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Balancing words, balancing lives:Framing vulnerability in times of crisis
No full textWords matter, especially in times of crisis. This article analyses the complexities of political discourse on vulnerability by considering the case of the Dutch COVID-19 response. Our study finds that the framing of vulnerability as a predetermined and naturalised condition, linked to old age and pre-existing medical conditions, draws attention away from aspects of precarisation tied to economic position, social class, cultural background and living conditions. This rhetorical strategy can be understood as a practice of de-responsibilisation through which attention is rhetorically diverted from the way(s) in which political authorities are implicated in producing, exacerbating or failing to mitigate vulnerabilities
The effectiveness of the use of a technology toolkit on activities and mother-child interactions: children with complex care needs:children with complex care needs
No full textPurposeMeaningful interactions with significant others are crucial for children’s well-being, including those with severe to profound intellectual and multiple disabilities. This study aimed to gain more insight into the potential of an ICT-Toolkit in enhancing or contributing to the interaction between parents and their children with complex care needs.MethodsA multiple case study with an AB experimental design was conducted. Four mother-child dyads were observed during eight two-and-a-half-hour home visits. Children between 6 and 16 years with severe to profound intellectual and multiple disabilities were included. A participatory research observation approach was used.ResultsUsing the ICT-Toolkit compared to the baseline phase stimulated a decrease in the repetitive activities of two of the four dyads. Overall, the activity repertoire of the children and the length of time being engaged in individual activities increased, and the activities together increased in three of the dyads. There were more turn-taking interactions; the children took more initiative to engage their mother in their activity, and the children exhibited more affection when engaging with the ICT-Toolkit items. Three mothers followed their children more in their play, and all mothers were more verbally and physically active in instructing and/or motivating their children.DiscussionAll mothers noticed their child’s “new” behaviour when interacting with an ICT-Toolkit item. The mothers followed the child’s lead when engaged with the ICT-Toolkit. The ICT-Toolkit’s added effect may be due to the predictability, uncomplicated and highly perceivable stimuli it provides with minimal effort and maximum effect.IMPLICATION OF REHABILITATION- A technology toolkit contributes to activities and mother-child interactions for children with intensive care needs.- The ICT-Toolkit contributes to more turn-taking interactions and more initiative taking by the children to engage their mother in their activity.- Children exhibited more affection towards their mothers when engaging with the ICT-Toolkit items.- The participation in this study led mothers of children with intensive care needs to mentalise about the needs of their child and how their behaviour may influence the behaviour of their child.- The ICT-Toolkit’s added effect may be due to the predictability, uncomplicated and highly perceivable stimuli it provides with minimal effort and maximum effect
In praise of awkwardness in the field: increasing our understanding of relational concepts by reflecting on researchers’ emotion work
No full textIn this article, we develop a new avenue for understanding the informative value of researchers’ emotions for qualitative research by deepening our understanding of awkwardness in the field. With this, we aim to develop Arlie Hochschild's notion of ‘emotion work’ further as a methodological tool. Awkwardness concerns discrepancies in researchers’ emotions that require and reveal emotion work. The argument is that reflecting on emotion work performed by the researcher in awkward situations is a way to gain insight into what we call ‘relational concepts’: concepts designating phenomena that reside and/or emerge in relationships between at least two persons. We show what this looks like in practice by presenting cases of awkwardness from three qualitative research projects revolving around such relational concepts, namely, recognition, dependency and dignity
Role-Perceptions of Dutch Spiritual Caregivers in Implementing Multidisciplinary Spiritual Care: A National Survey
No full textBackground: During the course of their disease, patients often not only suffer physical discomfort, but also face psychological, social, and spiritual challenges. However, healthcare professionals often lack the knowledge and skills to address the spiritual dimension and are in need of support for taking this responsibility. Spiritual caregivers are experts in spiritual care, but their contribution to the integration of this care by other healthcare professionals is largely unknown. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate how Dutch spiritual caregivers view their role in increasing the integration of spiritual care in daily healthcare practice as provided by other healthcare professionals in the Netherlands, and how they address this role. Methods: An online survey was conducted from May until June 2021 among spiritual caregivers working in Dutch healthcare. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: The majority of the 174 respondents answered that they already fulfil a role in the integration of spiritual care by, for example, providing education, coaching on the job, or participating in multidisciplinary consultation. However, the majority of respondents experienced barriers to their contribution, such as confusion of terminology and use of language while collaborating with other healthcare professionals and reluctance to share information. Conclusions: While spiritual caregivers realise having a role in increasing the integration of spiritual care into daily practice of other healthcare professionals, some practices and perceptions, especially from within their own discipline, may hamper this