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Case study research and artificial intelligence: A step-by-step process to using ChatGPT in the development of case studies in qualitative research
No full textThis paper presents the findings of a formal case study process, where traditional methods are combined with Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques to develop the prompts for the researcher to develop case study for their research. Based on GenAI technology, the framework covers seven key stages of AI use to develop new knowledge by comparing AI-generated suggestions with those used in classical research to develop a rich qualitative research case study. The key contribution of the research is an explicit characterization of the seven stages, which may enable researchers to develop a robust qualitative case study. Moreover, this work represents the first attempt at using heterogeneous, AI-generated prompts to develop a case study following the seven stages of case development study to develop rigorous research. It introduces a well-rounded toolbox that details the full research workflow, from idea generation to completion. This combination will not only catalyse studies of greater veracity but will also raise the standard in terms of using an AI-assisted methodology in case studies
Disclosing inflammatory bowel disease: A systematic review and meta-synthesis exploring the experience of, and barriers and facilitators to, self-disclosure
No full textDue to its invisible nature, individuals must make decisions around self-disclosing Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Existing reviews have explored stigma as a barrier to disclosing IBD; however, other factors potentially affecting disclosure decisions have not been recently reviewed. The current review sought to synthesise qualitative papers exploring the experiences of disclosure, and identify facilitators and barriers to disclosure, within IBD. A systematic search identified 34 journal articles, comprising 1,004 participants. Following critical appraisal, a thematic meta-synthesis was completed. (PROSPERO registration ID CRD42023481441). A total of six main themes relating to self-disclosure were identified: it’s a stigmatised illness; a wish to conceal; difficulties discussing IBD; a need to disclose; balancing the need to disclose and the reluctance to disclose; and varied consequences to disclosure. Overall, the included studies were adequate quality; however, weaknesses in reflexivity were observed across a high proportion. This review highlights the complexity of disclosure decisions and describes how personal beliefs, social contexts, and previous experiences can influence these. Potential clinical implications, the impact for public health services, and the need for future research are discussed
The radical art of nursing resistance creativity and the crisis in healthcare
No full textIn contemporary nursing education, the intersection of art, activism, and social justice remains a vital yet often overlooked dimension of vocational training. As Audre Lorde (1984) powerfully stated, “the master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house,” underscoring the urgency for alternative pedagogical approaches that challenge structural inequities within higher education institutions (HEIs). Integrating art as a form of activism in nursing education aligns with critical pedagogy principles, fostering self-reflection, resilience, and a deeper understanding of the social justice challenges within healthcare
An exploration of self-compassion and psychosis
No full textSection A
Background: Theories suggest that psychotic experiences exist along a continuum between clinical and non-clinical populations. Self-criticism appears to be related to psychotic experiences. Low self-compassion appears to be associated with self-criticism and psychotic experiences. It is currently unclear how self-criticism and self-compassion may relate to psychotic experiences in both clinical and non-clinical populations.
Aims: To conduct a systematic review of the relationship between self-criticism, self-compassion and psychotic experiences (frequency, severity, endorsement and distress) in clinical and non-clinical populations.
Method: A systematic search of MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), and APA Psycinfo (Ovid) was conducted. Studies were selected according to the inclusion criteria. A quality assessment of eligible studies was conducted.
Results: A narrative synthesis of 17 empirical, quantitative studies revealed high-quality evidence supporting links between self-compassion, self-criticism and a range of psychotic experiences (overall positive and negative symptoms, hallucinations, delusions and paranoia).
Self-criticism appeared most strongly linked to distress associated with psychotic experiences. Longitudinal studies could provide further insight into the role of self-criticism and self-compassion in the development of psychosis.
Conclusions: Findings indicate self-criticism is a risk factor for distressing psychotic experiences, and that self-compassion may be a protective factor, supporting the use of therapies such as Compassion Focused Therapy.
Section B
Background: Given current access issues of psychological therapies for psychosis, it is prudent to explore waiting list and group interventions which might be more efficient. There is some evidence for the efficacy of group compassion focused therapy (CFTgp) for psychosis, but a lack of clarity regarding who might benefit and when.
Aims: This study aimed to understanding therapeutic change processes of CFTgp, and how these relate to group timing and service user experiences of recovery.
Methodology: A critical realist, grounded theory methodology was used. One-to-one interviews were conducted with 6 service users and 4 therapists who had taken part in CFTgp. Participants were recruited from two NHS psychosis community services.
Results: ‘Social safeness’ and ‘changes in self-compassion and self-understanding’ captured the two key change processes in CFTgp. Changes during CFTgp were enhanced by ‘Managing hurdles and barriers’. ‘Rebuilding, reclaiming and reintegrating’ captured experiences of recovery after CFTgp. ‘Readiness’ captured how prior experiences may enhance or diminish therapeutic change. Clinical, theoretical and research implications are discussed.
Conclusions: The model adds to the current literature on change processes of CFTgp, and how changes can be integrated into recovery journeys. Further research is needed to clarify factors inhibiting engagement or therapeutic change
Any heroine's journey: a qualitative exploration of women's empowerment through intersectional identities in Swale
No full textThis thesis examines how a group of women living in Swale, who participated in this study, construct, experience, and navigate empowerment within the intersecting dynamics of gender, race, class, and geography. Situated within a social constructionist epistemology and guided by critical feminist and intersectional theories, the study examines how empowerment is produced through the lived experiences, social discourse, and power relations of these participants in a semi-rural UK setting. Using a qualitative research design, the study employed semi-structured online interviews alongside participatory tools such as the Empowerment Wheel, the Intersectionality Identity Sheet, and speculative fabulation exercises. These methods enabled participants to articulate their realities and envision alternative futures beyond present constraints. Data were analysed using Template Analysis, facilitating theoretical and inductive insight into the complexity of empowerment.
Although not originally intended as a pandemic experience study, data collection occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, many participants’ narratives were shaped by the social and structural disruptions of that period. Themes such as agency, resilience, digital exclusion, and intensified care burdens emerged alongside powerful accounts of how participants experienced othering, being positioned as ‘outside’ or ‘less than’ due to their race, migration status, class, or gender roles. These narratives reflected how the pandemic exacerbated structural inequalities and marginalisation and how participants resisted, adapted, and reimagined their place within the community and society.
This thesis contributes to feminist scholarship by offering a nuanced, context-sensitive account of empowerment rooted in the lived realities of a diverse group of women in a semi-rural locality. It highlights the importance of addressing othering as a discursive and material barrier to empowerment. The findings advocate for intersectional and locally grounded policy approaches, highlighting the value of participatory and imaginative methods in understanding and addressing systemic inequality
Harmony in healing at the thymele of Epidaurus
No full textThis dissertation takes as its focus the thymele, a circular building that was centrally located at one of the major healing sanctuaries of the ancient Greek world: that of the god Asclepius at Epidaurus. While the thymele’s purpose remains unknown, it has been linked with the two healing modalities of dream incubation and musical therapeutics that were practised at the sanctuary.
The central question of this dissertation is one of how the thymele might be approached, if the forms of ‘approach’ by pilgrims to the sanctuary, culminating in the encounter with the god experienced through song-dance and dreaming, are taken into account. The thymele has most recently been investigated through the ‘archaeology of the senses’ (Schultz et al., 2017), which attempts to subvert the Cartesian binary of the mental and material. However, this excludes the important quality of relationship with an ‘other’ experienced by ancient pilgrims, and which, I argue, necessitates an epistemology that takes into consideration a third, median realm that draws together the two. I suggest that such an epistemology is found in the Jungian and post-Jungian field of psychology, which might be described as ‘imaginal’ in regarding image to be the language of psyche.
Various elements of the thymele are therefore explored as a series of images over the successive chapters of this dissertation. These are images relating to healing, I suggest, which might be understood through ancient Greek ideas of harmony between parts and wholes linked to both dreaming and music. By way of an imaginal approach, drawing together ‘self’ and ‘other’, the researcher or reader is no longer a detached observer, but, like the pilgrim, ‘approaches’, becoming engaged in a transformative encounter with living images of the ‘two-million-year-old human’ who, according to Jung, continues to reside in the psyche, and in relationship to whom a greater wholeness might be experienced
Recent advances in chemical characterization, emerging applications, and biological activities of tea polysaccharides and their conjugates from leaves and flowers: A review.
No full textTea (Camellia sinensis) polysaccharides (TPS) and tea polysaccharide conjugates (TPC) are bioactive compounds found in tea leaves and flowers, attracting growing interest for their biological activities and emerging applications in food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Despite substantial progress in tea polyphenol research, studies focusing on TPS and TPC are still relatively underrepresented. This review fills a gap in the literature by summarizing the latest advancements in the extraction, characterization, and biological effects of TPS and TPC. The review emphasizes the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and hypoglycemic activities of TPS and TPC, as well as their role in modulating gut microbiota. It also highlights the potential of TPS and TPC in enhancing the texture, flavor, and stability of food products, in addition to its use in skincare for anti-aging and wound healing. The findings indicate that TPS and TPC exhibit significant variability in bioactivity based on tea type, extraction method, and molecular weight. Based on available evidence, TPS and TPC exhibits pronounced biological activities, especially antioxidants, antidiabetic, and anticancer properties. Importantly, TPS and TPC present promising applications in encapsulation and drug delivery systems, contributing to their growing industrial appeal. The novelty of this work lies in its comprehensive overview of the diverse roles of TPS and TPC, which are gaining attention for their functional versatility. This review offers valuable insights for researchers and industry professionals seeking to harness the full potential of TPS in various sectors. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Emerging trends in global e-retailing: Exploring the dark side of scan and go in-store technologies in consumer shopping journeys
No full textPurpose
This study aims to investigate the “dark side” of scan and go (S&G) apps as part of the shopping journey, and the subsequent impacts on consumer behavior.
Design/methodology/approach
This study utilizes a phenomenological approach. Data were collected from online reviews, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions to explore the negaffordance of using in-store S&G apps. Thematic analysis was employed to develop a conceptual model of the customer journey.
Findings
The conceptual model highlights the complex interplay between technology, and the consumer and digital retail environment across three stages include Navigating the Nexus, Empowered Expeditions and Digital Diaspora of the shopping journey. The findings contribute to both theoretical and practical knowledge and offer insights into how S&G technology influences customer experiences.
Originality/value
Theoretically, this research expands the concept of negative affordances in the digital retail context by introducing “negaffordance” as a critical aspect of technology that hinders rather than facilitates the achievement of customer goals. Practically, it suggests enhancements in the design of apps to mitigate negaffordance, and it highlights suggestions made by consumers such as the introduction of a community-centric approach to customer issues. This research underscores the urgent need for retailers to align technological consistency with consumer goals to mitigate the challenges posed by S&G technology
