International literature reveals that single mothers experience increased levels of chronic stress, which is mainly due to economic hardship and reduced levels of social support. Eventually this ...leads to psychological distress. While most of the studies commonly identify that mental health disorders are common among single mothers compared to their married counterparts, the magnitude of the problem might be even larger since diagnosis-specific tools may mask important levels of distress of milder intensity. This study aims to assess the level of mental distress experienced by single mothers as measured by the GHQ-28, and how it is influenced by socioeconomic factors, as well as the level of perceived social support.
Between January and March 2012, Greek speaking single mothers who reside in Cyprus were recruited by either personal conduct through Single Mothers' Association (SMA), or by using snowball sampling technic. Mental distress was assessed with the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) and perceived social support with the Social Provision Scale (SPS). All scales were completed anonymously and voluntarily by 316 single mothers. Univariable and multivariable associations with socio-demographic characteristics were investigated using chi-square tests and in multivariable backward stepwise logistic regression models respectively. Odds ratio of psychological distress across decreasing levels of social support were estimated in logistic regression models. .
As many as 44.6% of the sample appeared to experience psychological distress (GHQ-28 total score ≥ 5). Strong associations with all health assessment tools were observed with variables relating to the lowest monthly family income, the presence of economic difficulties, the higher educational level, the age group 35-44 years and pre-existing illness. Social support as perceived by the mothers displayed a strong negative independent association with psychological distress, even after adjusting confounders.
This study highlights that single mothers are very likely to experience poor psychological well-being. With a steady rise in the proportion of single-parent families headed by a mother, these findings highlight a significant issue that would adversely affect many women and consequently their children and the community. It also emphasizes the necessity for interventions and strategies at community level in order to support this vulnerable population group.
Introduction
Research suggests that specific training on LGBT+ issues may improve the competencies and skills of health and social care (HSC) professionals, which reduces the negative attitudes ...toward LGBT+ people. Despite this, there seems to be a lack of coverage of LGBT+ needs in HSC education. The present study aims to explore the specific LGBT+ training needs of HSC professionals and to examine the relationship between these training needs and the four dimensions of the Papadopoulos model, i.e.
cultural awareness, cultural knowledge, cultural sensitivity,
and
cultural competence.
Methods
The research used data from a cross-cultural project, “Intercultural Education for Nurses in Europe (IENE9),” which was administered to 412 HSC academics and workers (62% females;
M
age
= 46.06,
SD
age
= 10.48) between February 2020 and July 2020, in seven European countries: UK (coordinator), Denmark, Spain, Germany, Cyprus, Italy, and Romania.
Results
Hierarchical multiple regression showed that higher training needs were associated with
cultural awareness
,
cultural knowledge
, and
cultural competence
. The need for training on LGBT+ issues was higher for Cyprus, Romania, Spain, Italy, and the UK, compared with Denmark (no differences between Germany and Denmark were found).
Conclusions
We believe that there has been a lack of focus on the LGBT+ training needs of HSC professionals: Greater efforts are required to develop a culturally competent and compassionate LGBT+ curriculum.
Social Policy Implications
Findings from the present study will inform the development of a free, Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), for culturally competent and compassionate HSC professionals in Europe to improve the quality of their care.
Compassionate care is a key component in nursing and midwifery quality care. It leads to positive patient outcomes, greater patient satisfaction, higher level of compliance, lower costs and reduction ...of nurse’s burnout. The aim of this article is to describe how nurses’ and midwives’ managers understand and practice compassion in Cyprus and Greece. This is a cross-sectional, descriptive, exploratory online survey using close and open-ended questions. Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were applied. This is part of a larger study participating 17 countries. This article discusses Cyprus (Greek-Cypriots n = 47) and Greece data (n = 58). The sample included nurses and/or midwives in management positions, nurse educators/managers in the hospital, community or in educational setting. Participants in this study reported the necessity to be a compassionate manager. Some stated that nurses and midwives do not receive compassion from their managers. Thematic areas revealed include: (a) Defining compassion, (b) Giving/receiving compassion, (c) Manager as advocate (d) Importance of cultural characteristics (e) Advantages/barriers of compassion. Managing and leading staff with compassion have a positive effect in the quality, effectiveness and efficiency in daily practice. It enhances work satisfaction. Nurses’ and midwives’ managers in Cyprus and Greece highlight the importance of reinforcing themselves in providing compassionate care and supporting their staff.
The number of single-parent families headed by mothers is rapidly growing worldwide. A large part of the international literature reveals that single motherhood is associated with increased levels of ...chronic stress, mainly due to economic distress and reduced levels of social support, which may eventually lead to physical and psychological illness. Most published research comes from Northern Europe and the US, while it is accepted that both social welfare systems and societal factors vary substantially across countries. These issues haven't been explored in Southern Europe and this study aims to fill this gap by a) assessing the health of single mothers in Cyprus in terms of self-assessed general health and the prevalence of clinical depressive symptoms and b) investigating the effect of perceived social support relation to their health status.
General health was assessed in terms of Self-Rated Health (SRH), while the prevalence of clinical depressive symptoms was assessed with the Center of Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). Perceived social Support was assessed with the Social Provision Scale. All scales were completed anonymously and voluntary by 316 single mothers. Univariable and multivariable associations between SRH and depressive symptoms with socio-demographic characteristics were investigated using chi-square tests and in multivariable backward stepwise logistic regression models respectively. Odd ratio of clinically significant depressive symptoms and SRH across decreasing levels of social support were estimated in logistic regression models.
The prevalence of depressive symptoms (CES-D score ≥ 22) was 38.9 %, which is almost three times greater than the general population. Strong associations with all health assessment tools were observed with variables relating to the lowest monthly family income and the presence of economic difficulties, unemployment, the single motherhood status and pre-existing illness. Social support as perceived by the mothers displayed a strong negative independent association with all tools, even after adjusting confounders.
These findings can be a challenge for health care professionals, especially those working in the field of community-family nursing and highlight the necessity of interventions and strategies at community level in order to support this vulnerable population group.
It is estimated that 200 million girls/women are living with Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). FGM is a violation of human rights. It has detrimental effects on girls/women's physical and ...psychological health. Nurses and midwives have an essential role in the management and prevention of FGM. The aim of this paper is to investigate the knowledge and attitudes of nurses and midwives in Cyprus and Kenya regarding FGM.
A quantitative methodology was applied with the use of an online survey. The sample consisted of 231 Kenyan and Cyprus nurses and midwives.
Most of the participants reported being aware of the issue of FGM. It seems that no protocols exist in managing FGM complications.
Although participants have some knowledge regarding FGM, results revealed the need for further training. They underlined the need for adoption or development of protocols at workplace. Some participants seemed to be skeptical regarding the medicalization of FGM.
•FGM is a violation of human rights•FGM affects girls/women’s physical and psychological health•Midwives expressed the need for training on FGM
Objective: This paper aims to describe the development of a European model that refers for healthcare leadership. The model promotes the values of cultural competence and compassion.Methods: The ...development of this model is part of the IENE 4 EU funded project with participating countries: United Kingdom, Spain, Cyprus, Romania, Italy, Denmark, Turkey. Its development is based on a) a needs assessment survey among healthcare leaders in the partner countries (N = 199), b) two round Delphi study with 14 experts and c) a focus group with healthcare leaders after the development of the model.Results: The components of this model include the basic principles, values and skills that a health care leader should have as a role model and a coach of his/her staff in delivering compassionate and culturally competent care. This model was further used within the IENE 4 project, as a tool for creating learning tools, aiming to improve the quality of care within a cultural framework. Fourteen such learning tools were developed and piloted in all partner countries.Conclusions: Health care leaders need to guide, mentor and support their staff and collaborate among them and with patients and families, as to provide quality care within a safe, compassionate and culturally appropriate environment. This model highlights the key principles of culturally competent and compassionate health care leadership.
Bachground: Worldwide, more than 79.5 million people are forcibly displaced, including a significant number of migrant and refugee families with children. Migration and refugeedom affect these ...families in different dimensions, such as mental, physical and spiritual health. Identifying family needs and enhancing parenting skills can improve family cohesion and health, as well as smooth integration into the host country. This review is part of the Erasmus+ funded project- IENE 8 (Intercultural Education for Nurses in Europe) aiming at empowering migrant and refugee families regarding parenting skills.
Methods: This was a scoping review of literature. The IENE 8 partner countries (Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania, and United Kingdom) searched for peer reviewed papers, grey literature and mass media reports at international, European and national level. The time period for the search of scientific and grey literature was between2013-2018, and for mass media, it was between 2016 and 2018.
Results: 124 relevant sources were identified. They included 33 Peer reviewed papers, 47 Grey literature documents and 44 mass media reports. This revealed the importance of understanding the needs of migrant families with children.
Conclusion: It is evident from the literature that there is a need to support refugee parents to adjust their existing skill and to empower them to develop new ones. Healthcare and social services professionals have an essential role in improving the refugees' parenting skills. This can be done by developing and implementing family-centered and culturally-sensitive intervention programs.
Bachground: Worldwide, more than 79.5 million people are forcibly displaced, including a significant number of migrant and refugee families with children. Migration and refugeedom affect these ...families in different dimensions, such as mental, physical and spiritual health. Identifying family needs and enhancing parenting skills can improve family cohesion and health, as well as smooth integration into the host country. This review is part of the Erasmus+ funded project- IENE 8 (Intercultural Education for Nurses in Europe) aiming at empowering migrant and refugee families regarding parenting skills. Methods: This was a scoping review of literature. The IENE 8 partner countries (Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania, and United Kingdom) searched for peer reviewed papers, grey literature and mass media reports at international, European and national level. The time period for the search of scientific and grey literature was between2013-2018, and for mass media, it was between 2016 and 2018. Results: 124 relevant sources were identified. They included 33 Peer reviewed papers, 47 Grey literature documents and 44 mass media reports. This revealed the importance of understanding the needs of migrant families with children. Conclusion: It is evident from the literature that there is a need to support refugee parents to adjust their existing skill and to empower them to develop new ones. Healthcare and social services professionals have an essential role in improving the refugees' parenting skills. This can be done by developing and implementing family-centered and culturally-sensitive intervention programs.
Aim
This study explored the views of an international sample of registered nurses and midwives working in health and social care concerning socially assistive robots (SARs), and the relationship ...between dimensions of culture and rejection of the idea that SARs had benefits in these settings.
Methods
An online survey was used to obtain rankings of (among other topics) the extent to which SARs have benefits for health and social care. It also asked for free text responses regarding any concerns about SARs.
Results
Most respondents were overwhelmingly positive about SARs' benefits. A small minority strongly rejected this idea, and qualitative analysis of the objections raised by them revealed three major themes: things might go wrong, depersonalization, and patient‐related concerns. However, many participants who were highly accepting of the benefits of SARs expressed similar objections. Cultural dimensions of long‐term orientation and uncertainty avoidance feature prominently in technology acceptance research. Therefore, the relationship between the proportion of respondents from each country who felt that SARs had no benefits and each country's ratings on long‐term orientation and uncertainty avoidance were also examined. A significant positive correlation was found for long‐term orientation, but not for uncertainty avoidance.
Conclusion
Most respondents were positive about the benefits of SARs, and similar concerns about their use were expressed both by those who strongly accepted the idea that they had benefits and those who did not. Some evidence was found to suggest that cultural factors were related to rejecting the idea that SARs had benefits.
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