Still lost in transition: a qualitative descriptive study of people's experiences following treatment completion for haematological cancer in Wales, UK.

The aim of this study was to explore Welsh adults' experiences of the transition into survivorship from initial active systemic anti-cancer treatments for haematological cancers. An exploratory, qualitative descriptive study consisting of in-depth, face-to-face interviews was designed. A convenience sample of adults in Wales, UK, who had completed their initial systemic anti-cancer treatment for haematological cancer was recruited from one University Health Board. Data were generated in digitally recorded, individual, face-to-face interviews during 2017. Interviews were fully transcribed and analysed using a qualitative thematic approach. Seven people participated in interviews. Thematic analysis revealed three themes: encountering ambiguity, the pursuit of normality and navigating treatment completion. The transition from patient to survivor was characterised by trepidation and uncertainty. While participants sought to resume a sense of normality in their lives, they were beset by enduring treatment effects. They felt insufficiently prepared for these effects and were uncertain about the availability of the ongoing supportive care which met their individual needs. Participants articulated that they desired much more from haematology providers in preparing them for life beyond initial SACT.

The effect of Tai Chi on quality of life in male older people: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Physical activity can improve the mental and physical functioning of older people. This study investigated the impact of Tai Chi exercise on the quality of life of older men. METHODS: This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted on 132 older men in an urban area of Iran. The subjects were randomly assigned into two groups: a Tai Chi intervention group and a control group (n = 66 per group). Quality of life was evaluated using the Leiden-Padua quality of life questionnaire before and after the intervention. Data analysis was performed using analytical statistics via the SPSS software. RESULTS: After eight weeks of Tai Chi exercise, the mean scores of quality of life in different areas demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p < 0 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study illustrated that the 8-week Tai Chi intervention had a positive effect on quality of life in older men.

A qualitative national focus group study of the experience of living with lymphoedema and accessing local multiprofessional lymphoedema clinics.

AIM: The aim of this study was to explore people's experiences of living with lymphoedema and to assess the impact of access to local lymphoedema clinics on their condition and thus their lives. BACKGROUND: A chronic condition caused by reduced lymphatic function, lymphoedema leads to swelling, pain and mobility problems and can adversely affect quality-of-life. It is of international concern as its prevalence is rising. Yet lymphoedema awareness is limited, diagnostic delay common and access to specialist treatment restricted. The concept of local lymphoedema clinics is gaining support and in 2011 the All Wales Lymphoedema Service was founded. However, empirical investigation of local lymphoedema services remains limited. DESIGN: A qualitative exploratory study consisting of focus group interviews in every Welsh lymphoedema clinic (n = 8). METHODS: A convenience sample of adults living with lymphoedema in Wales was recruited. Data were collected in digitally recorded focus groups during July and August 2013. Interviews were fully transcribed and analysed using a qualitative content approach. FINDINGS: Fifty-nine people participated in eight focus groups. Analysis revealed three themes: Living with lymphoedema is a battle; delays in obtaining a correct diagnosis and the positive impact of lymphoedema clinics on participants' lives. Locally accessible clinics made meaningful differences to peoples' lymphoedema, engendered positive outcomes and improved engagement with and adherence to lymphoedema self-management. CONCLUSIONS: Local specialist lymphoedema clinics can make a positive difference. They may be cost-effective and further investigation, including economic evaluation is necessary.

Tensions and ambiguities: A qualitative study of final year adult field nursing students' experiences of caring for people affected by advanced dementia in Wales, UK.

BACKGROUND: Rising dementia prevalence means that general nurses globally will encounter more people affected by advanced dementia. Advanced dementia care is profoundly complex yet there is a paucity of research exploring how general nursing students experience and thus learn to care for those affected. OBJECTIVES: To explore final year nursing students' (adult field) experiences of caring for people affected by advanced dementia. DESIGN: A qualitative design was adopted. SETTING: The setting was Wales, UK. PARTICIPANTS: Eleven final year nursing undergraduates (adult field). METHOD: Data were collected using digitally recorded one-to-one in-depth interviews in 2013 and analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Participants' experiences fell within three main themes: they can be quite challenging; a lot of dementia patients are seen as hazards and it's not all about doing stuff. Participants aspired to person-centred care. However, they felt insufficiently prepared for what they believed was knowledgeable work requiring interpersonal competence and confidence. Participants appreciated that many practitioners, their clinical educators, were insufficiently prepared for advanced dementia care. CONCLUSIONS: The study provided further evidence of the complexity of caring for those with advanced dementia and associated theory, practice and policy gaps. There are important implications for education in terms of curriculum development and learning from and in practice.

Supporting undergraduate nursing students through structured personal tutoring: Some reflections.

Support is imperative for nursing students worldwide as they face the many challenges associated with learning and working. Moreover enhancing student retention is an increasing concern for institutions across the globe. The personal tutor is a frequently hidden yet potentially significant figure in many students' experience of higher education. This paper offers some critical reflections on a structured approach to personal tutoring within an undergraduate nursing programme in a research focused Welsh university. Structured personal tutoring can provide an organised, coherent and proactive support system throughout students' educational programmes. However the approach changes the shape of personal tutoring and has the potential to increase academics' workloads and with it costs.