Factors Affecting the Perception of Disability: A Developmental Perspective

Resilience and coping: a qualitative analysis of cognitive and behavioral factors in adults with osteogenesis Imperfecta

PURPOSE

The aim of this qualitative study was to investigate resilience among adults with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 adults with OI. Transcripts were coded and subsequently abstracted, yielding themes specific to resilience and coping. Interview guides covered broad topics including pain challenges specific to OI, mental health issues related to OI, and priorities for future interventions for individuals with OI.

RESULTS

Participants described resilience in the context of OI as the ability to grow from adversity, adapt to challenges resulting from OI-related injuries, and find identities apart from their condition. Psychological coping strategies included acceptance, self-efficacy, cognitive reframing, perspective-taking, and positivity. Behavioral factors that helped participants develop resilience included developing new skills, pursuing meaningful goals, practicing spirituality, and seeking external resources such as psychotherapy, education, and connection with community.

CONCLUSION

Having identified how adults with OI define resilience and the strategies they use to cope, we can now develop interventions and guide healthcare providers in improving psychological wellbeing in this population.

How does the UK public think and feel about people with visual impairment: a review of existing evidence

Despite legislation to protect people with visual impairment (V.I.) from discrimination in the United Kingdom (UK), the latter continue to experience overt and covert negative behaviours. Perceived discrimination has been associated with an adverse impact on identity, health and well-being, while negative attitudes have been identified as the biggest barrier to participation in everyday life. This article provides a narrative review of existing evidence of how the UK public treats (behaviours), thinks (perceptions) and feels (attitudes) about people with V.I. Despite limitations, the findings suggest that there is a gap between the behaviours reported by people with V.I. and the attitudes expressed by members of the UK public. Social psychological theories are used to explore possible reasons for this gap, and ways in which it may be addressed. As such, the article provides an example of how social psychological theories can be used to address problems in an applied context.

Insisting on help, facing challenges, and maintaining balance: The lived experiences of caregivers raising a child with developmental delay in the remote islands of Kinmen

PURPOSE

To explore the lived experiences of the caregivers of children with developmental delay (DD) on the remote island of Kinmen, Taiwan.

DESIGN AND METHODS

This descriptive phenomenological study included 14 caregivers of 16 children with DD recruited from Kinmen, Taiwan. Data were collected from September 2020 to February 2021 with face-to-face semi-structured interviews, which were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Twelve caregivers were mothers; there was one father and one grandmother. Their mean age was 37.93 ± 5.17 years. The mean age of the children was 3.90 ± 1.49 years; 11 were male (69%). As we began our study, the COVID-19 pandemic occurred, which influenced two of the three themes: (1) focusing on their child's delayed development, which involved seeking a diagnosis and blaming themselves; (2) facing barriers to caring a child with DD on a remote island, which included ostracization of their child and limited off-island medical resources, especially during COVID-19; and (3) maintaining a healthy life balance, which involved protecting their child from physical or spiritual harm, including exposure to COVID-19, and reflecting on their strengths.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings highlight the challenges of caring for a child with DD in the Kinmen islands of Taiwan, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

Healthcare professionals are encouraged to provide caregivers of children with DD living in remote, island communities an opportunity to share their caregiving experiences and provide strategies for obtaining medical care, which could help reduce caregiver burden.

Informal Network Members' Perspectives and Experiences on Work for People with Intellectual Disabilities: A Thematic Synthesis

PURPOSE

The level of participation of people with intellectual disabilities (ID) in various forms of work, including daytime activities, appears to be suboptimal. Informal networks of people with ID constitute crucial forms of support, as they can significantly influence occupational choices and opportunities. This review aims to synthesize existing research for the purpose of examining how informal network members perceive the meaning of employment or daytime activities for their relatives with ID.

METHODS

Following the PRISMA guideline, a systematic search of scientific literature published between 1990 and July 2022 was conducted. The qualitative results from twenty-seven studies (qualitative and mixed-method) were analyzed using thematic synthesis.

RESULTS

Four overarching themes and several subthemes were identified: (I) Ensuring customized work for my relative; (II) The ongoing need to collaborate and share care responsibilities with professionals; (III) The meaning of work for both my relative and myself; and (IV) Achieving full work participation for my relative is neither straightforward nor self-evident.

CONCLUSIONS

Informal networks place great value upon customized and sustainable work opportunities for their relatives with ID, particularly community-based work. While network members play an important role in creating these opportunities, they encounter obstacles resulting from both collaboration difficulties with professionals and employers and public and structural forms of stigma. Researchers, professionals, policy makers, and employers are encouraged to collaborate with individuals with ID as well as their networks to increase the meaningful work opportunities available to them.

Perception of Special-Care Dentistry among Dental Students at Universitas Indonesia: A Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE

To assess the perceptions of special-care dentistry (SCD) among dental students in the Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study used a self-administered online questionnaire, and all preclinical and clinical students were invited to participate. The survey items comprised four domains related to participants' characteristics, perceptions of SCD, perceptions of managing patients with special needs, and perceptions of SCD education. The chi-square test and Mann-Whitney test were used in the analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 572 students participated in this study. The findings showed that the clinical students were more familiar with SCD than the preclinical students were (p = 0.008). A statistically significant relationship was found between the study program and the ability to work independently with special-needs patients after graduation (p < 0.001), the ability to refer special-needs patients to specialists (p = 0.042), the perception of postgraduate training-program needs (p < 0.001), and the opportunity to consider postgraduate training (p = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

Most of the respondents had a favorable perception of SCD. Thus, an improved SCD curriculum and SCD training for undergraduate and postgraduate students should be provided to develop the knowledge and skills needed to provide care to special-needs patients.

Profiles of Peer-Rejected Individuals: Their Attitudes toward the Intellectual Disability Population and the Mediating Role of Resilience

Literature shows that public perceptions toward people with intellectual disability (ID) tend to be negative, perhaps more so than toward any other population with disabilities, causing severe consequences on the quality of life of these people. Understanding factors associated with these attitudes may contribute to better integration of the ID population into society. This study focuses on the predictive role of school-age peer rejection and contemporaneous familial support on attitudes toward people with ID. Specifically, it aims to identify distinct profiles of people who experienced peer rejection during their school years and who experienced various levels of familial support during the rejection period, and to examine the disparities between these profiles regarding attitudes toward people with ID. An additional goal is to examine whether resilience can mediate the association between profiles of peer-rejected individuals and their attitudes toward individuals with ID. The research sample comprised 1063 Israeli adults reporting various levels of peer rejection during school years. Cluster analysis revealed two profiles of peer-rejected individuals that significantly differ in the level of familial support provided in the face of peer rejection. In accordance with the hypotheses, attitudes of peer-rejected individuals with poor familial support were more negative than those with high familial support and the mediating effect of resilience was significant. Findings emphasize the protective role of familial support in the face of peer rejection, contributing to the emerging literature that deals with the long-term effects of peer rejection and poor resiliency resources on negative attitudes toward out-groups.

'Le regard des autres': the experience of walking in social environments as a person with Parkinson's disease

OBJECTIVE

To examine the experience of people with Parkinson's disease when walking in different social situations, and improve understanding of how this affects participation in meaningful activity.

METHODS

A convenience sample of fourteen people with Parkinson's disease and a history of gait dysfunction was recruited. In-depth interviews and direct observations were conducted in the participants' home environments. Specific examples from community mobility were reviewed using first person interviewing techniques with the support of video footage. Interview transcripts were analyzed using an interpretive phenomenological approach to derive key themes.

RESULTS

The feeling of 'being looked at' (le regard des autres) was the central theme in participant discourse. This sentiment was inextricably linked to the given norms of the social setting, and the relationships between participants and others within that environment. Participants sought to manage how they were perceived by others through modification of posture/gait patterns; disclosure of their neurological disease; and avoidance/withdrawal from social situations.

CONCLUSION

Further to the functional aspects of mobility, gait is important for maintaining self-image in people with Parkinson's disease. Affective gaze interactions have significant consequences upon participation restriction. These findings underscore the interest of activities which strengthen self-image and validate movement diversity in PD rehabilitation.

Wellness in children's rehabilitation - what does it mean?

PURPOSE

Rehabilitation research on wellness promotion for children and youth with disabilities is limited and tends to narrowly focus on physical aspects of health. An overarching sense of wellness includes multiple, overlapping dimensions (e.g., physical, social, emotional, occupational). This study's main objectives were to explore what wellness means for young people with disabilities, and what contributes to their sense of wellness.

METHODS

A qualitative design involving World Café-style focus groups was used to explore the perspectives of youth with disabilities (14-25 years old, n = 3), parents (n = 6) and healthcare providers (n = 10) on how wellness is understood and addressed at a Canadian children's rehabilitation hospital. Themes were identified through an inductive analysis of focus group transcripts and notes written by participants and research team members.

RESULTS

Having a variety of relationships and social connections, meaningful activity opportunities, becoming as independent as possible, and having stable medical health contributed to wellness for young people with disabilities.

CONCLUSIONS

Rehabilitation care can promote wellness by co-creating personalized care pathways across multiple wellness dimensions with young people with disabilities and their families, focusing on strengths rather than deficits, and improving access to a variety of activities and communities.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONRehabilitation professionals in children's rehabilitation have unique, ongoing opportunities to promote and support wellness with young people with disabilities and their families.Rehabilitation professionals can embed personalized, strengths-focused wellness pathways across multiple dimensions into the care of children with disabilities.Helping children and families address barriers to meaningful activities and promoting social connections can foster an overarching sense of wellness.

Pupils' Attitudes toward Inclusive Education

The presented research is a study of the attitudes of adolescents toward individuals with disabilities and a description of the level of knowledge about this issue among a selected group of adolescents. The study is focused on the school social environment, specifically on pupils without disabilities and their attitudes toward pupils with disabilities, which is one of the factors influencing their school success. The target group was 1806 pupils between the ages of 11 and 16 from the entire Czech Republic, approached by random selection. The research tool for the quantitative approach was a questionnaire developed by the authors of this article. The questionnaire section with open questions served for the qualitative part of the research. The results show that 70% of the respondents have basic knowledge about people with disabilities. Furthermore, it was shown that these adolescents have an overall positive attitude toward people with disabilities. This attitude is statistically significantly better among the girls than the boys, and the girls are also more open to discussing individuals with disabilities. At the same time, even if attitudes are positive, they still depend on the type of disability. The greatest uncertainty or discomfort is manifested when interacting with individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Down syndrome: Knowledge and attitudes among future healthcare providers

Objectives

Knowledge and attitudes regarding Down syndrome (DS) are important determinants of care, support and inclusion for people with DS. The study was aimed at evaluating the knowledge and attitudes of medical and health sciences students, as future healthcare providers, regarding people with DS.

Methods

The study used a cross sectional survey design and was performed at a medical and health sciences university in the United Arab Emirates. A study-specific, field-tested and validated questionnaire was used to record the responses of the students.

Results

Overall, 74.0% of the study respondents reported positive knowledge regarding DS, with a median knowledge score of 14.0 (IQR 11.0-17.0). Likewise, 67.2% of the study respondents had positive attitudes toward people with DS, with a median attitude score of 7.5 (IQR 4.0-9.0). Age >25 years (aOR: 4.39, 95% CI: 1.88-21.93), female gender (aOR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.16-3.07), enrollment in nursing college (aOR: 3.53, 95% CI: 1.84-6.77), senior year of study (aOR: 9.10, 95% CI: 1.94-42.65) and single relationship status (aOR: 9.16, 95% CI: 4.19-20.01) were independent predictors of knowledge level. Moreover, independent predictors of attitudes included age >25 years (aOR: 10.60, 95% CI: 1.78-62.96), senior year of study (aOR: 11.57, 95% CI: 3.20-41.83) and single relationship status (aOR: 7.23, 95% CI: 3.46-15.11).

Conclusion

Age, gender, college, year of study and marital status were significant predictors of the knowledge and attitudes of medical and health sciences students regarding people with DS. We report positive knowledge and attitudes regarding people with DS among our sample of future health care providers. Further research is warranted to investigate knowledge and attitudes over time and actual implementation in practice.

Effects of disability type, prior contact, and school setting on attitudes toward peers with disabilities among Saudi female students aged 7 to 12 years

BACKGROUND

Inclusive educational practices enhance engagement among students with disabilities in school settings. This study aimed to investigate: (i) the general attitudes of non-disabled female Saudi Arabian students toward their peers with disabilities, with a particular focus on the general attitudes towards those with hearing disabilities (HD), intellectual disabilities (ID), and behavioral problems (BP), and (ii) the relationships between three selected student-related characteristics (type of school, in-school contact with peers with disabilities, and out-of-school contact with peers with disabilities).

METHOD

Using a sample of 678 participants aged 7-12 years old, we tested the impact of personal and contextual factors (age, type of peer disability, type of school, in-school interaction with peers with disabilities, and out-of-school interaction with peers with disabilities on the attitudes of non-disabled Saudi Arabian elementary school students using ANCOVA linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

Regardless of the type of disability, the participants reported having positive attitudes toward peers with disabilities. The type of disability, school, and previous interactions all had a significant effect on fostering positive attitudes toward peers with disabilities, specifically, those with HD, ID, and BP. The participants had less positive attitudes towards their peers with BP compared to their attitudes towards peers students with HD or ID which were more positive and had a larger effect size. The findings also demonstrated that the participants' attitudes toward their peers with HD or ID were influenced by their previous experience of interacting with people with disabilities as well as the type of school they attended. Participants from Saudi ARAMCO (SA) schools had more positive attitudes toward peers with disabilities compared to those from public schools, and participants from non-inclusive schools had more positive attitudes toward peers with disabilities compared to those from inclusive schools. Participants from non-inclusive schools had much more positive attitudes toward peers with disabilities than those from inclusive schools; participants who had previous out-of-school interactions with people with disabilities had significantly more positive attitudes toward peers with disabilities than those who had no previous out-of-school interactions with people with disabilities. Participants from SA schools had the most negative attitudes toward peers with BP, regardless of age.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings imply that being taught in an inclusive educational setting in Saudi Arabia does not inevitably encourage non-disabled students to adopt more positive attitudes toward peers with disabilities. Therefore, with the support of their school principals, Saudi Arabian teachers working in inclusive educational settings should be encouraged to develop and implement initiatives to adopt an inclusive strategy based on group projects bringing together students with and without disabilities.

Promoting Health through Accessible Public Playgrounds

Every child, irrespective of socioeconomic status, ethnicity, or ability, deserves the fundamental right to experience play, which is a powerful and enriching activity that fosters their physical and mental health. Regrettably, most public play spaces hinder the complete inclusion of children with disabilities, with the main reason being a lack of universal accessibility. This study identified existing international and Canadian policies and community best practices related to inclusive playgrounds, and gathered stakeholders' opinions on the present condition of playgrounds, including challenges faced by children with disabilities and recommendations to make playgrounds inclusive. The questionnaires were completed by 97 participants. In addition, 10 individual interviews and three focus groups were performed. Ten policy documents and five community best practices were found. Our investigation identified factors that influence the design and implementation of inclusive playgrounds, categorized into three main areas: physical, social, and political environments. The results indicate that children with disabilities lack opportunities to engage fully in the physical and social aspects of playgrounds and spontaneous play activities with their peers. Notably, children with multiple disabilities may not feel welcomed or included in existing public play spaces.

Unraveling the Challenges: A Critical Review of Congenital Malformations in Low Socioeconomic Strata of Developing Countries

Congenital malformations pose significant challenges in the low socioeconomic strata of developing countries. This review critically examines the prevalence, patterns, and factors influencing congenital malformations in these settings. It explores the physical, psychological, and economic consequences for affected individuals and their families and the social stigma and discrimination they face. The review highlights the importance of equity and access to healthcare services, the role of environmental factors and nutritional deficiencies, and the ethical considerations and policy implications associated with congenital malformations. Existing interventions, challenges in implementation, and innovative approaches are discussed. Gaps in knowledge and areas for further research are identified. Addressing congenital malformations in low socioeconomic strata requires multidisciplinary collaboration, advocacy, and inclusive policies. By prioritizing preventive measures, early detection, and comprehensive care, the burden of congenital malformations can be reduced, improving the quality of life for affected individuals and their communities.

Influence of a Brief Autism Education Intervention on Peer Engagement and Inclusion At Mainstream Day Camps: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study

To explore the benefits of a brief autism education intervention on peer engagement and inclusion of autistic children at day camps. A convergent, parallel, two-arm (intervention/no intervention), non-randomized, mixed-methods design was used. The individualized, peer-directed, 5-10 min intervention included four components: (1) diagnostic label, (2) description and purpose of unique behaviors, (3) favorite activities and interests, and (4) strategies to engage. A timed-interval behavior-coding system was used to evaluate engagement between each autistic camper and their peers based on videos taken at camp (days 1, 2, 5). Interviews with campers and camp staff explored why changes in targeted outcomes may have occurred. Percent intervals in which the autistic campers were jointly engaged with peers improved in the intervention group (n = 10) and did not change in the control group (n = 5). A large between group intervention effect occurred by day 5 (Z = - 1.942, η² = 0.29). Interviews (5 autistic campers, 34 peers, 18 staff) done on the last day of camp in the intervention group garnered three themes: (1) Changed behavioral attribution, (2) Knowledge facilitates understanding and engagement, and (3) (Mis)perceptions of increased inclusion. A brief educational intervention that includes individualized explanatory information and strengths-based strategies might improve peers' understanding of and social engagement with autistic children in community programs such as camps.

Back and neck problems as well as disadvantageous ergonomic behavior patterns in university students: Concomitants of the pandemic?

Background

As a part of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown measures, universities converted courses to digital formats, leading to remote studying. It is unclear how these measures affect university students in terms of musculoskeletal problems (i.e., neck and back pain), e.g., by non-ergonomically equipped home offices or reduced physical activity.

Material and methods

Students from Osnabrück University weresurveyed via fully standardized online questionnaires from early March to mid-April 2022 (6 weeks) about neck and back problems, movement behavior in home offices, and personal information.

Results

Of 447 students who clicked on the link, 378 students (80.4% female, mean age: 24.1 ± 4.2 years) answered the questionnaire (response rate: 84.6%). 299 (79.1%) students suffered from neck pain and 294 (77.8%) from back pain during the pandemic. 206 (54.4%) students generally used ergonomic furniture, 83 (22.0%) used ergonomic sitting furniture, 57 (15.1%) used a standing desk, and 212 (56.1%) used aids for a more comfortable use of laptops in home office. 203 (53.7%) students took movement breaks in home office, 207 (54.8%) worked out regularly, and 65 (17.2%) moved regularly in the fresh air.

Conclusions

The present study found a high rate of neck and back pain amongst university students. Measures are needed to prevent neck and back pain in this group, considering that increased physical activity and enhanced home office equipment might be beneficial.

A Cross-Sectional Study of the Marital Attitudes of Pregnant Women at Risk for Cystic Fibrosis and Psychological Impact of Prenatal Screening

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is one of the most frequent genetic disorders in those with Northern European ancestry. Prenatal testing for cystic fibrosis may be used to plan and prepare for the birth of a child with the disease or to determine whether to terminate the pregnancy. The accessibility of prenatal detection for women with a high genetic risk of delivering a child with cystic fibrosis is determined by CF carriers and those affected by the disease. Moreover, prenatal testing for CF is mainly dependent on invasive diagnostic tests that can influence the mental health of the pregnant woman, and it is assumed that the birth of a CF child will have a serious influence on the couple’s subsequent family planning and marital behavior. The purpose of this research was to examine the marital attitudes of women at risk for cystic fibrosis and the psychological effect of screening for CF among pregnant women. The study followed a cross-sectional design with five questionnaires comprising Prenatal Attachment Interview (PAI), Maternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (MAAS), Pregnancy-Related Anxiety Questionnaire (PRAQ-R2), the Prenatal Psychosocial Profile (PPP), and the Marital Intimacy Questionnaire (MIQ). A total of 84 pregnant women were included in the “carriers” group for CFTR and 91 in the “non-carrier” group. CFTR-carrier mothers were likely to be more affectionate to the fetus, with better maternal–fetal quality and intensity of attachment. The same group of pregnant women was less scared of giving birth or worried about bearing a physically or mentally handicapped child compared to women who were expecting the prenatal diagnosis test for being at risk of delivering a newborn with malformations. CFTR-carrier pregnant women did not score significantly different results in the Prenatal Psychosocial Profile regarding stress levels, social support, and self-esteem. It was also found that intimacy and consensus problems inside the marriage were significantly more often experienced by CFTR carriers. Based on the current findings, it is likely that CFTR-carrier mothers have a better perception of the possible pregnancy outcomes by knowing their abnormal gene carrier status. Therefore, the psychological impact of invasive diagnostic tests is lower in this category compared with those who are unaware of the possible pregnancy outcomes. However, we promote a future analysis for pregnant women with moderate risk of giving birth to a child with single-gene mutations such as cystic fibrosis or other congenital malformations that undergo noninvasive prenatal diagnosis tests, as they become more accurate and might cause lower pre-diagnosis stress levels.