A quasi-experimental study of group counselling effectiveness for patient functional ability and quality of counselling among patients with hip arthroplasty.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate effectiveness of group counselling for the patients with hip arthroplasty, self-assessed functional ability, and quality of counselling. DESIGN: A quasi-experimental study. METHOD: The questionnaire included the Counselling Quality Instrument (CQI), Harris hip score and Oldwellactive self-rated wellness profile. A Mann-Whitney U- and chi-squared and t-tests were used. A Wilcoxon singed rank test were used to evaluate changes in functional ability. NO PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Patients and the public were not involved in the design, recruitment and implementation of this study. RESULTS: Fifty patients participated. Patients reported better results for limping (p = 0.000), walking distance (p = 0.000) and use of a walking aid (p = 0.001) in the follow-up time point and they pain decreased. Patients were satisfied with interactions during counselling; gender (p = 0.000) and use of a walking aid (p = 0.044) were found to significantly affect. A lack of goal-oriented counselling was in depressive symptoms (p = 0.016), worries (p = 0.010) and loneliness (p = 0.026).

Effects of outsider witness practice on a support group for parents of children with autism spectrum disorder.

PURPOSE: Providing effective support to parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an important part of clinical work. This study used outsider witnesses in group counselling for parents of children with ASD and explored the mechanism through which the therapeutic effects occurred. METHOD: Parents of children diagnosed with ASD participated in an eight-session group activity. Two outsider witnesses were introduced into some of the sessions. The participants were interviewed to collect their experiences of and reflections on the outsider-witness practice. Texts were analysed using the categorical content approach. RESULTS: The intervention was effective because the participants shifted their subjective experiences to an objective position, leading them to reflect on their previous limited perspectives, thus resulting in self-redefinition. These therapeutic effects may arise due to physical displacement, experience resonance, and externalization of subjective experiences. The results of this study have important implications for parents and practitioners.

The Effects of the Positive Psychology-Based Online Group Counselling Program on Mothers Having Children with Intellectual Disabilities.

The purpose of the current study is to examine the effects of the Positive Psychology-Based Online Group Counselling Program (PPBOGCP) on the psychological well-being, self-compassion and hope levels of the mothers having children with intellectual disabilities. The current study is a mixed-design research having quantitative and qualitative dimensions. The quantitative dimension of the study was designed in a quasi-experimental design based on the experimental, placebo and control group pre-test, post-test and follow-up test model. The study group is comprised of a total of 35 participants. While in the experimental group, the 10-session PPBOGCP developed by the researcher was implemented, a 10-session group counselling was conducted in the placebo group. No study was conducted with the individuals in the control group. As the data collection tools, the Psychological Well-Being Scale, Self-Compassion Scale and Dispositional Hope Scale were used in the current study. The quantitative analyses were conducted in SPSS 17 program package while the qualitative data were analyzed with the content analysis technique. According to the findings of the current study, the PPBOGCP created significant differences in the psychological well-being, self-compassion and hope levels of the mothers having children with intellectual disabilities according to the intervention time effect (p < 0.05). It was observed that the data obtained in the individual interviews were collected around the categories of "Learning how to cope with, recognizing the sources of support, perceiving positively-acceptance, empathy and development".

Effect of counselling on maternal-fetal attachment in unwanted pregnancy: a randomised controlled trial.

Purpose: The present study aimed to determine the effect of group counselling on Maternal-Fetal Attachment (MFA) in mothers with unwanted pregnancy.Methods: This study was a randomised clinical trial. The participants were 80 mothers with unwanted pregnancy during 28-34 weeks of pregnancy who referred to health centres of Karaj to receive prenatal care in 2018. The women were randomly assigned into intervention (N = 40) and control groups (N = 40). The intervention group received four weekly group counselling sessions to promote MFA and the control group received routine care. Cranley's Maternal-Fetal Attachment Scale was used to assess the attachment of mother to fetus at baseline and two weeks after counselling. An ANCOVA test was performed to evaluate the effect of intervention and the number of parity.Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of general health scores and attachment of mother to fetus at baseline, but after the intervention, the mean scores of MFA in the intervention group had a significant difference with the control group (p < 0.001); the ANCOVA test indicated that attachment scores were significant in terms of intervention and pregnancy group and attachment scores indicated further increase in the primipara group compared to the multipara group (p = 0.041).Conclusion: Considering the effectiveness of group counselling in improving MFA in unplanned pregnancy, it can be used in prenatal care.

Empowering Single Mothers through Creative Group Counselling: An Effective Intervention to Improve Mental Wellbeing

@#Introduction: Single parent families, especially, those headed by single mothers are becoming increasingly common around the world especially in Malaysia. Single mothers generally suffer from poorer mental health, job discrimination, abuse and neglect. Hence, they often experience high anxiety, depression, and stress. This calls for research to empower their mental wellbeing. The present study examined the effectiveness of creative group counselling in increasing self-compassion, and decreasing depression, anxiety and stress among single mothers. Methods: A quasi experimental pre-test post-test design was employed in the study. Research participants consisted of 36 single mothers placed in two experimental and two control groups. The instruments used were Self-Compassion Scale and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale. A self-compassion module was developed that comprised creative therapeutic activities which was administered to the participants in the experimental groups via a 7-session group counselling programme. Participants in the control groups, on the other hand, took part in guidance activities. Semi structured interviews were also performed to gather feedback on the impact of the creative intervention from three single mothers. Results: Findings revealed that creative group counselling successfully increased the level of self-compassion among single mothers. Additionally, the depression, stress and anxiety scores of single mothers were lower after joining the group counselling programme. Furthermore, three themes emerged from the present study which are i) be kind to oneself; ii) mistakes are part of life; and iii) self-transformation. Conclusion: It is evident that the implementation of creative group counselling improves the mental wellbeing of single mothers.

The efficacy of group counselling on perceived stress among infertile women undergoing in vitro fertilization treatment: An RCT.

BACKGROUND: One of the stressful and critical experiences that threat the individual, family, marital, and social stability is infertility. OBJECTIVE: To identify the effects of midwifery-led counselling programs on the perceived stress of the women undergoing assisted reproductive treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial, 50 infertile women who underwent in vitro fertilization treatment for the first time were enrolled in two groups. The intervention group received six sessions of group counselling by M.Sc. midwifery of counseling student and the control group received only the routine care. All participants filled Newton's standard questionnaire before and at the time of puncture, embryo transfer and the pregnancy test. RESULTS: The mean ± SD scores for the perceived infertility stress before the intervention in the control and the intervention groups were 167.92 ± 12.14 and 166.75 ± 13.27, respectively. The mean of perceived stress after intervention at the time of oocyte puncture in the control and case group were 177.12 ± 19.37 and 115.75 ± 13.88, at the time of embryo transfer were 179.40 ± 18.34 and 118.08 ± 15.37, and at the time of pregnancy test was 183.76 ± 14.97 and 120.50 ± 16.24, respectively. The perceived stress of infertility after intervention were statistically significant in the two group (p ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSION: Group counselling is one of the effective methods for reducing the perceived stress in the women undergoing assisted reproductive treatment.

Impact of financial support and focussed group counselling on treatment abandonment in children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Experience over 22 years from North India.

OBJECTIVES: Efforts are being made worldwide to prevent abandonment in children with leukaemia. The study aimed to determine changes in treatment refusal, treatment abandonment rates, and its reasons in response to financial support and focussed group counselling. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study conducted at paediatric haematology-oncology unit, King George's Medical University, Lucknow among children <18 years admitted with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia from 1995 to 2017. Study divided into three periods: Phase 1 (1995-March 2003): Basic support, Phase 2 (April 2003-June 2009): Financial support and Phase 3 (July 2009-2017): Financial, social support with group counselling. Phase 3- subdivided into 3a: group counselling and 3b: intensified group counselling. RESULTS: Number of children registered for treatment during phase 1, 2, 3a, 3b: 176, 200, 360, and 305. Treatment refusal decreased significantly over time: 21% vs 14.5% vs 12.5% vs 5.9% (P < 0.001), especially during phase 3b. Although no change was found in treatment abandonment during phase 2, abandonment significantly reduced in phase 3a (20.3%) as compared with phase 1 (30.2%), with the proportion of children abandoning, due to financial constraints, declining. Abandonment further reduced in phase 3b vs phase 3a (11.1% vs 20.3%) (P = 0.001). After adjusting for other variables, abandonment was found to decrease independently in phase3 (a, b) as compared with phase 1 (P1 = 0.017, P2 = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Although helpful, financial assistance unaccompanied by counselling may be insufficient to bring a radical change. Hence, parental counselling, emphasising on treatment adherence and the aftermaths of treatment abandonment, is indispensable for preventing abandonment in semi-literate populations.

When helpers need help: A case study on the 2012 earthquakes in Italy.

BACKGROUND: After two strong earthquakes in the Emilia region in Italy, many HCWs had to deal with the psychological consequences of the aftershocks. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this case study were a) to describe the psychosocial condition of the HCWs affected by the earthquake; b) to present an intervention immediately after the earthquake on HCWs in a post-disaster situation using a mixed-method approach. METHODS: A mixed-method study was conducted collecting qualitative data (during Group Counselling sessions) and quantitative data (through questionnaires). RESULTS: The results suggested that the impact of the earthquake was very strong, as more than 80% perceived at least a severe impact event capable of altering their ability to function; most of the thoughts and feelings were related to death and fear. CONCLUSIONS: This study adds knowledge about how to plan interventions aiming to help those workers at both individual and organisational level.

Group members' questions shape participation in health counselling and health education.

OBJECTIVE: This study examines how group members' questions shape member participation in health counselling and health education groups. METHODS: The study applies conversation analytic principles as a method. The data consist of video-recorded health education lessons in secondary school and health counselling sessions for adults with a high risk of Type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: Group members' questions accomplish a temporary change in participatory roles. They are used to 1) request counselling, 2) do counselling or 3) challenge previous talk. They are usually treated as relevant and legitimate actions by the participants, but are occasionally interpreted as transitions outside the current action or topic. CONCLUSION: Group members' questions result in a shift from leader-driven to member-driven discussion. Thus they constitute a pivot point for detecting changes in participation in group interventions. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Observing the occurrence of group members' questions helps group leaders to adjust their own actions accordingly and thus facilitate or guide group participation. Comparison of the type and frequency of members' questions is a way to detect different trajectories for delivering group interventions and can thus be used to develop methods for process evaluation of interventions.

A quasi-experiment of hope group counseling on improving hope levels in offenders / 中国心理卫生杂志

Objective:To explore the effectiveness of an 8-week hope group counseling on the level of hope in offenders.Methods:The experiment used quasi-experiment design and 24 offenders whose scores of Adult Dispositional Hope Scale (ADHS) were one standard deviation lower than the overall average were assigned to the intervention group (n =12) and the control group (n =12).The subjects in the intervention group received group counseling for improving the level of hope (90 min per week for 8 times),and the control group kept normal.The ADHS (including agency thoughts and pathway thoughts),Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were used to evaluate the effectiveness before and after intervention.Besides,the study involved the follow-up test in the forth-week after the intervention.Differences within groups were compared by using t-test of paired samples.Differences between groups were compared by using analysis of covariance and JohnsonNeyman method.Result:The results of differences within groups showed that,in the follow-up test,the scores of ADHS,agency thought and pathway thought were higher than that of before the intervention,and the scores of SAS were lower than that of before the intervention(Ps ＜0.01).The results of differences between groups showed that,=in the follow-up test,the scores of ADHS,agency thought and pathway thought were higher in the intervention group than in the control group,and the scores of SAS were lower in the intervention group than in the control group [(48.0 ±5.7)vs.(39.2 ±5.6),(23.1 ±3.4)vs.(19.0 ±3.2),(24.9 ±3.0)vs.(20.2 ± 3.4),(36.4 ± 7.6)vs.(41.2 ±6.5);Ps ＜0.01].The results of Johnson-Neyman method showed that when the scores of ADHS in the intervention group were between 8 and 37 points on the pre-test,the scores of hope on the post-test were higher in the intervention group than in the control group[(48.8 ± 4.9) vs.(35.7 ± 4.9),P ＜ 0.05].Conclusion:These findings suggest that the group counseling could improve the level of hope in offenders.