Distance Learning in an Inclusive Preschool Focused on Autism During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Multiple Case Study of Four Children

Despite the widespread use of distance learning during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, little is known about the developmental appropriateness of this instructional format for preschoolers, particularly when implemented in inclusive settings. The current research was implemented in a university-affiliated, state-funded inclusive preschool classroom focused on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) where parents were given the option to enroll in a full distance program (FDP) during the first 9 weeks of the 2020/21 school year. Parents of four children, including two children with ASD, selected the FDP option. Synchronous whole group, small group, and individual online sessions were recorded using screen capture and coded for children's maintained attention and directed communication. Further, parents and teachers completed exit interviews or a focus group, which were transcribed and analyzed using qualitative research methods. This is the first study to use observational methods to measure child engagement during preschool FDP sessions. Results from this mixed-method multiple case study paint a rich picture of both opportunities and limitations inherent in distance learning when implemented in inclusive preschool settings. General conclusions, future directions, and study limitations are discussed.

The role of safety leadership in nursing management during the pandemic: A qualitative study in Indonesia

The article discusses a qualitative study on the role of safety leadership in nursing management during the pandemic in Indonesia. The study assessed safety leadership behavior of head nurses in inpatient facilities, expectations and obstacles to leadership and safety in the ward setting based on the human caring theory. Findings revealed the significance of caring values, risk perception, trust-based relationship, sharing knowledge and experience on patient safety, coaching and role modeling.

Relationality and online interpersonal research: Ethical, methodological and pragmatic extensions

The availability, affordability and usability of communication technologies have created new ways to conduct interpersonal qualitative research. Access to digital communications remains uneven, but the online environment provides an alternative, and at times a potentially preferable, research space. As Covid-19 has interrupted and disrupted the dominant assumption that qualitative research must be conducted in person, this paper outlines possibilities and reservations of online interpersonal methods. Though the standard ethical considerations of qualitative research hold true, we argue that these are necessary, but often inadequate, in the contexts of conducting online synchronous interpersonal research. Through centring relational and reflexive practice, we consider the associated pragmatic, methodological and ethical domains from feminist and virtual–material positional perspectives. Unpacking the complexities and possibilities of researching digital environments, we present six guiding principles to inform ethically responsive, methodologically robust and pragmatically feasible approaches to conducting online interpersonal qualitative research.

Differences in stress levels between junior high school students and college students during online learning

The article discusses research which analyzed the differences in stress levels between junior high school students and college students during online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. It discusses body change caused by stressors, the influence of sex on an individual's stress level, the potential of stress experienced by students to cause signs and symptoms of health problems, and factors influencing stress in male and female students.

Reasons for early marriage of Syrian migrant young women: Qualitative study

It is aimed to examine the reasons of Syrian migrant women getting married early. Universe selection has not been made. Participants were reached using the snowball sampling method. In this phenomenological qualitative study, 4 main themes were created with the method of description and examined. It has been determined that poverty, family coercion, love and the losses they suffered during the war are effective in the early marriage of Syrian migrant women. It has been investigated that most of the factors determined in the early marriage of Syrian migrant women are situations that develop against their will and that these women have to marry at an early age.

Benefits and challenges of tele-dance movement psychotherapy with children with autism and their parents.

Dance movement psychotherapy can be physically and psychologically beneficial for children with autism spectrum disorder. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic required therapy to take place online. However, tele-dance movement psychotherapy with children with autism spectrum disorder has yet to be studied. This mixed methods study involving qualitative research and movement analyses entailed providing tele-dance movement psychotherapy to children with autism spectrum disorder and their parents, during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, and exploring its potential benefits and challenges. The parents who completed the programme reported positive outcomes including the child's social development, enjoyment, improved understanding of their child, insight and ideas, as well as relationship-building. Movement analyses using the Parent Child Movement Scale (PCMS) lent greater insight into these developments. All of the parents reported challenges in participating in tele-dance movement psychotherapy. These were related to screen-to-screen interactions, home, and physical distance. There was a relatively high attrition rate. These findings highlight the challenges of tele-dance movement psychotherapy with children with autism spectrum disorder and the unique benefits of meeting in person whilst the positive outcomes may indicate that tele-dance movement psychotherapy can be beneficial, perhaps particularly as an interim or adjunct form of therapy. Specific measures can be taken to enhance engagement.

Keeping connected: Family therapists' experiences of working online during the COVID‐19 pandemic

For this qualitative study, eight family therapists were interviewed about their experiences of practising online during the pandemic. Findings are organised using a framework of problems, possibilities, resources and restraints (PPRR, Neden & Burnham, 2007). Despite variation in therapist confidence in online practice, all participants found new possibilities in this way of working, including connecting family members across distance, increased co‐construction within therapeutic relationships and engaging clients who would not usually attend appointments. Therapeutic alliance was generally possible to establish online, though felt more challenging with whole families than individuals. Problems and restraints included therapist fatigue, risk and safety management, and attuning to nuanced expression of emotion. Implications for practice and future research are proposed. It is suggested that systemic practice has unique qualities to offer the field of online psychotherapy.

When "Time Is Not Your Own": Experiences of Mothering Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic

As COVID-19 reached pandemic levels in March 2020, schools shifted to remote learning. Student parents in higher education had to adapt to their own remote learning and assume responsibility for childcare and their children's education. Few studies have explored the impact of COVID-19 on mothers who are also full-time students. This study utilized a phenomenological approach to understand the lived experiences of mothering students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Student mothers were recruited from a large, public, Hispanic-serving university in a Southern state. We conducted interviews with 15 student mothers who had at least one child under the age of 18 during the first six months of the pandemic. Three main themes emerged from the analyses: (1) successfully meeting educational requirements;(2) dealing with the mental health impact of the pandemic;and (3) changing the institutional structure. The first theme captured strategies mothering students implemented to ensure their own or their children's educational goals were met. The second theme encompassed how mothers handled the stress caused by the pandemic. The third theme explored ways that mothers resisted gendered expectations and norms around care. Implications for policy and social work practice include changing institutional structures to enhance support for mothering students.

Covid-19 and the impact on quality of life

Introduction: Covid-19 is a new respiratory disease that is the cause of an acute infection characterized by a progressive epidemiological picture. On the other hand, it will depend on the stage of the disease in which the patient is and the presence of physiological sequelae or acquired comorbidities, being these factors responsible for altering the quality of life and its relationship in the health field, affecting not only the physiological level but also other alterations such as the physical and mental state and the subjective impression of the state of the disease in the patient. Objective: To determine the quality of life of post Covid-19 patients. Materials and methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample of 24 patients who signed the informed consent prior to the application of the evaluation. A section with sociodemographic variables was included and the Saint George questionnaire was applied for quality of life. Finally, the data analysis was compiled in Excel and SPSS software. Results: It was found that 83.3% of the post-covid-19 patients had a "good" quality of life health;the most impaired dimension was "Impact," with a mean of 24.3 ± 9.90, standing out from the other categories. Similarly, it was shown that 21% of the population was diagnosed with diseases after acquiring the virus, but they fall within a range of "good" quality of life without limitations in the dimensions of the questionnaire. Conclusion: Quality of life can become an important factor in the study of health. However, the percentage of the study population does not fall within a poor quality of life. However, it is essential to mention the correlation between Covid-19 and the sociodemographic variables associated with a negative effect on the quality of life according to the Saint George questionnaire evaluation and the degree of the disease in the patient. Introducción: El covid-19 es una nueva enfermedad respiratoria que es causante de una infección aguda caracterizada por un cuadro epidemiológico progresivo. Por otra parte, dependerá del estadio de la enfermedad en la que se encuentra el paciente y la presencia de secuelas fisiológicas o comorbilidades adquiridas, siendo estos factores los responsables de alterar la calidad de vida y su relación en el ámbito salud afectando no solo a nivel fisiológico si no que esta estará ligada a otras alteraciones como el estado físico, mental y la impresión subjetiva del estado de la enfermedad en el paciente. Objetivo: Determinar la calidad de vida de los pacientes post Covid-19. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, transversal, con una muestra de 24 pacientes los cuales firmaron el consentimiento informado previo a la aplicación de la evaluación. En ella se adjuntó una sección con variables sociodemográficos y para la calidad de vida se aplicó el cuestionario Saint George. Al finalizar, el análisis de datos se recopilo en la base de datos de Excel y software SPSS. Resultados Se encontró que los pacientes post covid-19 presenta una calidad de vida en relación a la salud "buena" en un-83,3%, la dimensión más perjudicada fue el "Impacto" con una media de 24,3 ± 9,90 sobresaliendo de las otras categorías. De igual forma, se demostró que dentro de la población el 21% se diagnostico con enfermedades posterior de haber adquirido el virus, pero se adentran dentro de un rango de "buena" calidad de vida sin limitaciones en las dimensiones del cuestionario. Conclusión: La calidad de vida puede llegar a ser un factor importante de estudio en la salud, sin embargo, el porcentaje de la población de estudio no se enmarca dentro de una calidad de vida mala. Sin embargo, es imprescindible mencionar la correlación del Covid-19 y las variables sociodemográficas asociadas a un efecto negativo en la calidad vida según la evaluación del cuestionario Saint George y el grado de la enfermedad en el paciente.

Culturally Competent Policy Practice in Minority Communities during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Contextual and Structural Perspective

Minority communities have borne a disproportionate burden of health, social and economic consequences during the pandemic. By engaging in policy-shaping processes, social workers can contribute to the development of beneficial policies for minority communities. When working in cross-cultural environments with majorities and minorities, social workers must develop cultural competence to be effective in policy practice. Despite the importance associated with cultural competence in policy practice (CCPP), little empirical evidence exists regarding what is required of social workers in order to engage in culturally competent policy change during the pandemic. In the present study, we address this lacuna through the theoretical framework of culturally competent policy practice. Drawing on twenty-one in-depth interviews, which were conducted at two time points during the pandemic with social workers who work with ultra-Orthodox minority communities in Israel, we demonstrate that CCPP involves the combination of two perspectives—contextual and structural. These include identifying and analysing social problems from a local and global perspective, reshaping the problem through self-awareness and critical awareness of power relations, and applying cultural competence skills that reflect the unique characteristics of the communities. This article discusses the strengths and limitations of CCPP, especially when implemented in changing social and political situations.

Risks and opportunities for children's well-being in resource-constrained multigenerational households during COVID-19: Implications for school psychology interventions

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic had a global impact on family social and economic well-being. Individuals and families sought alternative living arrangements as a result of the financial crisis, health implications, and housing insecurity, with many joining multigenerational households. However, it is unknown how multigenerational family life affects children's well-being. Therefore, this qualitative study explored risks and resilience-building opportunities for children's psychological and social well-being in resource-constrained multigenerational households during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa. Five multigenerational families were selected through snowball sampling and case design. The three generations of participants were grandparents (n = 5), parents (n = 7), and children (n = 4). Data were gathered through a questionnaire and interviews. The study received institutional ethics approval. After thematic analysis, two themes and six sub-themes were identified. Risks were related to interpersonal conflict, family collective fear of COVID-19, and children's multiple other fears. Opportunities were identified as academic support, shared responsibilities, life skills and values acquisition, and family cohesion. Results demonstrated the potential risks and resilience-building opportunities multigenerational households present for children's psychosocial well-being. Multisystemic influences in a multigenerational household contribute to children's adjustment. These outcomes necessitate systemic school psychology interventions. Longitudinal studies are recommended to explore child well-being trends in multigenerational households in varying socioeconomic contexts.

'I have enough pressure as it is, without the worry of doing something wrong because of ignorance': The impact of Covid-19 on people who employ social care personal assistants

People with care and support needs were often badly affected by Covid-19, although the impact on people employing Personal Assistants (PAs) has not been addressed. We aimed to explore the experiences of people employing PAs during the pandemic to inform care systems and social work practice. Remote qualitative interviews were conducted with seventy PA employers across England in 2021–2022. Data were analysed thematically to explore salient themes. The Covid-19 pandemic elucidated role tensions of PA employers: Navigating care arrangements during a time of unprecedented uncertainty reinforced participants' role as an employer, but exposed some aspects of employment responsibilities and legal obligations that participants felt ill-equipped to manage. Reports of contact with or by social workers were few and not perceived as helpful. The often-informal nature of PA arrangements and its blurred relational boundaries affected participants' expectations of their PAs. PA employers would welcome support from social workers in their employment role and flexibility with care plans, albeit with greater autonomy over their Direct Payment (DP) budget to enhance the potential of this arrangement. In the context of declining DP uptake in England, our study offers some potential explanations for this, with suggestions for systemic change and social work practice.

Anxiety and Stress Experiences of Individuals with Chronic Diseases in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Qualitative Research

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, is a global pandemic resulting in the deaths of more than 3 million people across the world. It has been reported to be more fatal in individuals with chronic diseases than in healthy adults without a diagnosis of hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, or respiratory system diseases. Aim: To determine the experiences and attitudes of individuals with comorbidities in relation to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Methods: This quali tativ e-phe nomen ologi cal study was conducted with individuals with chronic diseases among the family members of students attending the Healthcare Services Department of Eldivan Vocational School of Health. The sample of the study consisted of 17 individuals with chronic diseases. Data were collected through online interviews conducted between June and July 2020. The obtained data were analyzed using content analysis, and themes were created. Results: The mean age of the participants was 67.17 years;47% were men, and 53% were women. From the data obtained through the interviews, 2 main themes emerged in relation to the pandemic experiences of the participants: negative emotions and positive responses. The theme of negative emotions related to the pandemic was further divided into the following sub-themes: fear of death, fear of being in social environments, lack of information about the pandemic, and external pressures. The theme of positive responses had 2 subthemes: trust in government and spirituality, and individual measures. Conclusion: Individuals with chronic diseases have experienced many positive and negative emotions during the pandemic period. It is recommended to establish emergency information and advice lines for these individuals, provide them with training on health communication and health literacy, and raise their awareness of similar pandemics through practices such as public service announcements.

Older People, Loneliness, Social Isolation and Technological Mitigations: Utilising Experiences of the Covid-19 Pandemic as we Move Forward

In this article, the effects of social isolation which can lead to increasing feelings of loneliness and abandonment for some are examined. The article analyses findings which emerged from a qualitative study carried out with older people in three distinct areas in Scotland (city, rural and urban) who were shielding during Covid-19. It focuses on the ways in which social isolation affected them and the extent to which information and communication technology (ICT) and telecare technologies served to mitigate key aspects. The key themes which emerged from the research included loneliness as 'multi-layered', with these layers including 'disconnections between loneliness and social isolation';'well-being reversals';'neighbours as strangers';'disjointed communities and co-production' and 'service abandonment'. Additional themes which emerged focused on 'ICT rebounds and evolvement' and 'hope, buoyancy and reciprocity'. These layers and themes can be seen to have longer term significance with regard to the implications for social work and social care planning as we move forward. They also emphasise the need for greater cohesiveness between health, telecare and social care services.

Birth under restrictions: Exploring women's experiences of maternity care in Aotearoa New Zealand during the COVID-19 lockdown of 2020

Introduction: In Aotearoa New Zealand the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 resulted in a four-week lockdown in March and April of 2020 with ongoing restrictions for several weeks. Aim: To explore the experiences of women who were pregnant, giving birth and/or managing the early weeks of motherhood during the 2020 COVID-19 alert levels 3 and 4 in Aotearoa New Zealand. Method: This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to explore childbirth experiences during the COVID-19 alert level restrictions. Reflexive, inductive, thematic analysis was used to identify codes, subthemes and themes. Findings: Seventeen women participated in the study. Analysis of the qualitative interviews revealed four themes. The first of these was: Relationship with my midwife, in which participants described the importance of the midwifery continuity of care relationship, with midwives often going above and beyond usual care and filling the gaps in service provision. In the Disruption to care theme the participants described feeling anxious and uncertain, with concerns about the hospital restrictions and changing rules. The participants also described their Isolation during postnatal care in a maternity facility due to separation from their partners/whānau;they describe receiving the bare necessities of care, feeling they were on their own, and working towards their release home;all of which took an emotional and mental toll. The final theme, Undisturbed space, describes the positive aspects of the lockdown of being undisturbed by visitors, being better able to bond with the baby and being able to breastfeed in peace. Conclusion: Midwifery continuity of care appears to have supported these women and their families/ whānau during the service restrictions caused by the COVID-19 lockdown. The partner, or other primary support person, and whānau should be considered essential support and should not be excluded from early postpartum hospital care.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Participation for Persons with Brain Injury: A Qualitative Analysis...American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) 99th Annual Conference, November 8-11, 2022, Chicago, Illinois

To understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on participation for persons with traumatic brain injury (pwTBI). Inductive qualitative analysis was performed to identify themes from semi-structured interviews or focus groups of pwTBI or their family members. Community. Study included 32 structured interviews and 4 focus groups with 41 participants (n=34 pwTBI and n=7 family members). Participants with TBI were eligible if they were >=18 at the time of initial TBI, presented with mild BI, able to speak and understand English, able to access the video conferencing platform, and were community-dwelling. Family members were eligible if they were >=18, related to an individual who was >=18 at the time of initial TBI, currently living in a community setting, speak and understand English, and able to access the video conferencing platform. N/A. Experience of participation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Several themes emerged relating to participation during the COVID-19 pandemic for pwTBI including: 1) transitioning remote, 2) normalization of 'stay at home' lifestyle, 3) mental health implications, and 4) impact of pandemic mandates on participation. Within these themes, many respondents identified challenges such as isolation, depression, and fear of infection;however, respondents also identified positive experiences such as feeling that participation challenges were no longer restricted to those with TBI or other disabilities, new opportunities for socializing, and more remote job opportunities that eliminate the need for transportation and ability to perform in a distracting environment. The experiences of participation for pwTBI during the COVID-19 pandemic had many similarities to the experiences of the general population;however, these findings suggest that pwTBI also have distinct positive experiences. There may be an element of resiliency in social engagement that individuals develop post TBI that warrants further investigation as society continues to transition to pre-pandemic patterns. None.

Caring for a person with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study with family care-givers

The aim of this study was to explore the experience of family care-givers of people with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Veneto region of Italy to understand how and to what extent the emergency has affected care-givers' lives and care routines. Twenty adult children of an ill person were interviewed via phone and video call, in adherence with the restrictions against COVID-19. Thematic analysis showed five main themes: the care-giver's experience, the care recipient's experience, relationships with care recipients, changes in the care routine and resources. Results pointed out that the time needed in the care routine and everyday activities increased during the pandemic, together with the need to find alternatives to physical activity at home. Depending on one's personal experience of COVID-19 and approach to preventive rules, the availability of resources, and formal and informal support, three main approaches to care were identified: apprehensive, mindful and fatalistic ones. The pandemic amplified the differences among these already-existing approaches to care as well as the typical challenges and difficulties experienced by family care-givers, and it resulted in an increased burden connected to practical difficulties, emotional stress and difficulties in reaching for help. These results underline the importance of strengthening the external support network for older people to help family care-givers, especially during emergencies.

Journaling among home care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A promising method for qualitative data collection

Qualitative methods that capture individual lived experiences throughout rapidly changing circumstances are particularly important during public health emergencies. The COVID-19 pandemic has put home care workers at risk as they provide vital services in homes to individuals with chronic conditions or disabilities. Using a 6-week journaling process in which we enrolled participants at different points, we sought to examine experiences of home care workers (n = 47) in the United States in New York and Michigan during April–July 2020 of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our methods for data collection and analysis were guided by a general qualitative approach as we aimed to examine the weekly perspectives and lived experiences of home care workers. We asked individuals to respond to our journaling prompts weekly to capture their reflections in "real time." To better understand home care workers' perspectives on journaling and the broader external context in which they provided care, we triangulated our data with interviews with home care workers (n = 19) and home health agency representatives (n = 9). We explored the feasibility of a rolling journaling process during an unprecedented public health emergency, characterized by rapid changes and uncertainty in day-to-day life, and reflect on lessons learned to guide future research on journaling for data collection, particularly for marginalized workers during public health crises, when events are evolving rapidly.

The COVID-19 Pandemic in Hong Kong: Exploring the Gaps in COVID-19 Prevention Practices from a Social Justice Framework

Like many settings worldwide, Hong Kong has recently been combatting the COVID-19 pandemic. Ethnic minorities have reported perceived discrimination via local media outlets. They have been stereotyped as virus spreaders due to the increasing number of confirmed cases and untraceable COVID-19 clusters in Hong Kong. Using a social justice framework, this qualitative study explores gaps in COVID-19 prevention practices to eliminate systemic barriers for ethnic minorities in Hong Kong. Fifteen interviews were conducted with social service providers who worked closely with ethnic minority groups (South and Southeast Asian groups from low-income households, foreign domestic workers and asylum seekers and refugees) during the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong. This study yielded six themes using thematic analysis as follows: (i) lacking mental health support for diverse ethnic minority groups;(ii) lacking efforts to eliminate perceived discrimination;(iii) existing language barriers across diverse services;(iv) lacking channels to disseminate accurate information;(v) a need for advanced technology and (vi) lacking appropriate surgical mask sizes for some ethnic minority individuals. This study recommends culturally responsive practices in Hong Kong.