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Acceptability of home-based transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in major depression: a qualitative analysis of individual experiences
Full text linkPurpose: Acceptability impacts patient preference, treatment adherence and outcomes. However, acceptability is usually assessed by rates of attrition while multifaceted constructs are not reflected or given meaningful interpretation. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a novel non-invasive brain stimulation that is a potential treatment in major depressive disorder (MDD). Most studies have provided tDCS in a research centre. As tDCS is portable, we developed a home-based treatment protocol which was associated with clinical improvements that were maintained in the long term.Design/methodology/approach: We examined acceptability of home-based tDCS treatment in MDD through questionnaires and individual interviews at three timepoints: baseline, at 6-week course of treatment, and at 6-month follow up. 26 participants (19 women) with MDD in a current depressive episode of at least moderate severity were enrolled. tDCS was provided in a bifrontal montage with real-time remote supervision by video conference at each session. A thematic analysis was conducted of the individual interviews.Findings: Thematic analysis revealed four main themes: effectiveness, side effects, time commitment, and support, feeling held and contained. The themes reflected high acceptability of tDCS treatment, while the theme of feeling contained might be specific to this protocol. Originality: Qualitative analysis methods and individual interviews generated novel insights in the acceptability of tDCS as potential treatment in MDD. Feelings of containment might be specific to the present protocol, which consisted of real-time supervision at each session. Meaningful interpretation can provide context to a complex construct which will aid in understanding and clinical applications
Testing the Social Cognitive Model of Well-being among international students in China
Full text linkDrawing upon the social cognitive career theory (SCCT), this study tested the social cognitive model of well-being which seeks to explain student life experience i.e., the relationship between positive affect with environmental support available to international students; mediated by cognitive and behavioral factors (self-efficacy expectations, outcome expectations, goal progress), towards the paths of academic satisfaction, and overall life satisfaction. Two hundred and ninety-four international students completed the survey questionnaire. Structural Equational Modelling (SEM) was used to test the overall model, alongside Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to test the model fitness. The SEM-based path analyses showed that the overall model fits the data well. Moreover, all the hypotheses were supported except for four paths (academic support → academic outcome expectation; academic outcome expectation → academic satisfaction, academic goal progress → life satisfaction; positive affectivity → academic satisfaction). Study findings also support the applicability of the social cognitive model of well-being; specifically, this demonstrates the power of particular predictor variables significant for student satisfaction and well-being. The study adds to the existing literature on the cross-cultural utility of the social cognitive model of well-being. Practical and theoretical implications as well as limitations and future recommendations are discussed at the end
Barriers and facilitators to social prescribing in child and youth mental health: Perspectives from the frontline
Full text linkThere is growing interest in the role of Social Prescribing (SP) to help promote mental wellbeing and support individuals with mental health difficulties. Yet, implementation of SP to children and young people (CYP) has proved slow and underdeveloped compared with adult populations. Understanding the barriers and facilitators will help key stakeholders to better embed SP for CYP into practice. Using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), a comprehensive, theoretical-led framework, underpinned by 33 behaviour change theories and 128 constructs, perceived barriers and facilitators to SP were investigated. The sample comprised of 11 Link Workers and 9 individuals involved in facilitating SP with CYP, who took part in semi-structured interviews. Transcripts were analysed using a deductive thematic analysis, and themes were coded under each theoretical domain. Overall, 33 barriers and facilitators for SP were identified across 12 domains of the TDF. Under capability, barriers and facilitators were found for knowledge, skills, memory/attention/decision making processes, and behavioural regulation. For opportunity, barriers and facilitators were found for social/professional influences, as well as environmental context and resources. Finally, for motivation, domains covered included: beliefs about consequences, beliefs about capabilities, optimism, motivations/goals, reinforcement, and emotions. Findings suggest that a wide range of barriers and facilitators affect the implementation of CYP SP to improve mental health and wellbeing. Interventions which target different domains related to capability, opportunity and motivation should be developed to better facilitate CYP SP
Employment Discrimination against Indigenous People with Tribal Marks in Nigeria: The Painful face of Stigma
Full text linkDrawing from in-depth qualitative interviews (N=32), this article examines the impact of indigenous tribal marks on employment chances in southwest Nigeria. It employs indigenous standpoint theory to frame the argument around what constitutes stigma and in what context. The results of our thematic analysis indicate that tribally marked job applicants and employees face significant social rejection, stigmatization, and discrimination, and can suffer from severe mental illnesses and even suicidal ideation. We explain how these tribally marked individuals navigate the changing contours of tradition and modernity in Nigeria. Tribal marks, although once largely perceived as signals of beauty and high social status, are now increasingly viewed as a significant liability in the labor market. This paper makes a unique and original contribution to the study of stigma and employment discrimination by eschewing the prevailing Western ethnocentrism in the extant research and instead placing the indigenous standpoint at center stage
Exploring parental and professional perceptions of weight management services among under-fives in England: A qualitative study
Full text linkBackgroundChildhood obesity is a significant public health challenge, particularly among children under five. In England, weight management programs aim to address this issue; however, engagement and uptake of these services remain low. Understanding the perceptions of parents and professionals involved in these programs is crucial to enhancing participation and improving health outcomes. This study explores these perceptions to identify barriers and facilitators to effective engagement with weight management services.MethodThis qualitative study used purposive sampling to recruit parents and professionals involved in weight management programs across England. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 participants (8 parents and 7 professionals). Data were transcribed, coded, and thematically analyzed using Braun and Clarke's six-phase framework to identify key themes related to engagement, cultural influences, and program effectiveness.ResultsThe study identified several key themes: parental engagement, the impact of virtual versus face-to-face sessions, motivations for participation, barriers to involvement, and the role of cultural beliefs. Parental involvement was critical for the success of weight management programs, but barriers such as time constraints, cultural beliefs, and socioeconomic factors hindered participation. Professionals highlighted the need for more training and resources to effectively address these challenges. Cultural sensitivities and systemic support were found to be crucial for improving engagement and outcomes.ConclusionsThe findings emphasize the need for culturally tailored, accessible, and sustainable weight management interventions. Enhanced professional training, increased community outreach, and policy-level support are essential to improve engagement and ensure long-term success in addressing childhood obesity
Die Unterdrückung des Impressionismus: Haussmannisierung, Kunst im Zweiten Kaiserreich unt die Salons des refusé
No full textMetamodernism in Contemporary British Theatre: A Politics of Hope/lessness
Full text linkPostmodern theatre is dead. A new theatre is rising – one that combines the well-worn postmodern aesthetics of irony, detachment, and deconstruction with a paradoxical interest in authenticity, engagement, and re-construction. Whilst recent scholarship has treated these evolving interests as unrelated shifts in performance aesthetics, this volume proposes a new understanding: that these are part of a wider emerging cultural paradigm – metamodernism.Metamodernism in Contemporary British Theatre is the first book to focus on metamodernism and performance, offering a pioneering framework by which to identify and understand metamodern theatre. By drawing critical links between the works of performance theorists such as Anne Bogart and Andy Lavender and the metamodern as defined by Timotheus Vermeulen and Robin van den Akker, this book makes a clear, vital, and urgent case for the use of the term metamodernism within mainstream theatre scholarship.Focussing on small-scale theatre companies across the UK – including Poltergeist, YESYESNONO, Middle Child and The Gramophones, many of whom have not been documented in academia before – this book also provides a unique analysis of the theatre made by British millennials, a generation who have been distinctly affected by specific structures of contemporary precarity coinciding with this wider cultural shift. Through this, Metamodernism in Contemporary British Theatre makes a crucial contribution towards understanding emergent developments in post-millennial theatre practice across Britain and beyond
Global impact of COVID-19 on surgeons and team members (GlobalCOST): a cross-sectional study
Full text linkObjectives To investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the well-being of surgeons and allied health professionals as well as the support provided by their institutions.Design This cross-sectional study involved distributing an online survey through medical organisations, social media platforms and collaborators.Setting It included all staff based in an operating theatre environment around the world.Participants 1590 complete responses were received from 54 countries between 15 July and 15 December 2020. The average age of participants was 30–40 years old, 64.9% were men and 32.5% of a white ethnic background. 79.5% were surgeons with the remainder being nurses, assistants, anaesthetists, operating department practitioners or classified other.Main outcome measures Participants that had experienced any physical illness, changes in mental health, salary or time with family since the start of the pandemic as well as support available based on published recommendations.Results 32.0% reported becoming physically ill. This was more likely in those with reduced access to personal protective equipment (OR 4.62; CI 2.82 to 7.56; p<0.001) and regular breaks (OR 1.56; CI 1.18 to 2.06; p=0.002). Those with a decrease in salary (29.0%) were more likely to have an increase in anxiety (OR 1.50; CI 1.19 to 1.89; p=0.001) and depression (OR 1.84; CI 1.40 to 2.43; p<0.001) and those who spent less time with family (35.2%) were more likely to have an increase in depression (OR 1.74; CI 1.34 to 2.26; p<0.001). Only 36.0% had easy access to occupational health, 44.0% to mental health services, 16.5% to 24/7 rest facilities and 14.2% to 24/7 food and drink facilities. Fewer measures were available in countries with a low Human Development Index.Conclusions This work has highlighted a need and strategies to improve conditions for the healthcare workforce, ultimately benefiting patient care
In-silico and in-vivo comparative evaluation of the cardioprotective potential of Yellow turmeric and White turmeric in Mn-induced cardiac oxidative stress
Full text linkIntroductionThe effect of the ethanol extracts of Curcuma longa Linn (yellow turmeric) and Curcuma zedoaria Rosc (white turmeric) on cardiac oxidative stress in rats exposed to manganese was evaluated in this study.MethodsWe divided 60 Wistar rats into 12 groups (n = 5) with some administered different concentrations of yellow or white turmeric extract. The animals except the control groups were exposed to manganese on days 1,3, and 7. All the animals were sacrificed on the 8th day and the hearts were harvested for biochemical assays. Ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and the levels of cardiac superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione, nitric oxide, and lipid peroxidation in rats were determined. Additionally, in silico studies were performed to further compare the cardioprotective potential of the two species of turmeric.ResultsThe results showed that rats treated with manganese alone had decreased levels of FRAP, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione but increased levels of nitric oxide and lipid peroxidation were observed. The Mn-induced oxidative stress was ameliorated in animals co-treated with yellow or white turmeric. The yellow turmeric showed better activity than white turmeric. In the in-silico evaluation, phytocompounds from yellow turmeric had higher binding energy against Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) protein than the ones from white turmeric. Bioactive compounds from white turmeric did not violate any of Lipinski's rules of five or three, despite having lower binding energy.ConclusionThese findings suggest that ethanol extract of yellow and white turmeric may have the potential to ameliorate manganese-induced cardiac oxidative stress
