Showing papers on "Qualitative research published in 2021"

Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Abstract: The aim of interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) is to explore in detail how participants are making sense of their personal and social world, and the main currency for an IPA study is the meanings particular experiences, events, states hold for participants. The approach is phenomenological (see Chapter 3) in that it involves detailed examination of the participant’s lifeworld; it attempts to explore personal experience and is concerned with an individual’s personal perception or account of an object or event, as opposed to an attempt to produce an objective statement of the object or event itself. At the same time, IPA also emphasizes that the research exercise is a dynamic process with an active role for the researcher in that process. One is trying to get close to the participant’s personal world, to take, in Conrad’s (1987) words, an ‘insider’s perspective’, but one cannot do this directly or completely. Access depends on, and is complicated by, the researcher’s own conceptions; indeed, these are required in order to make sense of that other personal world through a process of interpretative activity. Thus, a two-stage interpretation process, or a double hermeneutic, is involved. The participants are trying to make sense of their world; the researcher is trying to make sense of the participants trying to make sense of their world. IPA is therefore intellectually connected to hermeneutics and theories of interpretation (Packer and Addison, 1989; Palmer, 1969; Smith, in press; see also Chapter 2 this volume). Different interpretative stances are possible, and IPA combines an empathic hermeneutics with a questioning hermeneutics. Thus, consistent with its phenomenological origins, IPA is concerned with trying to understand what it is like, from the point of view of the participants, to take their side. At the same time, a detailed IPA analysis can also involve asking critical questions of the texts from participants, such as the following: What is the person trying to achieve here? Is something leaking out here that wasn’t intended? Do I have a sense of something going on here that maybe the participants themselves are less aware of?

Second Language Research: Methodology and Design

Abstract: Contents: Preface. Introduction to Research. Issues Related to Data Gathering. Common Data Collection Measures. Research Variables, Validity, and Reliability. Designing a Quantitative Study. Qualitative Research. Classroom Research. Coding. Analyzing Quantitative Data. Concluding and Reporting Research. Appendices.

The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project

Abstract: PART ONE: TAKING THE LEAP INTO THE RESEARCH WORLD The challenge of tackling a research project So what is this thing called research and why do it? The need for research knowledge The potential of research knowledge Delving into the 'construct' of research Ontology and epistemology Competing positions The position of the reflexive researcher Getting help along the way The structure of the book How to get the most out of the book PART TWO: GETTING STARTED On your mark, get set, go! Navigating the process Understanding your programme Getting set up Getting the right advice Managing the workload Staying on course Finding a balance Dealing with 'crisis' PART THREE: STRIVING FOR INTEGRITY IN THE RESEARCH PROCESS Power, politics, ethics and research integrity Understanding the power game Credibility: Integrity in the production of knowledge Working with appropriate indicators Managing subjectivities Capturing 'truth' Approaching methods with consistency Making relevant and appropriate arguments Providing accurate and verifiable research accounts Ethics: Integrity and the 'researched' Legal obligations Moral obligations Ethical obligations Ethics approval processes Integrity indicators and checklist PART FOUR: DEVELOPING YOUR RESEARCH QUESTION The importance of good questions Defining your topic Curiosity and creativity Looking for inspiration Practicalities From interesting topics to researchable questions Narrowing in The need to redefine The hypothesis dilemma Hypothesis defined Appropriateness Characteristics of good questions PART FIVE: CRAFTING A RESEARCH PROPOSAL The role of the proposal Demonstrating merits of the research question Demonstrating merits of the proposed methods Demonstrating merits of the researcher Elements of the proposal Writing a winning proposal Following guidelines Writing purposively Drafting and redrafting Obstacles and challenges When your design doesn't fit proposal requirements When your design is emergent When want to or need to change direction/method PART SIX: WORKING WITH LITERATURE The importance of literature The role of literature Sourcing relevant literature Types of literature Calling on 'experts' Honing your search skills Managing the literature Assessing relevance Being systematic Annotating references Writing a the formal 'literature review' Purpose Coverage The writing process PART SEVEN: DESIGNING A RESEARCH PLAN Methodology, methods and tools The relationship between methodology and methods Moving from questions to answers Finding a path Hitting the target Getting down to the nitty gritty Fundamental questions Emergent methodological design PART EIGHT: UNDERSTANDING METHODOLOGIES: QUANTITATIVE, QUALITATIVE AND 'MIXED' APPROACHES Understanding the quantitative/ qualitative divide The quantitative tradition Scientific/ hypothetico-deductive methods Experimental design Exploring a population The qualitative tradition Credibility in qualitative studies Ethnography Phenomenology Ethnomethodology Understanding feminist approaches Mixed methodology Arguments for mixed methodology Perspectives and strategies Challenges and obstacles PART NINE: UNDERSTANDING METHODOLOGIES: EVALUATIVE, ACTION-ORIENTED AND EMANCIPATORY STRATEGIES Research that attempts to drive change Evaluation research Summative/outcome evaluation Formative/process evaluation The politics of evaluative research Negotiating real-world challenges of evaluative research Action research The scope of action research Key elements of action research Challenges associated with action research Emancipatory research Participatory action research Critical ethnography Issues in emancipatory research PART TEN: SEEKING 'RESPONDENTS' Who holds the answer? Samples: Selecting elements of a population Opportunities in working with a 'sample' Sample selection Random samples Non-random samples Key informants: Working with experts and insiders Opportunities in working with key informants Informant selection Cases: Delving into detail Opportunities in working with cases Case selection PART ELEVEN: DIRECT DATA COLLECTION - SURVEYS AND INTERVIEWS The challenge of getting data directly from the source Surveying Options and possibilities Issues and complexities The survey process The survey instrument Interviewing Options and possibilities Issues and complexities The interview process Conducting your interview PART TWELVE: INDIRECT DATA COLLECTION: WORKING WITH OBSERVATIONS AND EXISTING TEXT The challenge of gathering indirect data Observation Options and possibilities Issues and complexities The observation process Receiving, reflecting, recording, authenticating Working with existing 'text' Options and possibilities Issues and complexities The process of textual analysis Delving into documents, history, artefacts, and secondary data PART THIRTEEN: ANALYSING QUANTITATIVE DATA Moving from raw data to significant findings Keeping a sense of the overall project Doing statistical analysis Managing data and defining variables Data management Understanding variables - cause and effect Understanding variables - measurements scales Descriptive statistics Measuring central tendency Measuring dispersion Measuring the shape of the data Inferential statistics Questions suitable to inferential statistics Statistical significance Understanding and selecting the right statistical test Presenting quantitative data PART FOURTEEN: ANALYZING QUALITATIVE DATA The promise of qualitative analysis Keeping the bigger picture in focus From raw data to significant findings QDA software The logic of QDA Balancing creativity and focus Moving between inductive and deductive reasoning The methods of QDA Identifying biases/ noting impressions Reducing and coding into themes Looking for patterns and interconnections Mapping and building themes Developing theory Drawing conclusions Specific QDA strategies Presenting quantitative data PART FIFTEEN: THE CHALLENGE OF WRITING UP The writing challenge Research as communication Knowing and engaging your audience Finding an appropriate structure and style The writing process Writing as analysis Constructing your 'story' Developing each section/ chapter From first to final draft The need for exposure Attending conferences Giving presentations Writing and submitting articles The final word

Can I use TA? Should I use TA? Should I not use TA? Comparing reflexive thematic analysis and other pattern‐based qualitative analytic approaches

Abstract: Thematic analysis methods, including the reflexive approach we have developed, are widely used in counselling and psychotherapy research, as are other approaches that seek to develop ‘patterns’ (themes, categories) across cases. Without a thorough grounding in the conceptual foundations of a wide variety of across‐case analytic approaches, and qualitative research more broadly—something rarely offered in counselling training—it can be difficult to understand how these differ, where they overlap, and which might be appropriate for a particular research project. Our aim in this paper is to support researchers in counselling and psychotherapy to select an appropriate across‐case approach for their research, and to justify their choice, by discussing conceptual and procedural differences and similarities between reflexive thematic analysis (TA) and four other across‐case approaches. Three of these are also widely used in counselling and psychotherapy research—qualitative content analysis, interpretative phenomenological analysis and grounded theory. The fourth—discourse analysis—is less widely used but importantly exemplifies the critical qualitative research tradition. We contextualise our comparative approach by highlighting the diversity within TA. TA is best thought of as a spectrum of methods—from types that prioritise coding accuracy and reliability to reflexive approaches like ours that emphasise the inescapable subjectivity of data interpretation. Although reflexive TA provides the point of comparison for our discussion of other across‐case approaches, our aim is not to promote reflexive TA as ‘best’. Rather, we encourage the knowing selection and use of analytic methods and methodologies in counselling and psychotherapy research.

Flexible Coding of In-depth Interviews: A Twenty-first-century Approach:

Abstract: Qualitative coding procedures emanating from grounded theory were limited by technologies of the 1960s: colored pens, scissors, and index cards. Today, electronic documents can be flexibly stored, ...

The online survey as a qualitative research tool

Abstract: Fully qualitative surveys, which prioritise qualitative research values, and harness the rich potential of qualitative data, have much to offer qualitative researchers, especially given online deli...

Why do children and adolescents (not) seek and access professional help for their mental health problems? A systematic review of quantitative and qualitative studies

Abstract: Mental health disorders in children and adolescents are highly prevalent yet undertreated. A detailed understanding of the reasons for not seeking or accessing help as perceived by young people is crucial to address this gap. We conducted a systematic review (PROSPERO 42018088591) of quantitative and qualitative studies reporting barriers and facilitators to children and adolescents seeking and accessing professional help for mental health problems. We identified 53 eligible studies; 22 provided quantitative data, 30 provided qualitative data, and one provided both. Four main barrier/facilitator themes were identified. Almost all studies (96%) reported barriers related to young people’s individual factors, such as limited mental health knowledge and broader perceptions of help-seeking. The second most commonly (92%) reported theme related to social factors, for example, perceived social stigma and embarrassment. The third theme captured young people’s perceptions of the therapeutic relationship with professionals (68%) including perceived confidentiality and the ability to trust an unknown person. The fourth theme related to systemic and structural barriers and facilitators (58%), such as financial costs associated with mental health services, logistical barriers, and the availability of professional help. The findings highlight the complex array of internal and external factors that determine whether young people seek and access help for mental health difficulties. In addition to making effective support more available, targeted evidence-based interventions are required to reduce perceived public stigma and improve young people’s knowledge of mental health problems and available support, including what to expect from professionals and services.

The pursuit of quality in grounded theory

Abstract: This article introduces grounded theory and places this method in its historical context when 1960s quantitative researchers wielded harsh criticisms of qualitative research The originators of gro

Impact of COVID-19 related social support service closures on people with dementia and unpaid carers: a qualitative study

Abstract: Accessing social care and social support services is key to support the well-being of people living with dementia (PLWD) and unpaid carers. COVID-19 has caused sudden closures or radical modificati...

Interpretive description: A flexible qualitative methodology for medical education research

Abstract: Background Qualitative research approaches are increasingly integrated into medical education research to answer relevant questions that quantitative methodologies cannot accommodate. However, researchers have found that traditional qualitative methodological approaches reflect the foundations and objectives of disciplines whose aims are recognizably different from the medical education domain of inquiry (Thorne, 2016, Interpretive description. New York, NY: Routledge). Interpretive description (ID), a widely used qualitative research method within nursing, offers an accessible and theoretically flexible approach to analysing qualitative data within medical education research. ID is an appropriate methodological alternative for medical education research, as it can address complex experiential questions while producing practical outcomes. It allows for the advancement of knowledge surrounding educational experience without sacrificing methodological integrity that long-established qualitative approaches provide. Purpose In this paper, we present interpretive description as a useful research methodology for qualitative approaches within medical education. We then provide a toolkit for medical education researchers interested in incorporating interpretive description into their study design. We propose a coherent set of strategies for identifying analytical frameworks, sampling, data collection, analysis, rigour and the limitations of ID for medical education research. We conclude by advocating for the interpretive description approach as a viable and flexible methodology for medical education research.

Document analysis in health policy research: the READ approach

Abstract: Document analysis is one of the most commonly used and powerful methods in health policy research. While existing qualitative research manuals offer direction for conducting document analysis, there has been little specific discussion about how to use this method to understand and analyse health policy. Drawing on guidance from other disciplines and our own research experience, we present a systematic approach for document analysis in health policy research called the READ approach: (1) ready your materials, (2) extract data, (3) analyse data and (4) distil your findings. We provide practical advice on each step, with consideration of epistemological and theoretical issues such as the socially constructed nature of documents and their role in modern bureaucracies. We provide examples of document analysis from two case studies from our work in Pakistan and Niger in which documents provided critical insight and advanced empirical and theoretical understanding of a health policy issue. Coding tools for each case study are included as Supplementary Files to inspire and guide future research. These case studies illustrate the value of rigorous document analysis to understand policy content and processes and discourse around policy, in ways that are either not possible using other methods, or greatly enrich other methods such as in-depth interviews and observation. Given the central nature of documents to health policy research and importance of reading them critically, the READ approach provides practical guidance on gaining the most out of documents and ensuring rigour in document analysis.

Zoom Exhaustion & Fatigue Scale

Abstract: In 2020, video conferencing went from a novelty to a necessity, and usage skyrocketed due to shelter-in-place throughout the world. However, there is a scarcity of academic research on the psychological effects and mechanisms of video conferencing, and scholars need tools to understand this drastically scaled usage. The current paper presents the development and validation of the Zoom Exhaustion & Fatigue Scale (ZEF Scale). In one qualitative study, we developed a set of interview prompts based on previous work on media use. Those interviews resulted in the creation of 49 survey items that spanned several dimensions. We administered those items in a survey of 395 respondents and used factor analyses to reduce the number of items from 49 to 15, revealing five dimensions of fatigue: general, social, emotional, visual, and motivational fatigue. Finally, in a scale validation study based on 2724 respondents, we showed the reliability of the overall scale and the five factors and demonstrated scale validity in two ways. First, frequency, duration, and burstiness of Zoom meetings were associated with a higher level of fatigue. Second, fatigue was associated with negative attitudes towards the Zoom meetings. We discuss future directions for validation and expansion of the scale.

Challenges Faced by Healthcare Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Inquiry From Bangladesh.

Abstract: Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused increasing challenges for healthcare professionals globally. However, there is a dearth of information about these challenges in many developing countries, including Bangladesh. This study aims to explore the challenges faced by healthcare professionals (doctors and nurses) during COVID-19 in Bangladesh. Methods: We conducted qualitative research among healthcare professionals of different hospitals and clinics in Khulna and Dhaka city of Bangladesh from May 2020 to August 2020. We conducted 15 in-depth telephone interviews using a snowball sampling technique. We used an in-depth interview guide as data were collected, audiotaped, and transcribed. The data were analyzed both manually and using QDA Miner software as we used thematic analysis for this study. Results: Seven themes emerged from the study. Participants experienced higher workload, psychological distress, shortage of quality personal protective equipment (PPE), social exclusion/stigmatization, lack of incentives, absence of coordination, and proper management during their service. These healthcare professionals faced difficulty coping with these challenges due to situational and organizational factors. They reported of faith in God and mutual support to be the keys to adapt to adversities. Adequate support to address the difficulties faced by healthcare professionals is necessary for an overall improved health outcome during the pandemic. Conclusion: The findings highlight the common challenges faced by healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 outbreak. This implies the need to support adequate safety kits, protocols, and support for both physical and mental health of the healthcare professionals.

It's More Complicated Than It Seems: Virtual Qualitative Research in the COVID-19 Era

Abstract: COVID-19 has necessitated innovation in many parts of our lives and qualitative research is no exception, as in-person qualitative data collection has been complicated by the constraints of social ...

Exploring nurses' perception of taking care of patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19): A qualitative study

Abstract: Aim Healthcare staff, especially nurses, who are in the frontline of caring of patients with COVID‐19 have valuable experiences about taking care of these patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was exploring nurses' perception of taking care of patients with COVID‐19. Design This qualitative study was performed using the conventional content analysis method. Methods 13 nurses who were taking care of patients with COVID‐19 were selected using purposeful sampling in the Lorestan University of Medical Sciences. The data were collected through telephone interviews and analysed based on the Lundman and Graneheim's approach. Results Qualitative analysis of the data revealed 3 sub‐categories, 8 categories and 3 main categories including care erosion, nursing professional growth and necessities. Relevance to clinical practice Improve the work situation of the nurses during care of COVID‐19 patients, which can directly or indirectly improve the quality of care of these patients.

A Systematic Methodology for Doing Qualitative Research

Abstract: The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science is in the enviable position of being a go-to journal for many readers seeking useable insights for solving practical problems in managing modern organizati...

Psychosocial impact on frontline health and social care professionals in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative interview study.

Abstract: Objectives To explore the psychosocial well-being of health and social care professionals working during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design This was a qualitative study deploying in-depth, individual interviews, which were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was used for coding. Participants This study involved 25 participants from a range of frontline professions in health and social care. Setting Interviews were conducted over the phone or video call, depending on participant preference. Results From the analysis, we identified 5 overarching themes: communication challenges, work-related stressors, support structures, personal growth and individual resilience. The participants expressed difficulties such as communication challenges and changing work conditions, but also positive factors such as increased team unity at work, and a greater reflection on what matters in life. Conclusions This study provides evidence on the support needs of health and social care professionals amid continued and future disruptions caused by the pandemic. It also elucidates some of the successful strategies (such as mindfulness, hobbies, restricting news intake, virtual socialising activities) deployed by health and social care professionals that can support their resilience and well-being and be used to guide future interventions.

Long COVID and the role of physical activity: a qualitative study.

Abstract: Objectives: To explore the lived experience of long COVID with particular focus on the role of physical activity. Design: Qualitative study using semistructured interviews. Participants: 18 people living with long COVID (9 men, 9 women; aged between 18–74 years; 10 white British, 3 white Other, 3 Asian, 1 black, 1 mixed ethnicity) recruited via a UK-based research interest database for people with long COVID. Setting: Telephone interviews with 17 participants living in the UK and 1 participant living in the USA. Results: Four themes were generated. Theme 1 describes how participants struggled with drastically reduced physical function, compounded by the cognitive and psychological effects of long COVID. Theme 2 highlights challenges associated with finding and interpreting advice about physical activity that was appropriately tailored. Theme 3 describes individual approaches to managing symptoms including fatigue and ‘brain fog’ while trying to resume and maintain activities of daily living and other forms of exercise. Theme 4 illustrates the battle with self-concept to accept reduced function (even temporarily) and the fear of permanent reduction in physical and cognitive ability. Conclusions: This study provides insight into the challenges of managing physical activity alongside the extended symptoms associated with long COVID. Findings highlight the need for greater clarity and tailoring of physical activity-related advice for people with long COVID and improved support to resume activities important to individual well-being.

COVID-19 Vaccine Decision-making Factors in Racial and Ethnic Minority Communities in Los Angeles, California.

Abstract: Importance The COVID-19 pandemic has had disproportionate effects on racial and ethnic minority communities, where preexisting clinical and social conditions amplify health and social disparities. Many of these communities report lower vaccine confidence and lower receipt of the COVID-19 vaccine. Understanding factors that influence the multifaceted decision-making process for vaccine uptake is critical for narrowing COVID-19–related disparities. Objective To examine factors that members of multiethnic communities at high risk for COVID-19 infection and morbidity report as contributing to vaccine decision-making. Design, Setting, and Participants This qualitative study used community-engaged methods to conduct virtual focus groups from November 16, 2020, to January 28, 2021, with Los Angeles County residents. Potential participants were recruited through email, video, and telephone outreach to community partner networks. Focus groups were stratified by self-identified race and ethnicity as well as age. Transcripts were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Main Outcomes and Measures Themes were categorized by contextual, individual, and vaccine-specific influences using the World Health Organization’s Vaccine Hesitancy Matrix categories. Results A total of 13 focus groups were conducted with 70 participants (50 [71.4%] female) who self-identified as American Indian (n = 17 [24.3%]), Black/African American (n = 17 [24.3%]), Filipino/Filipina (n = 11 [15.7%]), Latino/Latina (n = 15 [21.4%]), or Pacific Islander (n = 10 [14.3%]). A total of 39 participants (55.7%) were residents from high-poverty zip codes, and 34 (48.6%) were essential workers. The resulting themes included policy implications for equitable vaccine distribution: contextual influences (unclear and unreliable information, concern for inequitable access or differential treatment, references to mistrust from unethical research studies, accessibility and accommodation barriers, eligibility uncertainty, and fears of politicization or pharmaceutical industry influence); social and group influences (inadequate exposure to trusted messengers or information, altruistic motivations, medical mistrust, and desire for autonomy); and vaccination-specific influences (need for vaccine evidence by subpopulation, misconceptions on vaccine development, allocation ambiguity, vaccination safety preferences, the importance of perceiving vaccine equity, burden of vaccine scheduling, cost uncertainty, and desire for practitioner recommendation). Conclusions and Relevance In this qualitative study, participants reported a number of factors that affected their vaccine decision-making, including concern for inequitable vaccine access. Participants endorsed policy recommendations and strategies to promote vaccine confidence. These results suggest that support of informed deliberation and attainment of vaccine equity will require multifaceted, multilevel policy approaches that improve COVID-19 vaccine knowledge, enhance trust, and address the complex interplay of sociocultural and structural barriers to vaccination.

When face-to-face interviews are not possible: tips and tricks for video, telephone, online chat, and email interviews in qualitative research.

Abstract: Face-to-face interviews have long been the norm for conducting qualitative interviews in healthcare research. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the need to explore alternative methods. This, along with the swift digitalization of healthcare, has led to video, telephone, and online interactions becoming increasingly used. The use of new techniques to carry out interviews through video, telephone, and online applications all come with benefits and drawbacks. In this article, three ways of collecting data through qualitative interviews are described and their uses exemplified through a project investigating the impact of a transition program for adolescents with congenital heart disease.

Qualitative research in six sport and exercise psychology journals between 2010 and 2017: An updated and expanded review of trends and interpretations

Abstract: Descriptive reviews of qualitative research across two decades – 1990–1999 (Culver, D., Gilbert, W., & Trudel, P. (2003). A decade of qualitative research published in sport psychology journals: 19...

Digesting the Red Pill: Masculinity and Neoliberalism in the Manosphere:

Abstract: This article undertakes the first known qualitative study focusing on The Red Pill, an online forum wherein heterosexual men attempt to improve their seduction skills by discussing evolutionary psy...

COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Access Among Black and Latinx Communities.

Abstract: Importance Black and Latinx communities have faced disproportionate harm from the COVID-19 pandemic. Increasing COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and access has the potential to mitigate mortality and morbidity from COVID-19 for all communities, including those most impacted by the pandemic. Objective To investigate and understand factors associated with facilitating and obstructing COVID-19 vaccine access and acceptance among Black and Latinx communities. Design, Setting, and Participants This community-partnered qualitative study conducted semistructured, in-depth focus groups with Black and Latinx participants from March 17 to March 29, 2021, using a secure video conferencing platform. Participants were recruited through emails from local community-based organizations, federally qualified health centers, social service agencies, the New Haven, Connecticut, Health Department, and in-person distribution of study information from community health workers. A total of 8 focus groups were conducted, including 4 in Spanish and 4 in English, with 72 participants from a diverse range of community roles, including teachers, custodial service workers, and health care employees, in New Haven, Connecticut. Data were analyzed from March 17 to July 30, 2021. Main Outcomes and Measures Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, translated, and analyzed using an inductive content analysis approach. Themes and subthemes were identified on the acceptability and accessibility of the COVID-19 vaccine among participants who identified as Black and/or Latinx. Results Among 72 participants, 36 (50%) identified as Black, 28 (39%) as Latinx, and 8 (11%) as Black and Latinx and 56 (78%) identified as women and 16 (22%) identified as men. Participants described 3 major themes that may represent facilitators and barriers to COVID-19 vaccinations: pervasive mistreatment of Black and Latinx communities and associated distrust; informing trust via trusted messengers and messages, choice, social support, and diversity; and addressing structural barriers to vaccination access. Conclusions and Relevance The findings of this qualitative study may impact what health care systems, public health officials, policy makers, health care practitioners, and community leaders can do to facilitate equitable uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine. Community-informed insights are imperative to facilitating COVID-19 vaccine access and acceptance among communities hardest hit by the pandemic. Preventing the further widening of inequities and addressing structural barriers to vaccination access are vital to protecting all communities, especially Black and Latinx individuals who have experienced disproportionate death and loss from COVID-19.

Research Methods in International Relations

Abstract: Introduction Chapter 1: Research Methods in International Relations Chapter 2: Research Questions and Research Design Chapter 3: Research Ethics Chapter 4: Writing a Literature Review Chapter 5: Qualitative Methods in International Relations Chapter 6: Quantitative Methods in International Relations Chapter 7: Mixed Methods in International Relations Chapter 8: Case Study Research in International Relations Chapter 9: Field Research in International Relations Chapter 10: Writing Up Your Research

Nurses' barriers to caring for patients with COVID-19: a qualitative systematic review.

Abstract: Aim The aim of this qualitative systematic review is to identify and synthesize qualitative studies of frontline nurses' experiences and challenges when caring for patients with COVID-19 in hospitals. Background This review is the first qualitative systematic review of nurses' experiences since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Understanding nurses' experiences with COVID-19 is important because nurses are among the most vital of healthcare workers. Methods This study used a qualitative systematic review methodology with thematic synthesis to analyse the included studies. Five databases (CINAHL, PubMed, Ovid, Web of Science, and PsycINFO) were searched from January to mid-August 2020, and 25 abstracts were screened. Based on inclusion criteria, this qualitative systematic review included nine studies. Results Five themes were identified as barriers to COVID-19 care by 133 hospital-based nurses: limited information about COVID-19, unpredictable tasks and challenging practices, insufficient support, concerns about family, and emotional and psychological stress. Conclusions The five barriers identified in this review should be overcome to improve nurses' experiences and, in turn, the quality of care patients with COVID-19 receive. Implications for nursing and health policy The findings from this review can be used to reform current healthcare and hospital-support systems for populations with COVID-19. They can also be used to point towards areas of research interested in improving frontline nursing. Finally, nursing leaders, healthcare policymakers and governments should use these findings to better support the nursing workforce in the current or a future pandemic.

Remote care for mental health: qualitative study with service users, carers and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To explore the experiences of service users, carers and staff seeking or providing secondary mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN: Qualitative interview study, codesigned with mental health service users and carers. METHODS: We conducted semistructured, telephone or online interviews with a purposively constructed sample; a lived experience researcher conducted and analysed interviews with service users. Analysis was based on the constant comparison method. SETTING: National Health Service (NHS) secondary mental health services in England between June and August 2020. PARTICIPANTS: Of 65 participants, 20 had either accessed or needed to access English secondary mental healthcare during the pandemic; 10 were carers of people with mental health difficulties; 35 were members of staff working in NHS secondary mental health services during the pandemic. RESULTS: Experiences of remote care were mixed. Some service users valued the convenience of remote methods in the context of maintaining contact with familiar clinicians. Most participants commented that a lack of non-verbal cues and the loss of a therapeutic 'safe space' challenged therapeutic relationship building, assessments and identification of deteriorating mental well-being. Some carers felt excluded from remote meetings and concerned that assessments were incomplete without their input. Like service users, remote methods posed challenges for clinicians who reported uncertainty about technical options and a lack of training. All groups expressed concern about intersectionality exacerbating inequalities and the exclusion of some service user groups if alternatives to remote care are lost. CONCLUSIONS: Though remote mental healthcare is likely to become increasingly widespread in secondary mental health services, our findings highlight the continued importance of a tailored, personal approach to decision making in this area. Further research should focus on which types of consultations best suit face-to-face interaction, and for whom and why, and which can be provided remotely and by which medium.

Person-to-person interactions in online classroom settings under the impact of COVID-19: a social presence theory perspective

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has compelled universities and higher education institutions to largely adopt online teaching to avoid face-to-face interactions. Instructors and students teach and learn through computers, laptops, and mobile phones with Internet connections. This qualitative study conducted in-depth interviews with 17 university students and 7 instructors. It found that student-to-instructor and student-to-student interactions cannot fully establish cognitive social presence and affective social presence. It then provided recommendations including encouragement, incentives, breakout rooms, and engagement techniques.

Experiences of geriatric nurses in nursing home settings across four countries in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract: Aim To explore the emotional impact and experiences of geriatric nurses working in nursing homes and caring for patients with coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19). Design This is a qualitative study with phenomenological method and data were gathered through in-depth interview. Methods The experiences and expectations that nurses are facing during their care duties were explored via video conference, using a semi-structured interview guide. We have followed the Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research COREQ. Results Interviews (N=24) were conducted with nurses from four countries (Spain, Italy, Peru, and Mexico) during April 2020. Three main categories were extracted: fear of the pandemic situation, the sense of duty and professional commitment, and emotional exhaustion. Conclusions Regardless of the country and situation, in the face of the pandemic, dramatic situations have been experienced in nursing homes worldwide, with nursing staff feeling exhausted and overwhelmed, and reflection is urged on a global level to consider the most appropriate model of care in nursing homes.