Jenny Mercer

Re‐negotiating the self through educational development: mature students’ experiences

A common outcome of entering post‐compulsory education as a mature aged learner appears to be development and growth of the self. However, this is often only viewed as an outcome or considered an added benefit, rather than an integral part of the academic process itself. This paper explores the relationship between academic growth and personal growth, arguing that they are not mutually exclusive categories, but inter‐related ones. Using a grounded theory approach it is suggested that a ‘re‐negotiation’ of the self was evident amongst a group of 31 mature students at different stages of their further and higher education courses. The reasons why this might be such a salient issue for mature aged cohorts is discussed.

Accommodating change: the process of growth and development amongst a mature student population

Abstract Many commentators have noted that mature students speak of education changing them. One of the most positive outcomes is a heightened sense of self-belief and confidence, which pervades other areas of their lives, not just the academic environment. It is argued within this paper that such research tends to offer a somewhat simplistic account of the change outcomes; rarely is space dedicated to a discourse about the processes involved in negotiating them. Drawing on concepts from life span psychology, the role of conflict or imbalance is explored. It is suggested that this is an inevitable and, indeed, necessary part of the process. Within this context, the nature of the conflicts experienced by mature students returning to education will be identified, together with a discussion of the ways in which they can be negotiated in order to facilitate development within the present academic environment

Individuals' experiences of, and responses to, a negative genetic test result for familial hypercholesterolaemia.

This study aimed to explore the responses of individuals who have undergone genetic testing for familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) where no genetic mutation has been identified. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 patients and interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was employed. This article describes three inter-related themes: ‘feeling in limbo’, ‘exploring causes of raised cholesterol’ and ‘contradictions in talk about diet’. Although participants generally adhered to medication and engaged in healthy lifestyles, the findings have clinical implications for how genetic test results are communicated.

Representing death in psychology: Hospice nurses’ lived experiences

Abstract This article describes the social representations of death held by two groups of nurses in a hospice setting. Focus group interviews, one with White British nurses and the other with Filipino nurses, were conducted in order to explore their representations of death and how these related to their daily lived work experience. An interpretative phenomenological analysis identified that super-ordinate themes of death are an emotional response and death is a wall to human intervention. Both cultural groups identified with these themes in different ways, and the authors contend that their representations of death functioned as symbolic coping strategies which protected participants within their work environment. It is suggested that such an approach could be usefully utilised within health psychology to provide a more context-dependent method of looking at individual or group experiences.

The experiences of university students with a mood disorder

Mood disorders typically materialise in young adulthood, a life-stage when many enter university. However, Padron notes that few studies have examined the experiences of students with a mood disorder. The current study offers a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with five university students who had personal experience of such a disorder. Participants described how symptoms affected their academic and social experiences of university based around the themes of: Social and family support, Powerful symptoms, Stigma and labelling, and Inter-professional dynamic. It was concluded that stigma and lack of information prevented students from obtaining sufficient support, whilst the addition of key staff such as a university-wide mental health trainer is identified as a potential way forward to help such students negotiate the higher education environment.

High-intensity interval training versus moderate-intensity steady-state training in UK cardiac rehabilitation programmes (HIIT or MISS UK): study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial and economic evaluation

Introduction Current international guidelines for cardiac rehabilitation (CR) advocate moderate-intensity exercise training (MISS, moderate-intensity steady state). This recommendation predates significant advances in medical therapy for coronary heart disease (CHD) and may not be the most appropriate strategy for the ‘modern’ patient with CHD. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) appears to be a safe and effective alternative, resulting in greater improvements in peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak). To date, HIIT trials have predominantly been proof-of-concept studies in the laboratory setting and conducted outside the UK. The purpose of this multicentre randomised controlled trial is to compare the effects of HIIT and MISS training in patients with CHD attending UK CR programmes. Methods and analysis This pragmatic study will randomly allocate 510 patients with CHD to 8 weeks of twice weekly HIIT or MISS training at 3 centres in the UK. HIIT will consist of 10 high-intensity (85–90% peak power output (PPO)) and 10 low-intensity (20–25% PPO) intervals, each lasting 1 min. MISS training will follow usual care recommendations, adhering to currently accepted UK guidelines (ie, >20 min continuous exercise at 40–70% heart rate reserve). Outcome measures will be assessed at baseline, 8 weeks and 12 months. The primary outcome for the trial will be change in VO2 peak as determined by maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Secondary measures will assess physiological, psychosocial and economic outcomes. Ethics and dissemination The study protocol V.1.0, dated 1 February 2016, was approved by the NHS Health Research Authority, East Midlands—Leicester South Research Ethics Committee (16/EM/0079). Recruitment will start in August 2016 and will be completed in June 2018. Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at national and international scientific meetings and are expected to inform future national guidelines for exercise training in UK CR. Trial registration number NCT02784873; pre-results.

The therapeutic potential of a prison-based animal programme in the UK

Purpose – Much evidence suggests that animals can serve as therapeutic tools for those working with vulnerable individuals. This exploratory study analysed the accounts of staff and offenders involved in a UK prison-based animal programme. The purpose of this paper was to explore the perceived impact of such a programme with male offenders. Design/methodology/approach – Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three service users and five staff members. Participants were drawn from a special unit in a category B prison which housed an animal centre. Findings – A thematic analysis identified four salient themes: a sense of responsibility, building trust, enhanced communication, and impact on mood and behaviour. Findings revealed that offenders seemed to gain particular benefit from interacting with the two Labrador dogs which were present on the wing. Practical implications – The study highlights the therapeutic potential of the presence of animals in prisons. Their implications of this for forensic ...

Experiences of physical activity: A phenomenological study of individuals with cystic fibrosis

Although extensive research has investigated the benefits of physical activity in cystic fibrosis, minimal exploration of the experiences for individuals from a qualitative, phenomenological perspective has been carried out. The aim of this study was to explore the subjective experiences of physical activity for individuals with cystic fibrosis. The health-care team, at an Adult Cystic Fibrosis Unit in the United Kingdom, recruited 12 participants to take part. Interview data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. A central theme of ‘self-monitoring’ emerged from the accounts and was embedded in the three super-ordinate themes.

Experiencing Term-Time Employment as a Non-Traditional Aged University Student: A Welsh Study.

Abstract Engaging in term-time employment appears to be becoming a common feature of contemporary UK student life. This study examined the ways in which a cohort of full-time non-traditional aged students negotiated paid employment whilst pursuing a full-time higher education course in Wales. Taking a qualitative approach to explore this further, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 14 non-traditional age students, and analysed using thematic analysis. Findings indicated that participants felt compromises had to be made in both academic and social spheres in order to accommodate conflicting time demands; there was a desire to maintain the quality of life experienced before entering university; and the impact of working and studying presented challenges for both their academic engagement and personal relationships. These findings will be discussed in relation to the extant literature, and debate around how higher educational institutions may seek to address and acknowledge these issues is considered.