Scielo RSS http://scielo.pt/rss.php?pid=2184-777020230001&lang=en vol. 16 num. lang. en http://scielo.pt/img/en/fbpelogp.gif http://scielo.pt http://scielo.pt/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2184-77702023000100001&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en Abstract The intent of research is to improve the lives of individuals and communities. Through qualitative research specifically, we can deepen our understanding of reality and investigate the nuances of how people experience and make meaning from it. Qualitative research, as a scientific approach, enables researchers to examine phenomena from the point of view of those who live it. Qualitative researchers seek to understand individuals’ experiences, perceptions, thoughts, and emotions that are constructed through social rules, cultural patterns shaped by the communities and societies in which they live. Although research objectives differ, qualitative research is defined by a systematic process of researchers' identifying and interrogating their positionality, subjectivities, and influential paradigms. In this introduction readers will note similar methodologies; however, these are presented in the context of multiple disciplines. This volume demonstrates the evolving interdisciplinarity of qualitative research methods that engages scholars in innovative conversation. This editorial offers a peek at the interdisciplinary potential of qualitative research. Such interdisciplinary prowess is found in Volume 16 of New Trends in Qualitative Research. http://scielo.pt/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2184-77702023000100002&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en Abstract Access to mainstream education by the indigenous peoples can result in their social and economic empowerment. However, indigenous students' assimilation into mainstream education has been a recent phenomenon in the Philippines. Discrimination persists as one of the disturbing experiences of the indigenous students inside the school. It is one of the leading causes of school dropouts among indigenous students and a barrier to pursuing higher education. Objective: To understand the meaning of this problem and explore the experiences and coping mechanisms of the Aeta (indigenous) students at a Philippine state university towards racism in education. Methods: A qualitative ethnographic study was conducted between August and December 2018 and included two indigenous students enrolled at a state university in Pampanga, Philippines. Ethnographic interviews, informal conversations, and participant observation were conducted to gather data, which was then thematically evaluated. Results: After synthesizing the data, three categories developed: 'Ethnicity, Race, and Racism,' ‘Coping with racism, and ‘Meanings of racism.' The first category explored racism as a phenomenon linked to perceived ethnic and racial differences that cause harm to indigenous students on a physical and emotional level. The second category covered indigenous people's active and passive forms of resistance as they dealt with racism in education. The third category presented that racism is associated with a 'social problem’ as it distresses their ethnic community and interferes with their opportunity to obtain a quality education and a 'motivation' for they believe achieving the same societal status as their non-indigenous counterparts through literacy could bring empowerment to their ethnic group; thus eliminate subordination and inferiority. Conclusion: Racism in education remains a significant challenge for the Aeta students and therefore calls for the reform efforts of local agencies and other stakeholders. http://scielo.pt/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2184-77702023000100003&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en Abstract Diabetes is a growing public health concern in Liberia, where an estimated 2.1% of the population live with the disease. The challenges with diabetes in Liberia are enormous. Diabetes places immense socioeconomic pressure on individuals and their families and burdens an already overstretched health care system still recovering from the destructive effects of the 14-year civil war. While efforts towards rebuilding the health care system in Liberia are ongoing, people with diabetes experience significant challenges accessing social, economic, and health-care resources to manage their illness. Purpose: The goal of this critical hermeneutic study was to explore what is it like to live with diabetes in Liberia. Methods: Through purposeful sampling, 10 adults with diabetes were recruited from a publicly funded hospital in Monrovia, Liberia. Data were collected using a photovoice method, wherein participants photographed their everyday experiences of living with diabetes. Results: We identified three themes that answered the question of what is it like to live with diabetes in Liberia: living with diabetes means living with 1) food insecurity, 2) trying to access a health care system that was not built to respond to diabetes, and 3) using faith to cope and foster hope. Conclusion: The experiences of people living with diabetes in Liberia are under-researched, pointing to a gap in knowledge. The findings from this study address this gap in the literature by providing a clearer picture of the impact of diabetes on individuals and families. We provide tangible recommendations to local governments and policy makers on interventions that may improve health outcomes and quality of life for people living with diabetes in Liberia. http://scielo.pt/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2184-77702023000100004&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en Abstract Framework: Although participatory approaches highlight the expertise of the participants and assign them responsibilities over the research process, there is less systematic discussion about the participants’ actual involvement in practice especially in the analysis and interpretation of the data. Despite the claims of equal partnership, the participant is often still perceived as the subject revealing hidden yet simple inside knowledge (first order account) around which the researcher, as a neutral outsider, builds complex theories by drawing on his/her scientific expertise (second order account). Goal and method: Our goal is to investigate how first and second order accounts contribute to a multi-layered analysis of the interview encounter by challenging binary thinking. We also explore the way interactional sociolinguistic methodology can inform participatory research by analyzing the way first and second order accounts are negotiated between interviewer and participant. We present the analysis of a discourse-based interview extract from our ongoing and completed work on the discourse analysis of formality in workplace emails in multinational companies in Greece. Findings: The results illustrate iterative processes of negotiation of meaning in situ and in line with the participants’ temporary and social roles. They highlight the importance of collaborative framing of the interpretation of and theorization from data in which the participants are co-creators. Shifting from static and purely essentialistic or constructivist understandings of the interviewer and participant to a holistic approach, this paper frames the interview encounter as an interactional domain of activity that can better capture the complexity of the lived experience. http://scielo.pt/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2184-77702023000100005&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en Abstract Vaccines are considered one of the most important public health advancements of the modern age and the most cost-effective preventive method of curbing the spread of several diseases with high morbidity and lethality. However, vaccination coverage rates around the world have been threatened by the vaccine hesitancy phenomenon, considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of the ten greatest menaces to public health in the world. Vaccine opposition is a mentality driven by various interests, as old as the vaccine itself, predominantly using the media and social networks, which have an enormous influence on people. They often spread false information about vaccines, frequently with no adequate scientific backing, negatively impacting vaccination rates. To understand the possible correlation between the information spread on social media and childhood vaccination rates, we performed a narrative review on the subject, with a qualitative approach, in original or review articles, indexed in national and international databases and/or journals, in Portuguese and English, published between 2011 and 2021, available in full and free of charge. One hundred and seventy-two articles were extracted from the literature, 49 of which were submitted to analysis. The use of content analysis in a narrative literature review made it possible to interpret the main publications that in the last decade point to the impact of social media as one of the main factors linked to vaccine hesitancy in children. The articles show that communication is presented as a determinant for adherence or vaccine hesitancy, and social media are a useful tool for disseminating information that can influence and mobilize the population, promoting its acceptance or having a negative impact on childhood vaccine coverage rates. Social Media has become fertile ground for the creation and spread of fake news, hence the importance of the health professional's engagement in strengthening the population's confidence in relation to immunization, minimizing vaccine hesitancy. http://scielo.pt/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2184-77702023000100006&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en Abstract Solving complex problems can be challenging as they often involve multiple layers of related issues and factors. Observational research is a helpful tool for understanding healthcare's complex and contextually dependent problems; however, observations can be time-consuming and resource-intensive, particularly when including the analysis process. As a result, researchers may utilize other qualitative methods, such as interviews or focus groups. However choosing a strategy different than observations could miss subtleties of care that happen in practice. It is easy to underestimate the value of data gathered through firsthand observations of patient-provider and team interactions. One solution to making observations a more convenient method in healthcare research is collaborating in the analysis process. Research collaboration involves establishing an interprofessional research team with diverse backgrounds and professional perspectives. In this way, the group comprises individuals from various roles and different professional backgrounds to ensure exhaustive findings and improve the reliability and accuracy of the results. The diversity in the team represents the intricate dynamics in the complex system of care. Although there are guidelines for collaborative analysis in a traditional ethnographic study, there must be more focus on healthcare research. This paper explains the concepts and features of collaborative analysis in interprofessional research. This approach offers a systematic way to construct a code book, which can produce comprehensive and valuable insights into the complex dynamic of care. http://scielo.pt/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2184-77702023000100007&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en Abstract Rising housing prices, associated supply gaps and displacement processes have revived the “housing issue” in Germany. This is particularly true for certain social groups socially marginalized by high competition in the housing market. The participatory action research study “Wohnungsleerstand wandeln!”(WohL) - “Worthy places from un-used spaces” examines the coexistence of housing scarcity and housing abundance in a district of the Munich metropolitan area. The goal is to use a participatory multi-method design, including a two-stage qualitative Delphi Survey, to find tailored solutions for the housing situation in each community. The Delphi method was used to reflect the diversity of perspectives in housing as well as the principles of participatory action research such as participation in research, proximity to the field, and capacity building through mutual learning. In the case of sustainable housing solutions, a group discussion process, in which facts are listed by participants (who remain anonymous) without taking into account local social structures, can lead to conclusions that are not accepted by the community. Hence, this paper explains how a Delphi Survey can be designed as a qualitative element of participatory action research. Therefore, the WohL Study and its qualitative Delphi Survey are presented, followed by a methodological reflection on the findings. It becomes clear that consensus and anonymity have to be balanced with solution sustainability. Criteria like the selection of participants, the process of group discussion as well as data collection and analysis have to be adapted to the specific field to be explored. New, diversity-sensitive and method-based approaches to decision making pave the way for a transformation of housing that must imply “vacancies” are to be (re)used, but also that collective decision-making brings “overlooked” groups “back into play.” Ultimately, the essential prerequisite for managing the transformation is the participation of the people of the community. http://scielo.pt/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2184-77702023000100008&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en Abstract Framework This paper explores how a qualitative systematic literature review (SLR) can contribute to our understanding of the trends in upper-limb wearable devices. These devices are pieces of electronic equipment that can be worn as accessories, such as watches, or embedded in clothing, including gloves and sleeves, and could play an essential role in subjects' quality of life after any occurrence that affects their possibility to perform basic activities autonomously. Moreover, these devices can be used to improve manual performance tasks like surgical or precision tasks, and even more so when performed under extreme ambient temperature conditions. Goals and Methods: A SLR on upper-limb embedded devices was conducted based on scientific documents retrieved from the Scopus database. Two research questions were outlined: "How has this technology been evolving?" and "What is the trend according to the fields of application?". The combination of keywords (upper-limb* AND wearable* AND device*) was used in the title, abstract, and keywords fields. Results: A total of 555 documents were obtained. Descriptive statistical and bibliometric analyses were conducted, identifying trends, knowledge gaps, and the future direction of research. The free software VOSviewer was used to construct data visualization bibliometric maps of the co-authorship and co-citation network. A subset of 26 documents was considered for the critical qualitative synthesis. This step facilitated the visualization and exploration of the interconnectedness among authors and the citation patterns within the literature. Combining the information gathered enables addressing the extent and the emerging trends in upper-limb embedded devices' development according to the field they are applied. Final considerations: With this research, a starting point in developing a proof of concept of a novel device aimed at improving dexterity in challenging environments is established. http://scielo.pt/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2184-77702023000100009&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en Abstract The United States Supreme Court ruled in Plyler v. Doe (1982) that all children regardless of their legal immigration status have a fundamental right to K-12 education. Despite education being a fundamental right, it remains fragile and contested for undocumented immigrants. Federal courts have had to reaffirm Plyler multiple times, including issuing a permanent injunction over California’s Proposition 187 (1994), which banned undocumented children from K-12 public schools and required officials and teachers to report anyone they suspected of being undocumented to federal immigration authorities. More recently, the courts blocked Alabama’s HB 56(2012) provision that required schools to check and report newly enrolled K-12 students’ immigration status. The entanglement between postsecondary education and immigration, which falls outside of Plyler’s protection, has grown more pronounced over the past two decades. Federal immigration law in 1996 opened the door for states to actively regulate undocumented immigrants’ right to postsecondary education, including banning admissions or creating discriminatory hardships by denying in-state tuition or financial aid. While a rich scholarship covers these policies and their effects, no systematic study exists on the news framing of the intersection between education and immigration. This article examines 40,469 news articles published from 1980 to 2022 in six national and state news sources in the United States to explore the (dis)connections between education (K-12 and postsecondary) and immigration. Combining machine learning techniques and social network analysis with qualitative coding, we show that reporters’ use of a range of experts creates a deep conflation of education with immigration enforcement and illegality framing. Despite quests for journalistic neutrality, we argue that the use of experts by reporters prevents immigrant education from being a topic on its own or a topic where immigrants are framed primarily in a positive and inclusive way. http://scielo.pt/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2184-77702023000100010&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en Abstract In the studies on musical learning, group musical practice has not been the object of in-depth study. Little is currently known about the impact of playing in an orchestra on students' motivation or learning to study the instrument. In this study, the objective was to understand the phenomenon of musical practice in orchestra to answer the research questions: Does playing in an orchestra generate intrinsic motivation in students? Does it have implications for individual learning and study of the instrument? Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 orchestral students to learn the attitude, feelings and perceptions of the students involved. The content analysis involved: (1) a systematic approach to the data analysis process; (2) the use of data reduction methods; and 3) coding the data into categories. This categorization resulted in what is called “pattern analysis.” The qualitative data analysis indicates that students feel motivated for orchestral practice and that playing in the orchestra can positively affect the student's learning and motivation. The orchestra practice seems to increase the practice time and help develop musical and social skills. Self-determination theory is the one that explains the obtained results. According to this theoretical perspective, to feel motivated for a given task, the individual must fulfil three basic psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and establishment of social bonds. For the students, playing in orchestra seems to be a favorable context for developing autonomy, perception of competence, and establishing social bonds with their peers. Playing in orchestra seems to be the challenge in which the balance between the perception of the difficulty of the task and the perception of being competent to perform it successfully is present. That is an excellent level of challenge. http://scielo.pt/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2184-77702023000100011&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en Abstract Treatment for kidney failure, such as dialysis, can result in a tremendously high physical and psychosocial symptom burden on patients and their families. Kidney supportive care (KSC), including advance care planning, involves early identification and treatment of symptoms that improve the quality of life for people receiving dialysis. The delay or lack of engagement in KSC by dialysis nurses until the end of life may result in people dying without receiving optimal palliative care services. Purpose and Questions: Our overarching purpose is to develop a theory about the process of engagement in KSC by dialysis nurses, and this paper is about a sub-question: What are the personal, professional, organizational, and environmental factors that shape nurses’ attitudes/beliefs toward and knowledge of supportive care in dialysis? Methods: We followed Charmaz’s constructivist grounded theory method. Through initial purposeful and subsequent theoretical sampling, 23 nurses with work experience in outpatient hemodialysis, home hemodialysis, and peritoneal dialysis settings from across Canada were recruited to participate in two interviews, each using the Zoom© teleconferencing platform. Concurrent data collection and analysis were undertaken. Results: Findings at the focused coding stage comprise contextual factors impacting such engagement. The core category of Fragmenting Care is explained by four categories of contextual factors and their related concepts and sub-concepts: (1) structural (lack of dedicated time, language barrier, knowledge gap); (2) inter-relational (patient-related factors; nurse-related factors [discomfort with having the conversation, lack of self-confidence, multi-dimensional tensions-them versus us]); (3) cultural-dialysis (biomedical focus, ambiguous responsibility, inopportune conversations); and (4) systemic (lack of conceptual clarity). Implications: These collective factors have not been illuminated previously, and while challenging, they help to better understand and therefore address engagement in KSC by dialysis nurses. Conclusion: Effecting change to normalize KSC is a priority requiring solutions compatible with complex systems. http://scielo.pt/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2184-77702023000100012&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en Abstract Contextualization: Our Safety VEST Hackathon was inspired by a student’s senior project, which explored the fit of safety vests for construction workers, discovering women were disproportionately impacted by improperly fitting personal protective equipment (PPE). Goals and Methods: A feminist hackathon event was hosted and analyzed to understand wearers’ problems (especially women’s problems) with construction safety vests. The means and methods used to ensure collaboration and input from participants following feminist design principles are discussed. The goal of the hackathon was to improve the fit of PPE for varying body types by gaining insights from industry workers to address the needs of the construction’s increasingly diverse workforce. During a two-day event, six teams redesigned vests, cut them apart, and constructed prototypes, which were then presented to industry workers and vest manufacturers for feedback. Faculty and student researchers took fieldnotes and interviewed (n=16) hackathon participants. Quantitative and qualitative data, including surveys, design reflection journals, and semi-structured interviews, were collected and analyzed to conceive new design and safety features for different body types and wearer needs. Results: Building on feminist interaction design principles, our paper presents the development, implementation, and results of a design process where users were invited to participate in revisioning the safety vest to better serve their needs for safety, comfort, fit, and function. Improvements to the redesigned vest included the creation of synching cords, hoods, water bladders, identification holder pockets, length, reflective material, pocket changes, and ergonomic features to support posture and redistribute weight and tools. Final Considerations: This study expands the field of research surrounding feminist hackathon design principles by including women in collaborative design processes to understand and improve the fit of safety vests for women on construction sites and address workplace inclusion and retention. http://scielo.pt/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2184-77702023000100013&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en Abstract “Patient safety” is an important care factor for all patients and therefore indispensable in the training of all health professionals. Thus, there is a need to assess patient safety in undergraduate nursing in the context of in-person teaching and the curricular stages. Objective: This study proposes to analyze students’ perspective of patient safety at a university in Northeastern Brazil. Methodology: This is an instrumental exploratory single-case study with a qualitative approach. The sample consisted of twelve students selected by convenience. Data collection occurred via an online focus group. The data were processed in NVivo software, version 12.0. Results: The data illustrate the students’ perception of patient safety, divided into three categories: in-person teaching; curricular stages; and attributes for managing future nurses. Although the university does not offer a specific patient safety course, the topic is satisfactorily discussed from the onset of the course. Final considerations: The case study found that health professional training based on patient safety measures is one of the most crucial investments that a university can make, sharpening critical thinking in order to improve care and reduce hospital costs, and above all, preserve life. http://scielo.pt/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2184-77702023000100014&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en Abstract The lack of agricultural involvement of the youth is a worldwide issue that endangers food security and sustainable development. As the youth continue to pursue non-agricultural courses and migrate to non-agricultural careers, there is a need to increase the labor force in the agricultural industry. As such, this phenomenological research aimed to understand the experiences of youths enrolled in agricultural courses. It aims to provide insights into the meanings of agriculture from individuals who have chosen to pursue agricultural education despite society’s pessimism about agriculture. Data was collected and analyzed using Collaizi'sdescriptive phenomenological method. We individually interviewed eleven senior high school students enrolled in an agricultural program at a Philippine state university. We also conducted member checking to enhance data validity and reliability. The participants have practical experience in agriculture, which focuses on crop production and livestock management. They also had communicative experiences, which are their interactions at school, with families, friends, and media focusing on agriculture. Moreover, for the participants, agriculture is a worthwhile endeavor. Agriculture can be a source of fulfillment, a stressful and risky field of specialization, and a means of contributing to national development. This research highlights that when given opportunities for agricultural engagement, the youths' experiences can establish positive meanings on agriculture. Thus, researchers can pursue further research on agricultural involvement. Moreover, there must be collaboration among relevant agencies to intensify efforts in encouraging the youth’s participation in agricultural activities. http://scielo.pt/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2184-77702023000100015&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en Abstract Asthma symptoms can be controlled through proper self-management, medication adherence, and avoidance of triggers, thus avoiding high costs for multiple hospitalizations, emergency or outpatient visits. This article seeks to develop a conceptual framework of the factors that influence asthma self-management in a pediatric population living in the Andean urban area of Cuenca-Ecuador. A phenomenological study was carried out (February-April 2021) in 10 children and adolescents from 7 to 17 years old with asthma attending public and private hospitals. In-depth interviews were applied using open questions created after reviewing the literature. Factors influencing asthma self-management include individual (attitudes, self-education, seeking medical attention, managing crisis triggers) and environmental (health system, school/family support). The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed by two independent researchers. Our results show that the pediatric population identifies individual and environmental influences that affect asthma self-management, with age and socioeconomic status moderating the influential factors. The participants described the beliefs, attitudes, practices, perceptions, and specific experiences in the family, school, and health system contexts as relevant to comply with asthma self-management. In addition, problems or barriers that hinder the self-management of the disease, mainly related to adherence to treatment, were identified. In conclusion, our analysis highlights the need to empower the pediatric population in asthma self-management. When delivering patient-centered education for effective asthma management, future interventions must consider children´s age and socioeconomic status influences in individual and environmental factors.