Autoethnography: Reflective Journaling and Meditation to Cope With Life-Threatening Breast Cancer

"I Get It, I'm Sick Too": An Autoethnographic Study of One Researcher/Practitioner/Patient With Chronic Illness

This autoethnographic research utilizes reflexivity as a method to explore my self-experience of Lyme disease while holding co-occurring identities as a researcher, health professional, and mother. Awareness of self is central in psychotherapy so that therapists do not adversely impact their clients. This is similar for researchers who are ethically required to acknowledge and reduce any potential risk(s) of harm to their participants. In this study, I describe and systematically analyze my experiences as a patient with symptom-persistent Lyme disease, contextualized through co-occurring identities as a mother, a regulated (mental) health professional, and a scholar investigating the embodied experience of being a Lyme disease patient in the Canadian context. The central research question guiding this study is: "What are my experiences with symptom-persistent Lyme disease?" The results of this study suggest reflexivity is an important practice in both health research and healthcare. Relationships with health professionals have a significant impact on patients' healthcare experiences, and engaging in reflexive practice may improve the responsivity of healthcare professionals toward patients' needs and embodied experiences and serve as a check on pre-existing power relations in healthcare. Further, this research contributes to the current academic knowledge on symptom-persistent Lyme disease by offering a reflexive representation of my experiences as a researcher who is also a health professional and a patient within the Canadian healthcare system. Representations of patients' experiences are critical in advancing health research and ensuring equitable care for patients. Autoethnography offers important insights into patients' disease experiences.

Promotion of research culture among radiographers in one UK NHS trust through journal club activities - An autoethnographic study

INTRODUCTION

The poor research culture within the radiography profession can be addressed through initiatives such journal club activities. The role of a research radiographer is best suited to drive achievement of journal club outcomes for research culture improvement; however, the cultural environment of healthcare providers presents challenges. This is an autoethnographic account of a research radiographer in promoting research culture among diagnostic radiographers in a single UK NHS trust through journal club activities.

METHODS

The study adopts an analytical autoethnography methodology to critically analyse reflective accounts of the research radiographer's experiences and the interplay with the cultural environment in which the experiences occurred. The reflective accounts are supported by locally collected data during a 10-month period of the journal club and published literature.

RESULTS

The establishment of the journal club received encouraging support from the senior management, university academics, library services and radiography professionals. There are initial signs of research culture improvement among participants of the journal club as observed through engagement in research related activities. However, cultural challenges including lack of time to explore gaps in research evidence, and prioritisation of clinical duties over research related activities, may have affected the achievement of expected outcomes of the club.

CONCLUSION

The research radiographer is well placed to encourage research culture within the clinical imaging department through targeted initiatives such as journal clubs. The long-term contributions of such initiative to departmental efficiency and quality service delivery should encourage optimum support to actualize expected outcomes.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Encouragement of journal clubs as a means of improving research culture within clinical radiography teams, driven by research radiographers. Encouragement of management support for the achievement of set outcomes of journal clubs.

Healing from Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Studies

Although the global prevalence of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is very high, the experience of healing after such abuse has not been well documented. The goal of this study was to characterize the healing experience among CSA survivors presented in the literature. Metaethnography was used to synthesize an integrative literature review. The CINAHL, PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases were used as data sources. Eight articles that explored healing experiences from CSA, published between 2007 and 2017, were included in the analysis. After performing a quality assessment, line-of-argument synthesis was used to construct the integrating scheme of healing experiences from CSA. CSA healing experiences included dissociating oneself from the memories of CSA, finding peace by creating a comfort zone, disclosure as the start of healing, attempting to establish identity through ongoing self-reflective activities, feeling comfort by sharing experiences and connecting with CSA survivors, and accepting CSA as part of the life history and stepping forward. Healing experiences from CSA synthesized from the analysis focused on personal growth, supporting previous theory on CSA health in the broader literature. A tailored care plan could be developed for CSA survivors who are at varying stages of healing.

One false move: A singular account of multiple outcomes arising from drink-driving

ISSUE ADDRESSED

To deconstruct a personal account involving the initial decision making and ultimate consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol to educate drinkers about the realities of short- and long-term impacts associated with drink-driving.

METHODS

This qualitative study uses collaborative methods and draws on an autoethnographic (n = 1) account to identify multiple challenges and outcomes arising from a singular drink-driving incident.

RESULTS

Findings document how the split-second decision to drink and drive can give rise to unforeseen, ongoing and complex problems associated with injuries and pain management, the legal system, personal and professional costs, social isolation and shame.

CONCLUSIONS

Many believe that driving ability is only affected if an individual is drunk, and that the ramifications of low-range drinking (blood alcohol concentration greater than 0.05 and less than 0.07) and driving are minimal and avoidable. This personal account emphasises the stark realities associated with such naïve perceptions, particularly among young males, and augments efforts to dissuade drivers from drinking. SO WHAT?: The experiential insights within this narrative account have the potential to help inform peer education programs and contribute to reductions in youth road trauma and associated injuries.

Exploring an autoethnographic stance with poetry in children’s nursing

An autoethnographic stance has been taken in this paper as this methodology can be particularly useful when exploring complex feelings and unique lived experiences. The purpose of this paper is to use this stance to holistically explore a nursing journey writing poetry during times of personal and professional difficulty, with cathartic benefits. It is hoped this will provide an example and tool for other nurses to expand their learning, insight and understanding. Poems will be used as data in this paper, and data analysis and a reflective narrative and literature exploration described to help analyse their meaning. This may stimulate an empathetic understanding in the reader and give an in-depth insight into the challenging role of the children’s nurse. Poetry will be used to explore some of the typical features of autoethnography, namely self-portrayal, context, and culture with self-reflection, and by providing poetry that encourages reader exploration. Poetry has the potential to benefit nursing, including enhanced self-awareness and coping mechanisms as well as the development of empathy to support patients, families and colleagues. The use of personal poetry with reflective narrative provides an illuminating expansion of the experiences described, which may encourage readers to explore their own emotions and reflect in new and different ways.

Use of Mindfulness Sitting Meditation in Chinese American Women in Treatment of Cancer

Background. Very few studies have been conducted to examine the prevalence, frequency, perceived effectiveness, and possible influencing factors of use of meditation in patients with cancer. Objectives. To examine use of mindfulness sitting medication (MSM) in Chinese American women in treatment of cancer, its relationship to specific symptom distress, and possible influencing factors of MSM. Methods. Volunteer participants were recruited through the American Cancer Society support groups. The participants completed a demographic data form, a researcher-developed criteria and checklist for MSM, and the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale–Short Form. Results. Eighty-nine Chinese American women with a mean age of 58 years completed the questionnaires. Twenty-one patients (24%) reported the use of MSM during active treatment of cancer. Patients who had higher education, better income, better English proficiency, and health insurance were more likely to use MSM. Patients who had more symptom distress also reported to use more MSM. Most patients (20/21) who used meditation considered it effective. After controlling other variables, better English proficiency, breast cancer, and higher symptom distress predicted the use of MSM in Chinese American women in treatment of cancer. Conclusions. About 24% of Chinese American women used MSM in the treatment of cancer and most of them considered it effective. Symptom distress and English proficiency levels predicted the use of MSM. Implications for Practice. Given the effectiveness of MSM, oncology nurses could recommend using MSM in Chinese American women in treatment of cancer, especially for patients who had higher symptom distress.

Using reflective journaling to improve the orientation of graduate nurses

Reflective journaling is valuable in improving critical thinking and problem solving in nursing students. Incorporating reflective journaling into the orientation process with new nursing graduates may decrease anxiety during this challenging transition while continuing to improve critical thinking. Engaging graduate nurses in reflective journaling during the orientation process may result in more satisfied, competent nurses overall.