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Rastegar M, Rajaei S, Yazdian Anari N, Hashemi SM, Entezar Baghiatallah A, Ghazalgoo A, Namazi S, Soltani Moghadam S, Aleali MS, Keivanlou MH, Amini-Salehi E. Correlation between fetal ventricular echogenic foci in pregnancy and fetus chromosomal anomaly: a case-control study in Bandar Abbas city. Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2024; 86:4358-4363. [PMID: 39118770 PMCID: PMC11305713 DOI: 10.1097/ms9.0000000000002260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Ventricular echogenic foci are small structures within the hearts of some fetuses. These small areas result from increased echogenicity in the ventricles of fetuses located near the papillary muscles. An association between these foci and chromosomal abnormalities in fetuses has been reported. Considering that chromosomal abnormalities are a major cause of prenatal death, this study aimed to determine the value of fetal echogenic foci as markers for chromosomal abnormalities. Materials and methods Fetal echocardiography was performed by an experienced cardiologist on 149 pregnant women in the second trimester. Of these, 75 were reported to have positive echogenic foci, and 74 were reported to have no echogenic foci. Subsequently, the three chromosomal anomalies including trisomies 21, 18, and 13 were examined. The information of the individuals, including gestational age and echogenic foci, was recorded. Results Based on the findings of the present study, seven infants (4.7%) had trisomy 21, four infants (2.7%) had trisomy 13, and six infants (4.1%) had trisomy 18. The mean gestational age of pregnant women with positive and negative echogenic foci was 21.07±3.23 and 21.03±3.09, respectively. No significant relationship was found between ventricular echogenic foci and trisomy 21, 18, or 13. Conclusion The present study suggests no significant relation between the presence of echogenic foci and chromosomal trisomies. This finding indicates that additional tests are required to confirm chromosomal abnormalities when echogenic intracardiac foci are present, especially in high-risk fetuses. Moreover, the absence of echogenic focus does not rule out chromosomal disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mazyar Rastegar
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Clinical Research Development Center of Children’s Hospital
| | - Shahrokh Rajaei
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Clinical Research Development Center of Children’s Hospital
| | | | | | | | | | - Sholes Namazi
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas
| | | | | | - Mohammad-Hossein Keivanlou
- Guilan University of Medical Sciences
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
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Haun MH, Girit S, Goldfarb Y, Kalha J, Korde P, Kwebiiha E, Moran G, Mtei R, Niwemuhwezi J, Nixdorf R, Nugent L, Puschner B, Ramesh M, Ryan GK, Slade M, Charles A, Krumm S. Mental health workers' perspectives on the implementation of a peer support intervention in five countries: qualitative findings from the UPSIDES study. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e081963. [PMID: 38749688 PMCID: PMC11097849 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-081963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The introduction of peer support in mental health teams creates opportunities and challenges for both peer and non-peer staff. However, the majority of research on mental health workers' (MHWs) experiences with peer support comes from high-income countries. Using Peer Support In Developing Empowering Mental Health Services (UPSIDES) is an international multicentre study, which aims at scaling up peer support for people with severe mental illness in Europe, Asia and Africa. This study investigates MHWs experiences with UPSIDES peer support. DESIGN Six focus groups with MHWs were conducted approximately 18 months after the implementation of the UPSIDES peer support intervention. Transcripts were analysed with a descriptive approach using thematic content analysis. SETTING Qualitative data were collected in Ulm and Hamburg (Germany), Butabika (Uganda), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Be'er Sheva (Israel) and Pune (India). PARTICIPANTS 25 MHWs (19 females and 6 males) from UPSIDES study sites in the UPSIDES Trial (ISRCTN26008944) participated. FINDINGS Five overarching themes were identified in MHWs' discussions: MHWs valued peer support workers (PSWs) for sharing their lived experiences with service users (theme 1), gained trust in peer support over time (theme 2) and provided support to them (theme 3). Participants from lower-resource study sites reported additional benefits, including reduced workload. PSWs extending their roles beyond what MHWs perceived as appropriate was described as a challenge (theme 4). Perceptions about PSWs varied based on previous peer support experience, ranging from considering PSWs as equal team members to viewing them as service users (theme 5). CONCLUSIONS Considering local context is essential in order to understand MHWs' views on the cooperation with PSWs. Especially in settings with less prior experience of peer support, implementers should make extra effort to promote interaction between MHWs and PSWs. In order to better understand the determinants of successful implementation of peer support in diverse settings, further research should investigate the impact of contextual factors (eg, resource availability and cultural values). TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ISRCTN26008944.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Selina Girit
- Department of Psychiatry II, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Yael Goldfarb
- Department of Social Work, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er-Sheva, Israel
| | - Jasmine Kalha
- Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy, Indian Law Society, Pune, India
| | - Palak Korde
- Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy, Indian Law Society, Pune, India
| | - Eric Kwebiiha
- Butabika National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Galia Moran
- Department of Social Work, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er-Sheva, Israel
| | - Rachel Mtei
- Department of Health Systems, Impact Evaluation and Policy, Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Jackline Niwemuhwezi
- Department of Health Systems, Impact Evaluation and Policy, Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Rebecca Nixdorf
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lena Nugent
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Bernd Puschner
- Department of Psychiatry II, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Mary Ramesh
- Department of Health Systems, Impact Evaluation and Policy, Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Grace Kathryn Ryan
- Centre for Global Mental Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Mike Slade
- School of Health Sciences, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Ashleigh Charles
- School of Health Sciences, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Silvia Krumm
- Department of Psychiatry II, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
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Hiltensperger R, Ryan G, Ben-Dor IA, Charles A, Epple E, Kalha J, Korde P, Kotera Y, Mpango R, Moran G, Mueller-Stierlin AS, Nixdorf R, Ramesh M, Shamba D, Slade M, Puschner B, Nakku J. Implementation of peer support for people with severe mental health conditions in high-, middle- and low-income-countries: a theory of change approach. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:480. [PMID: 38637776 PMCID: PMC11027518 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-10990-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stakeholder engagement is essential to the design, implementation and evaluation of complex mental health interventions like peer support. Theory of Change (ToC) is commonly used in global health research to help structure and promote stakeholder engagement throughout the project cycle. Stakeholder insights are especially important in the context of a multi-site trial, in which an intervention may need to be adapted for implementation across very different settings while maintaining fidelity to a core model. This paper describes the development of a ToC for a peer support intervention to be delivered to people with severe mental health conditions in five countries as part of the UPSIDES trial. METHODS One hundred thirty-four stakeholders from diverse backgrounds participated in a total of 17 workshops carried out at six UPSIDES implementing sites across high-, middle- and low-income settings (one site each in India, Israel, Uganda and Tanzania; two sites in Germany). The initial ToC maps created by stakeholders at each site were integrated into a cross-site ToC map, which was then revised to incorporate additional insights from the academic literature and updated iteratively through multiple rounds of feedback provided by the implementers. RESULTS The final ToC map divides the implementation of the UPSIDES peer support intervention into three main stages: preparation, implementation, and sustainability. The map also identifies three levels of actors involved in peer support: individuals (service users and peer support workers), organisations (and their staff members), and the public. In the UPSIDES trial, the ToC map proved especially helpful in characterising and distinguishing between (a) common features of peer support, (b) shared approaches to implementation and (c) informing adaptations to peer support or implementation to account for contextual differences. CONCLUSIONS UPSIDES is the first project to develop a multi-national ToC for a mental health peer support intervention. Stakeholder engagement in the ToC process helped to improve the cultural and contextual appropriateness of a complex intervention and ensure equivalence across sites for the purposes of a multi-site trial. It may serve as a blueprint for implementing similar interventions with a focus on recovery and social inclusion among people with mental ill-health across diverse settings. TRIAL REGISTRATION ISRCTN26008944 (Registration Date: 30/10/2019).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Grace Ryan
- Centre for Global Mental Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Inbar Adler Ben-Dor
- Department of Social Work, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
| | - Ashleigh Charles
- School of Health Sciences, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Ellen Epple
- Department of Psychiatry II, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jasmine Kalha
- Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy, Indian Law Society, Pune, India
| | - Palak Korde
- Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy, Indian Law Society, Pune, India
| | - Yasuhiro Kotera
- School of Health Sciences, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Richard Mpango
- Butabika National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Mental Health, School of Health Sciences, Soroti University, Soroti, Uganda
| | - Galia Moran
- Department of Social Work, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
| | | | - Rebecca Nixdorf
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Mary Ramesh
- Department of Health Systems Impact Evaluation and Policy, Ifakara Health Institute, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Donat Shamba
- Department of Health Systems Impact Evaluation and Policy, Ifakara Health Institute, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Mike Slade
- School of Health Sciences, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Health and Community Participation Division, Nord University, Namsos, Norway
| | - Bernd Puschner
- Department of Psychiatry II, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Juliet Nakku
- Butabika National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
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Haun M, Adler Ben-Dor I, Hall C, Kalha J, Korde P, Moran G, Müller-Stierlin AS, Niwemuhwezi J, Nixdorf R, Puschner B, Ramesh M, Charles A, Krumm S. Perspectives of key informants before and after implementing UPSIDES peer support in mental health services: qualitative findings from an international multi-site study. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:159. [PMID: 38302955 PMCID: PMC10835950 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-10543-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Peer support is an essential part of recovery-oriented care worldwide. Contextual factors have an impact on the implementation of peer support work. However, research has paid little attention to similarities and differences of implementation factors in settings varying by income-level and cultural values. The aim of this study is to assess the factors influencing the implementation of a peer support intervention across study sites in low-, middle- and high-income countries in line with the Consolidation Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). METHOD 6 focus groups with a total of 54 key informants with relevant contextual (organisational) knowledge regarding implementation facilitators and barriers were conducted at six study sites Ulm and Hamburg (Germany), Butabika (Uganda), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Be'er Sheva (Israel), and Pune (India) before and 1.5 years after the start of UPSIDES peer support. Transcripts were analysed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS Across study sites key informants reported benefits of peer support for service users and peer support workers as implementation facilitators. At study sites with lower resources, reduced workload for mental health workers and improved access to mental health services through peer support were perceived as implementation facilitators (CFIR Domain 1: Intervention characteristics). The degree of engagement of mental health workers (CFIR Domain 3: Inner Setting/Domain 4: Individuals involved) varied across study sites and was seen either as a barrier (low engagement) or a facilitator (high engagement). Across study sites, adequate training of peer support workers (CFIR Domain 5: Implementation process) was seen as animplementation facilitator, while COVID-19 as well as low resource availability were reported as implementation barriers (CFIR Domain 2: Outer setting). CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the importance of considering contextual factors when implementing peer support, including previous experience and perceived benefits. Particular attention should be given to organisational benefits such as workload reduction and the allocation of sufficient resources as key drivers in LMICs. In HICs, the potential of organisational benefits for successful implementation should be further investigated and promoted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Haun
- Department of Psychiatry II, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Inbar Adler Ben-Dor
- Department of Social Work, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
| | - Cerdic Hall
- East London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Jasmine Kalha
- Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy, Indian Law Society, Pune, India
| | - Palak Korde
- Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy, Indian Law Society, Pune, India
| | - Galia Moran
- Department of Social Work, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er Sheva, Israel
| | | | | | - Rebecca Nixdorf
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Bernd Puschner
- Department of Psychiatry II, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Mary Ramesh
- Department of Health Systems, Impact Evaluation and Policy, Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Ashleigh Charles
- School of Health Sciences, Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Silvia Krumm
- Department of Psychiatry II, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
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Collier KM, Halvorsen CJ, Fortuna KL. Assessing Mental Healthcare Worker Experiences of Workplace Fairness and Organizational Value: A National Survey of Peer-Support Specialists. Workplace Health Saf 2024; 72:14-20. [PMID: 37842958 DOI: 10.1177/21650799231200028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Peer-support specialists-individuals with diagnosed mental illnesses who provide support services to other adults with diagnosed mental health issues-often feel stigmatized and undervalued at work, leading to negative personal- and job-related outcomes. Given their important link to positive service user outcomes, this study assessed how peer-support specialists perceive fairness and feel valued in the workplace. METHODS Peer-support specialists (N = 274) were recruited online from peer-support specialist listservs, social media groups, and patient-run organizations to take a cross-sectional survey that included a 14-item scale on how workplace fairness relates to job satisfaction and four questions on how valued they felt by administrators, clinicians, the people they serve, and fellow peer-support specialists. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were used to assess total scores and differences by gender and race. FINDINGS Ranging in age from 20 to 77 years and identifying predominantly as White (81.0%) and female (62.9%), respondents noted that fair practices in the workplace would increase their job satisfaction, with no significant differences observed by gender or race. Most peer-support specialists felt valued by the people they serve (97.1%) and fellow peer-support specialists (92.7%). However, fewer reported feeling valued by administrators (64.6%) and clinicians (60.6%). CONCLUSIONS/APPLICATION TO PRACTICE Peer-support specialists value fairness at the workplace and feel undervalued by some staff. This study highlights peer-support specialists' important role in behavioral health services and suggests that healthcare professionals, including occupational health specialists, are important stakeholders in creating fairer workplaces and increasing peer-support specialists' sense of being valued, leading to improved personal and organizational outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cal J Halvorsen
- Boston College School of Social Work
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Center for Work, Health, & Well-being
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Casale S, Akbari M, Seydavi M, Bocci Benucci S, Fioravanti G. Has the prevalence of problematic social media use increased over the past seven years and since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic? A meta-analysis of the studies published since the development of the Bergen social media addiction scale. Addict Behav 2023; 147:107838. [PMID: 37639837 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2023.107838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Problematic Social Media Use (PSMU) has been defined as the lack of regulation of one's use of social media associated with negative outcomes in everyday functioning. Previous meta-analyses reported PSMU prevalence before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and based the estimates on the cut-off scores, which are debatable in the current fields. The present meta-analysis aims to explore whether PSMU, as assessed by the most used self-report scale (i.e., the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale; BSMAS), increased across the world (i) since the first published study on this topic (i.e., in the last seven years), (ii) since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and (iii) depending on age, gender and the income level of the countries. The meta-analysis involved 139 independent samples with 133,955 respondents from 32 countries spanning seven world regions. The results show that PSMU: (i) is significantly higher in low-income countries (LIC); (ii) did not increase in the last 7 years overall and after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, except for LIC; (iii) did not vary depending on age and gender. The higher prevalence of PSMU reported during the COVID-19 pandemic by some single studies may have been a transient phenomenon to cope with physical distances in some countries, whilst, in others, an overall increase of PSMU occurred. High levels of PSMU in LIC might be explained based on socio-cultural differences between countries, but also with the higher prevalence of mental disorders in LIC since PSMU might be a symptom of other, more primary psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Casale
- Department of Health Sciences, Psychology Unit, University of Florence, via di San Salvi 12, 50100 Florence, Italy.
| | - Mehdi Akbari
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohammad Seydavi
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Sara Bocci Benucci
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla, 3, 50134 Florence, Italy.
| | - Giulia Fioravanti
- Department of Health Sciences, Psychology Unit, University of Florence, via di San Salvi 12, 50100 Florence, Italy.
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