an appreciation of cause and effect to improving the pupils sense of direction. The robots role could be to reward behaviour, provide cues or provide an active element to learning. Rated engagement was significantly higher with the robot than in the classroom. Research limitations/implications – A robot with a range of functions that allowed it to be engaging and motivating for th...

Swimming for dementia: An exploratory qualitative study (innovative practice):

Swimming is a non-weight bearing form of exercise that can be enjoyable and promote physical fitness. This qualitative study investigated a local group established as part of a national dementia swimming initiative. Semi-structured interviews with people with dementia (N = 4), carers or companions (N = 4) and the organisers and facilitators of the group (N = 6) were analysed using thematic analysis. This revealed four main themes: (1) the pleasure of swimming and its benefits as a form of exercise and for building confidence and empowering participants, (2) the importance of insight and empathy in creating a safe and secure experience, (3) the impact of dementia and (4) how participants valued being part of a group ‘all in the same boat’. ‘Dementia friendly swimming’ appears to be a valuable form of exercise, but it requires considerable preparation and support to make it happen.

Mementos from Boots multisensory boxes – Qualitative evaluation of an intervention for people with dementia: Innovative practice:

This qualitative study explored a multisensory (including olfactory) intervention for people with dementia. Six themed boxes (e.g. Childhood) containing items chosen from the Boots archive designed to encourage conversation were used in weekly group sessions. Session participants were people with dementia and care staff from a local care home, a trained facilitator and archivists from Boots UK. Semi-structured interviews explored participants’ experiences of the sessions. Interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. The three major themes Engagement (subthemes: Inclusiveness; Emotional involvement; Factors that supported engagement), What’s in the box (subthemes: Contents stimulate memories; Mystery, variety and age of items; Value of olfactory stimuli), and A conversation starter (subtheme: Opportunity for self-expression) reveal the success of the intervention and the value of olfactory stimuli. Multisensory boxes including olfactory stimulation can be an engaging intervention with scope to refine it for people with dementia and their carers in the wider community.

Symptoms into Words: How Medical Patients Talk about Fatigue

Hugh Rickards comments here on Chapter 5, and Christopher D. Ward responds HR: Those who critique the ‘neurologization’ of CFS/ME are committing two errors. First, I think there is a ‘hidden agenda’ error. There is a hypothesis that CFS/ME is solely a form of cultural/systemic exchange between patients, their clinicians, families and society. I think this may be what some of the authors in this book believe but, instead of stating this clearly, they tend to mask it in terms of a critique of medicalisation. Of course the ‘cultural exchange’ idea applies to all illness but not as the sole explanation.

Predicting developmental outcomes in very preterm infants: Validity of a neonatal neurobehavioral assessment

Aim:  This study explored inter‐rater reliability, discriminative, construct and predictive validity of the Neurobehavioral Assessment of the Preterm Infant (NAPI) in a gestational‐age‐based cohort.

Predicting developmental outcomes in very preterm infants: validity of a neonatal neurobehavioral assessment.

Aim:  This study explored inter‐rater reliability, discriminative, construct and predictive validity of the Neurobehavioral Assessment of the Preterm Infant (NAPI) in a gestational‐age‐based cohort.