This qualitative study explores therapists’ and participants’ preferences for delivery methods (face-to-face and phone sessions) of a cognitive behavioral therapy-based psychosocial intervention for prenatal anxiety delivered in a tertiary care hospital.

The research was conducted in a randomized controlled trial in Pakistan, where a shift from face-to-face to phone-based therapy occurred during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Twenty in-depth interviews and a focus group discussion were conducted with participants and therapists, respectively. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Participants generally preferred face-to-face sessions for rapport building, communication, and comprehension. However, barriers like venue accessibility, childcare, and lack of family support hindered engagement. Telephone sessions were favored for easy scheduling and the comfort of receiving the session at home, but there were challenges associated with phone use, distractions at home, and family members’ limited mental health awareness. A mix of face-to-face and telephone sessions was preferred, with rapport from in-person sessions carrying over to telephone interactions.

This study underscores the need for adaptable intervention delivery strategies that consider cultural norms, logistical challenges, and individual family dynamics. By combining the benefits of both delivery methods, mental health interventions can be optimized to effectively address prenatal anxiety and promote well-being in resource-constrained settings like Pakistan.

The aim of this study was to explore healthcare professionals’ experiences of working with extended home visits for parents.

It is essential to identify parents, both expectant and with a newborn child, who need support in their parenting abilities at an early stage because children’s health and well-being are affected by their home environment as well as by their parents’ health and social relationships. Home visits represent a cost-effective way of identifying and supporting families with a newborn. Further research is needed to explore healthcare professionals’ experiences working with extended home visits for parents.

This was a qualitative interview study focusing on an intervention introduced in the Enhanced Parenting—Extended Home Visits project in Sweden. Data were collected via 13 semi-structured interviews with healthcare professionals who provide the intervention in antenatal care (midwives) and child health care (CHC nurses and family supporters), and a qualitative content analysis was performed.

Data analysis resulted in one theme and four categories. The theme – to provide multidimensional adapted professional support, – and the four categories – strengthened collaboration between professionals enriches their work. Home visits provide time for conversation, which promotes continuity of care and relationships with parents; being humble guests in parents’ homes provides insight; and home visits provide the opportunity to strengthen parenting and participation in the family centre. The goals of the Enhanced Parenting—Extended Home Visits project were to strengthen parents’ confidence in their parenting abilities and to build trusting relationships with healthcare professionals. The conclusion of this study, from the participants’ perspective, is that these goals can be achieved with the intervention.

Extended home visits seem to help healthcare professionals provide collaborative, multi-professional support for parents, both expectant and with a newborn child, with unique support needs.

Although demoralization is common among palliative care patients, it has not yet been examined empirically in the Hong Kong Chinese context. This study aims to examine (1) the prevalence of demoralization among community-dwelling palliative care patients in Hong Kong; (2) the percentage of palliative care patients who are demoralized but not depressed and vice versa; and (3) the association of socio-demographic factors, particularly family support, with demoralization.

A cross-sectional study targeting community-living palliative care patients in Hong Kong was conducted. A total of 54 patients were recruited by a local hospice and interviewed for completing a questionnaire which included measures of demoralization, depression, perceived family support, and demographic information.

The prevalence of demoralization was 64.8%. Although there was overlap between demoralization and depression (52.8% meeting the criteria of both), 7.5% of depressed patients were not demoralized, and 13.2% of demoralized patients were not depressed. Participants who were not single and had more depressive symptoms and less family support had a significantly higher demoralization level.

This is the first study which reports the prevalence of demoralization in Hong Kong. Demoralization was found common in community-living palliative care patients receiving medical social work services in Hong Kong. This study provides evidence of the importance of differentiating the constructs between demoralization and depression. It also provides an implication that those who are married, more depressed, and have the least family support could be the most vulnerable group at risk of demoralization. We recommend that early assessment of demoralization among palliative care patients be considered.

There have been over 900,000 deaths from COVID-19, with more than 3 million people bereaved. These deaths are associated with factors leading to poor bereavement outcomes, and distress in frontline-staff

to (i)present the rapid implementation of an intervention for bereavement support; (ii)characterize first calls and follow-up.

We recruited a multidisciplinary team and prepared a structure called “SIB” (Support and Intervention for Bereavement) in a matter of days. There were three steps for the support (Screening, First-line intervention, Second-line intervention (short follow-up). We collected data screening risk factors for complicated grief (CG).

Between March 24th-May 14th (lockdown, March 16th-May 13th), the hotline received nineteen calls for an intervention. The hospital contacts were various, including mortuary. Fifteen relatives were followed, among them thirteen bereaved for ten deaths (on 52 deaths=19.23%). Dead persons were young (m=59.68 years-old, SD=15.25). All contacts reported several risk factors for a CG (no “goodbye” (100%), no funeral rituals (82.35%)). Six relatives were addressed for short follow-up.

The actual pandemic is at high risk for complicated grief and may until 2021. We hope that all hospitals would implement basic bereavement outreach programs to prepare families for the death and to support them afterwards, as well as provide basic support to frontline staff.

No significant relationships.

DISCLAIMER The E-Lifelong Learning In Prevention of Suicide In Europe (ELLIPSE)-project is co-funded by the European Union’s Programme Erasmus+ (Project ID: 2019-1-SE01-KA203-060571). The EU Commission’s support for this project does not mean that the Com

The objectives of this study are to describe patients’ experiences of family members’ reactions to diagnosis of breast cancer and investigate the role of family support in the management of breast cancer.

The study used the descriptive qualitative method in data collection and analysis. Fifteen participants, who were undergoing either radiotherapy or chemotherapy treatment at a private hospital, consented and participated in the study. Data were content analyzed under two specific themes on family members’ reactions and family support received.

The findings show that some participants reported negative reactions of some family members, and this affected them negatively. While some participants received support from their families, others did not.

The findings of our study show the critical role of family support in the management of breast cancer; therefore, family members should be encouraged to give breast cancer patient the necessary support to help them manage their sick role behavior since their illness has no cure.

Purported superior outcomes for treatment of psychosis in low- and middle-income (LMICs) compared with high-income (HICs) countries have not been examined in the context of early intervention services (EIS).

To compare 2-year clinical outcomes in first-episode psychosis (FEP) treated in EIS in Chennai (LMIC) and Montreal (HIC) using a similar EIS treatment protocol and to identify factors associated with any outcome differences.

Patients with FEP treated in EIS in Chennai (n = 168) and Montreal (n = 165) were compared on change in level of symptoms and rate and duration of positive and negative symptom remission over a 2-year period. Repeated-measures analysis of variance, and logistic and linear regression analyses were conducted.

Four patients died in Chennai compared with none in Montreal. Family support was higher for Chennai patients (F = 14.05, d.f. = 1, P < 0.001, ƞp2 = 0.061) and increased over time at both sites (F = 7.0, d.f. = 1.915, P < 0.001, ƞp2 = 0.03). Negative symptom outcomes were significantly better in Chennai for level of symptoms (time × site interaction F = 7.36, d.f. = 1.49, P = 0.002, ƞp2 = 0.03), duration of remission (mean 16.1 v. 9.78 months, t = −7.35, d.f. = 331, P < 0.001, Cohen's d = 0.80) and the proportion of patients in remission (81.5% v. 60.3%, χ2 = 16.12, d.f. = 1, P < 0.001). The site differences in outcome remained robust after adjusting for inter-site differences in other characteristics. Early remission and family support facilitated better outcome on negative symptoms. No significant differences were observed in positive symptom outcomes.

Patients with FEP treated in EIS in LMIC contexts are likely to show better outcome on negative symptoms compared with those in HIC contexts. Early remission and family support may benefit patients across both contexts.

To examine whether women’s knowledge of pregnancy-related risks and family support received during pregnancy are associated with adherence to maternal iron–folic acid (IFA) supplementation.

Secondary data analysis of the 2002–03, 2007 and 2012 Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey. Analysis of the association between factors associated with adherence (consuming ≥90 IFA tablets), including the women’s knowledge and family support, was performed using multivariate logistic regression.

National household survey.

Women (n 19 133) who had given birth within 2 years prior to the interview date.

Knowledge of pregnancy-related risks was associated with increased adherence to IFA supplementation (adjusted OR=1·8; 95 % CI 1·6, 2·0), as was full family (particularly husband’s) support (adjusted OR=1·9; 95 % CI 1·6, 2·3). Adequate antenatal care (ANC) visits (i.e. four or more) was associated with increased adherence (adjusted OR=2·2; 95 % CI 2·0, 2·4). However, ANC providers missed opportunities to distribute tablets and information, as among women with adequate ANC visits, 15 % reported never having received/bought any IFA tablets and 30 % had no knowledge of pregnancy-related risks. A significant interaction was observed between family support and the women’s educational level in predicting adherence. Family support significantly increased the adherence among women with <9 years of education.

Improving women’s knowledge of pregnancy-related risks and involving family members, particularly the husband and importantly for less-educated women, improved adherence to IFA supplementation. ANC visit opportunities must be optimized to provide women with sufficient numbers of IFA tablets along with health information (especially on pregnancy-related risks) and partner support counselling.