An exploration of the cultural appropriateness of the family-centered function-focused care intervention.

The Family-centered Function Focused Care (Fam-FFC) intervention, is a nurse-family care partnership model aimed to improve the physical and cognitive recovery in hospitalized persons living with Alzheimer's Disease Related Dementias (ADRD) while improving the care partner's experiences. Discussions of patients' needs and preferences between nurses and the patient's close family members have been found to be useful in preventing excessive stress in persons with dementia, while lessening the anxiety of care partners. However, the efficacy of dementia-specific interventions is influenced in part by the degree to which the interventions are flexible and sensitive to the patient's and care-partner's condition, needs, and preferences, including cultural preferences. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess the cultural appropriateness of Fam-FFC using the Ecological Validity Model (EVM). This qualitative, descriptive study included 28 consented care partners drawn from a sample of 455 dyads enrolled in the Fam-FFC intervention. An interview guide was created based on the EVM. Participants provided demographic data. Thematic analysis was conducted to analyze transcribed interviews. The majority of the sample was female (79%), Non-Hispanic (96%) and half were married. One-half of the sample represented Black care partners and one-half were White. Seventy-nine percent lived with their family member with ADRD. Three major themes were identified from the thematic analysis including Care Partner Identity, Care Partner Preferences, and Goals of Care for functional recovery of their family member living with dementia. In this study care partners wanted more social services as well as home care that supported not just physical needs but also social and recreational needs. Findings from the study offer guidance on improving the Fam-FFC intervention including strengthening education and resources on partner self-care.

Culturally Responsive Psychiatric Services for Refugee and Immigrant Adolescents: Are Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists Prepared to Serve Refugee Children? A Focus on African Refugee Families.

The arrival of sub-Saharan African immigrants and refugees (AIRs) to the United States has been steadily increasing for the past several decades. Not only are AIR adolescents directly affected by previous migration processes, but they are also impacted by stress and the mental health of their parents, even if they were born in the United States to immigrant/refugee parents. Immigrant and refugee parents concerned with their child's behavior and emotions should be evaluated by a qualified mental health professional, including licensed counselors, psychologists, and child and adolescent psychiatrists. However, access to culturally responsive psychiatric care for youth is limited. African adolescents are additionally burdened by their own acculturation process, balancing multiple cultural expectations as well as feelings of social isolation resulting from perceived racism and discrimination.