Use of Photovoice to Understand the Experience of Taking Psychotropic Medications.

Previous work has reported that medication experience may affect medication-related problems, adherence, and quality of life. The purpose of this study was to explore medication experience of individuals taking psychotropic medication from the patient perspective using photovoice methodology. Nineteen participants were given a camera and were asked to photograph their medication experience. Individual and focus group sessions were held for photo reflection and discussion. Transcript data were analyzed to arrive at a model of medication experience. Specific medication experiences, including recognizing medication's benefits, occurrence of side effects, developing medication-taking routine, feeling burden from medications, and benefiting from nonmedication therapies, influenced medication acceptance, but in varying ways. Participants wanted their providers to understand their medication experience. Health care providers should consider exploring medication experience of patients with mental illness. Additional research is needed to evaluate whether exploring patients' medication experience in the clinical setting can improve patient-centered health care outcomes.

Exploration of Learning during an International Health Elective Using Photovoice Methodology.

Based on surveys and structured interviews, International Health Experiences (IHEs) improve cultural sensitivity, communication, and self-confidence among health professions students. However, open-ended methods to explore student learning during an IHE are not widely utilized. We sought to explore pharmacy student-identified learning during an IHE in an open-ended fashion using Photovoice methodology. Pharmacy students on an IHE in Guatemala were given disposable cameras and asked to photograph images that reflected their learning. Through the application of Photovoice methodology students captured, reflected upon, and presented photos to describe the learning they experienced. Themes were drawn from the reflective and focus group data collected. During three IHEs, six students captured seventy-seven photos. Four main learning themes emerged: culture/cultural competence, professional growth, shifting of attitudes, and meaningful/emotional experiences. Pharmacy students documented learning in expected (cultural competence, professional growth) and unexpected (emotional experiences) domains during an IHE. Photovoice may be an effective methodology for the exploration of learning, allowing students to capture their own learning including and beyond what is expected by their instructors.

Using Photovoice to explore patients' experiences with mental health medication: A pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this research is to explore and share the medication experience of those with a mental illness in order to gain understanding of the patient's medication perceptions as well as the impact of medication upon patients' lives. METHODS: Patients with a mental disorder were given cameras and asked to capture the experience of "living with my medication." Using Photovoice methodology, participants reflected on their photos individually and in focus groups. Conceptual themes were drawn from the data. RESULTS: Five participants captured an average of 14 photos each. Self-efficacy with mental illness, mental and physical health connections, and education were the 3 most prominent themes. Aspects of medications were interwoven within these themes but were not the primary focus of the participants. DISCUSSION: Medication experiences of patients with mental illness may encompass much more than the medications themselves.

Development and Examination of a Family Triadic Measure to Examine Quality of Life Family Congruence in Nursing Home Residents and Two Family Members.

Objective: The overall purpose of this study was to propose and test a conceptual model and apply family analyses methods to understand quality of life family congruence in the nursing home setting. Method: Secondary data for this study were from a larger study, titled Measurement, Indicators and Improvement of the Quality of Life (QOL) in Nursing Homes. Research literature, family systems theory and human ecological assumptions, fostered the conceptual model empirically testing quality of life family congruence. Results: The study results supported a model examining nursing home residents and two family members on quality of life family congruence. Specifically, family intergenerational dynamic factors, resident personal and social-psychological factors, and nursing home family input factors were examined to identify differences in quality of life family congruence among triad families. Discussion: Formal family involvement and resident cognitive functioning were found as the two most influential factors to quality of life family congruence (QOLFC).