Digital Commons Network^™

Association Of Glycd147 With Carotid Atherosclerosis: Evidence From Integrative Analyses, Cuihong Tian, Yang, Xingang Li, Hongxia Zhang, Jieyi He, Jinxiu Zhu, Yequn Chen, Xuerui Tan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory cardiovascular disease that progresses with ageing. Glycosylation plays a significant role in inflammation and contributes to the pathogenesis of ageing-related diseases, including atherosclerosis. Cluster of differentiation 147 (CD147), a glycosylated agonist of matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9), serves as an inducer of atherosclerosis and atherothrombosis. However, the effect of glycosylated CD147 (GlyCD147) on atherosclerosis remains unclear. This research aims to identify whether GlyCD147 is associated with atherosclerosis. Methods: To begin with, a clinical case-control study was designed to assess the differences of CD147 and GlyCD147 between 69 carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) cases and 69 controls. Traditional atherosclerotic …

Slushies Before School: Exploring How Nearby Food Outlets Impact The Eating Behaviours Of Secondary Students In Perth, Western Australia, Sharonna Mossenson, Klug, Joelie Mandzufas, Jacinta Francis, Siobhan Hickling, Lukar Thornton, Gina Trapp

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The external school food environment, comprising food outlets and marketing near schools, shapes what young people eat. Yet little is known about how Australian adolescents perceive and navigate these environments. Focus groups were conducted with 31 school students (Years 7–12) from Perth, Western Australia, to explore their experiences of the external school food environment and its influence on their food-related behaviours. Transcripts were thematically analysed and six themes were identified. Accessibility emphasised proximity, transport links, opening hours and speed of service, with older students using outlets as social spaces. Availability of slushies, energy drinks, snacks and fast-food meal deals influenced …

Temptation At The School Fence: A Qualitative Exploration Of The Impact Of External Food Outlets On The School Community, Sharonna Mossenson, Klug, Jacinta Francis, Siobhan Hickling, Lukar Thornton, Gina Trapp

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Retail food outlets are commonly located in close proximity to schools, providing students with opportunities to purchase and consume food enroute to or from school. These outlets are typically unhealthy and disproportionately clustered near schools, and this trend has been increasing over time. While quantitative studies have established associations between school food environments and adolescent dietary behaviours, little is known about how school personnel perceive and experience their impacts. This qualitative study explored perspectives of school personnel (n = 9) from a secondary school in Perth, Western Australia, located 150 m from two retail food precincts (areas with a high …

Body Mass Index, Prebiotic Supplementation During Pregnancy And Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Risk: An Effect Modification Analysis From A Randomised Controlled Trial, Rachelle A. Pretorius, Thomas R. Sullivan, Summer V.M. Walker, Johan Garssen, Jeffrey A. Keelan, Desiree Silva, Susan L. Prescott, Debra J. Palmer

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Prebiotic dietary supplementation has been shown to improve glucose homeostasis in type 2 diabetes patients. The aim of this analysis was to determine whether pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) modifies the effect of prebiotic supplementation from mid-pregnancy on reducing the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods: In a double-blinded, randomised controlled trial, pregnant women < 21 gestational weeks were randomly assigned (1:1) to consume daily prebiotics (14.2 g galacto-oligosaccharides and fructo-oligosaccharides) or placebo (8.7 g maltodextrin) powder. An effect modification analysis was performed to assess the heterogeneity of the effect of prebiotic supplementation in relation to pre-pregnancy BMI on GDM diagnosis. Results: Between June 2016 and November 2021, 329 women were assigned to the prebiotic group (50.4%), and 323 (49.5%) were assigned to the placebo group. Overall, 288 of 652 women (44.2%) were classified as overweight/obese prior to pregnancy (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²). The distribution was balanced, with 146/329 (44.4%) randomised to the prebiotics group and 142/323 (44.0%) in the placebo group. Pre-pregnancy BMI modified the effect of prebiotic supplementation, with the intervention reducing GDM rates in women with a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m^{2 …}

Acute Effects Of Accentuated Eccentric Loading On Mean Concentric Velocity During Resistance Training: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Jiahao Yang, Tsuyoshi Nagatani, Paul Comfort, Kristina L. Kendall, G. Gregory Haff

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Accentuated eccentric loading (AEL) may acutely enhance the concentric (CON) barbell velocity after the additional eccentric (ECC) load is removed, however there are inconsistent results regarding the effectiveness of this practice within the scientific literature. Objective: The aims of the present study were to: (1) examine the acute effects of applying AEL, only on the first repetition of a set, on mean barbell velocity during the CON phase of the first 3 repetitions of the set and (2) investigate the influence of the magnitude of ECC load, loading differential and exercise selection on the acute effects of AEL. Methods: …

Co-Design And Feasibility Testing Of A Midwife-Led Birth Debrief: An Implementation Science Project, Kate Buchanan, Phoebe Backhouse, Leanne Graham, Amy O’Meagher, Sara Bayes

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: The period spanning pregnancy, birth and postpartum is characterised by psychosocial as well as physiological changes: many women experience new or worsening mental ill-health during the perinatal period. Midwives play a critical role in supporting and promoting psychosocial health by providing mental health education, counselling and screening. Often this includes a post-birth conversation, guided reflection, or debrief. Information about the effectiveness and experiences of specific and structured midwife-led birth debrief is scant. Aim: Our study aimed to assess the perceived effectiveness, experiences and implementability of a midwife-led birth debriefing intervention in one Australian maternity unit. Methods: A Type II …

In-Hospital Mortality Patterns And Readmissions In Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: An Analysis Of The Role Of Pulmonary Hypertension, Saad Afzal Khan, Trishna Parikh, Adishwar Rao, Akriti Agrawal, Aarohi Parikh, Farah Kazzaz, Sarah Shin, Harry Karmouty-Quintana, Maulin Patel, Kha Dinh, Bela Patel, Bindu Akkanti

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be complicated by pulmonary hypertension (PH). We aimed to understand the impact of PH on in-hospital mortality and quantify the 30-day readmission rate among patients with COPD. For this cross-sectional study, we used the Nationwide Readmissions Database from 2017-2020 to identify adults ≥18 years with COPD. Patients were stratified according to PH diagnosis. Baseline characteristics between groups were compared using the Pearson chi-square test and two-sample t-test. Predictors of in-hospital mortality were determined using multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for demographics and confounders. The 30-day readmission rate and prevalence of PH subgroups by baseline …

Medication Management And Caregiving Stress Or Benefit In Children With Medical Complexity., Casey O'Hare, Nicole Werner, Makenzie Morgen, Sophie Kooiman, James Feinstein, Michelle A. Chui, Gemma Warner, Anna Jolliff, Brittany Storhoff, Kristan Sondegren, Danielle Gerber, Jens Eickhoff, Ryan J. Coller

Manuscripts, Articles, Book Chapters and Other Papers

This study quantified medication management experiences for children with medical complexity and associations with caregiver stress or benefit. Using data from the MedS@HOME trial, involvement of professional caregivers was associated with increased caregiver benefit, and greater network collective efficacy was associated with increased caregiver benefit and decreased caregiver stress.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID NCT05816590.

Progression Of Non-Radiographic To Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis: A Risk Model Based On A Chinese Cohort Study, Rui Ying Deng, Xiaojia Xu, Jian Hua Peng, Feng Cai Shen, Yao Gong, Dan Min Wang, Hong Jin Liang, Shu Xin Huang, Zhao Peng Chen, Wen Long Wu, Ze Xin Zheng, Ling Lin, Zhi Duo Hou

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: To evaluate the progression from non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) to radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA) in a Chinese cohort, identify associated risk factors in both clinical and imaging arms, and enable risk stratification based on these factors. Methods: Overall, 572 patients with nr-axSpA were enrolled with a median follow-up of 5 years. Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were conducted to identify potential risk factors associated with the progression from nr-axSpA to r-axSpA in both clinical and imaging arms. A risk-scoring system was then developed by assigning each independent predictor a weight based on its regression coefficient. Patients were subsequently categorized …

Cardiovascular Disease And Fracture Risk In People With Type 2 Diabetes: A Nationwide Matched Case–Control Study, Aksayan Arunanthy Mahalingasivam, Annika Vestergaard Kvist, Joop P. Van Den Bergh, Cassandra Smith, Joshua R. Lewis, Peter Vestergaard, Nicklas Højgaard Hessellund Rasmussen

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

To examine, among people with type 2 diabetes (T2D), whether cardiovascular disease (CVD) phenotypes and cardiovascular medications are associated with any fracture as the primary outcome and major osteoporotic fracture (MOF) as a secondary outcome. Nationwide registry-based matched case–control study in Denmark (2013–2021) among people with T2D. Cases were individuals with T2D who sustained an incident fracture (n = 12,390), and controls were fracture-free individuals with T2D matched 1:3 by age, sex, T2D onset date, and weighted Charlson Comorbidity Index (n = 37,170). The exposures were overall CVD, prespecified clinical CVD phenotypes (acute myocardial infarction (AMI), stroke, heart failure, atrial …

Genetic Drivers Of Progression In Alzheimer’S Disease Are Distinct From Disease Risk, Celeste E. Cohen, Shane Fernandez, Umran Yaman, Ahmad R. Ehyaei, Eleftheria Kodosaki, Aydan Askarova, Tenielle Porter, Eleanor O’Brien, Paul Maruff, Alexi Nott, John A. Hardy, Simon M. Laws, Dervis A. Salih, Maryam Shoai

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Recent trials in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) demonstrate encouraging outcomes. These trials target risk mechanisms identified through genetic analysis whilst directly aiming to reduce progression rates. Evidence from other neurodegenerative diseases suggests the genetics of progression is distinct from risk of disease. To expand these initial successes and improve clinical outcomes further we need to understand genetics of progression of disease. These can be deduced through rigorous analysis of meticulously phenotyped longitudinal cohorts. In this study we first looked at known genetic drivers of risk, namely polygenic risk scores for AD and APOE‑ε4, to assess their role in progression. This …

Methylated Cfdna May Distinguish Between High- And Intermediate-Risk Uveal Melanoma: A Pilot Study, Mike Wu, Daniël P. De Bruyn, Ruben G. Boers, Aaron B. Beasley, Daan M. Hazelaar, Stavros Makrodimitris, Joachim B. Boers, Jolanda Vaarwater, Ronald O.B. De Keizer, Robert M. Verdijk, Nicole C. Naus, Dion Paridaens, Saskia M. Wilting, Elin S. Gray, Wilfred F.J. Van Ijcken, Joost Gribnau, Annelies De Klein, Erwin Brosens, Emine Kiliç

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Uveal melanoma (UM) is a highly aggressive malignancy with a metastatic risk that depends on the molecular subclass. This subclass can be determined through molecular characterization of tumor-derived tissue. With eye-sparing treatments, tumor tissue is rarely available for molecular testing. We hypothesized that minimal invasive biomarkers such as methylated cell-free DNA (cfDNA) or circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) can be used for prognosis and monitoring of patients. Methods: Plasma cfDNA was isolated from healthy blood donors (HBDs, N = 19) and UM patients (N = 22). Plasma was collected at baseline (localized disease, N = 13) and during follow-up (metastatic …

Application Of The Paediatric Medical Traumatic Stress Model To The Mental Health Experience Of Young People Living With Type 1 Diabetes: A Qualitative Study, Rigel Paciente, Sara Coombs, Karen Lombardi, Helen Milroy, Keely Bebbington, Heather Roby, Craig E. Taplin, Nicole Wickens, Stella Rose, Alix Woolard

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Despite the various traumatic events that a young person living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) may experience, little is known about the burden and manifestation of traumatic stress in this population. Though mental health outcomes have been explored generally, medical trauma-sensitive approaches to understanding these experiences remain limited. We utilised a qualitative descriptive approach to explore the impact of T1D on young people’s mental health through the paediatric medical traumatic stress model (PMTS). Young people aged 13–30 living with T1D were interviewed. These interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Three main themes were generated: (1) perceived …

Body Composition And Muscle Health Changes After Providing Vascular Imaging Results In Older Adults: Secondary Analysis Of A Randomised Controlled Trial, Jack Dalla Via, Simone Radavelli-Bagatini, Marc Sim, Abadi K. Gebre, Catherine P. Bondonno, Kun Zhu, Shelby Mullin, John T. Schousboe, Richard J. Woodman, Markus P. Schlaich, Moira Sim, Pawel Szulc, Douglas P. Kiel, Wai H. Lim, Robin M. Daly, Jonathan M. Hodgson, Joshua R. Lewis

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Provision of vascular imaging results has been investigated to prompt changes towards healthy lifestyle behaviours, but effects on body composition and muscle health are unknown. Aim: This secondary analysis of a 12-week parallel-group randomised controlled trial (RCT) aims to explore body composition and muscle health effects of providing healthy lifestyle education (Ed) with and without abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) results. Methods: A total of 240 Australian community-dwelling older men and women (mean ± SD age 68 ± 5 years; 58% female; 57.1% with evidence of AAC) were randomised to AAC + Ed (n = 121) or Control + Ed …

Adding A Weight To Constrain The Trunk Increases Knee Joint Kinetics During Sidestep Cutting In Female Athletes, Daniel Kadlec, J. Jordan, Jacqueline Alderson, Sophia Nimphius

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Sidestep cutting exposes the knee to high multiplanar loads that both challenge tissue capacity and provide an opportunity to develop resilience through progressive exposure. This study investigated task constraints applied at the trunk and preparatory step and changes in lower-body joint kinetics associated with ACL injury risk during sidestepping in female athletes. Twenty-one trained female athletes performed six sidestep conditions: pre-planned and unplanned sidesteps, each with and without trunk (holding ~ 5–7.5% body mass at chest level) and preparatory-step (ducking under an adjustable rope at eye height) constraints. Relative joint power at the hip, knee, and ankle was analysed using …

Chlorinated Drinking Water Exposure Enriches Antimicrobial Resistance Pathways In The Infant Gut Microbiome: A Randomized Trial, Kimberley Parkin, Claus T. Christophersen, Valerie Verhasselt, Debra J. Palmer, Matthew N. Cooper, Susan L. Prescott, Desiree Silva, David Martino

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Water chlorination is essential for controlling harmful microbes in drinking water; however, the antimicrobial effects of chlorine-based disinfectants present in tap water may influence early-life gut microbial ecology.

Objective: To investigate the functional and compositional impact of chlorinated drinking water on the gut microbiome of infants.

Design: The waTer qUality and Microbiome Study (TUMS) was an Australian-based double-blinded, randomised controlled trial. Six-month-old infants (n = 197) received either de-chlorinated drinking water via benchtop filtration (treatment, n = 99), or regular chlorinated water (control, n = 98) for twelve months. Tap water and stool samples were collected at baseline and …

Lessons Learned From A Randomised Controlled Trial Of A Digital Intervention Targeting Eating Disorder Symptoms In Cisgender Sexual Minoritized Men, Emma Austen, Matthew Fuller-Tyszkiewicz, Siân A. Mclean, Beth O’Gorman, Katie Bishop, Hannah K. Jarman, Susan J. Paxton, Rachel F. Rodgers, An Dang, Emily A. Harris, Felicity Angelopoulos, Wesley Grey, Suku Sukunesan, Alexandra Parker, Adrian Shatte, Long Khanh-Dao Le, Scott Griffiths

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: There is an unmet need for evidence-based and accessible interventions designed to treat eating disorders in sexual minoritized men, given their heightened vulnerability to developing disordered eating. Digital interventions are a promising avenue for eating disorder treatment because of their accessibility and flexibility in delivery. Here, we present a randomised controlled trial of Seed, a 10-week treatment-focussed digital intervention for eating disorders, among sexual minoritized men.

Methods: Participants (N = 126 sexual minoritized men) with a binge-spectrum eating disorder diagnosis (e.g., bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder) were randomly allocated to one of three conditions: (1) a waitlist control (2) a …

The Relationship Between Dietary Sodium Intake And Cognitive Function: A Narrative Review, Samantha L. Gardener, M. Fu, L. Morini, T. Schwartzkopff, G. Savage, R. N. Martins, S. R. Rainey-Smith

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose of Review: This narrative review provides discussion on current evidence regarding the relationship between sodium intake and cognitive function in animal and human studies, as well as potential mechanisms underlying this relationship. Recent Findings: Recent evidence suggests high sodium intake is associated with development of cognitive impairment and neural dysfunction. Additionally, studies have proposed that high sodium intake is associated with increased aggregation of Aβ-amyloid and that hypertension (for which high sodium intake is a risk factor) modulates the relationship between Aβ-amyloid and development of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. However, while animal studies demonstrate a consistent relationship between …

Smart Medical System Integrating Clinical Workflows For Robust Skin Cancer Detection Across Heterogeneous Pathologies, Ahed Abugabah, Prashant Kumar Shukla, Suchi Mishra, Abhishek Dwivedi

All Works

Skin cancer is among the most prevalent and life-threatening dermatological diseases worldwide, with melanoma responsible for a substantial proportion of skin cancer–related deaths due to delayed and unreliable diagnosis. Conventional clinical screening based on visual inspection and expert interpretation is inherently subjective and often affected by inter-observer variability, lesion heterogeneity, and imaging artifacts, highlighting the need for accurate and generalizable automated diagnostic systems. This study proposes a novel hybrid deep learning architecture for skin cancer classification that integrates an attention-guided autoencoder with a transformer-inspired global context modeling module, forming a unified and robust representation learning framework. The encoder–decoder structure is …

An Assessment Of Accessibility And Affordability Of Inpatient Psychiatric Care In Tennessee, Kailee Havrda

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Access to mental health has seen changes over the past decade, but little research and attention have been given to access to inpatient psychiatric facilities. Inpatient psychiatric care is crucial for patients experiencing mental health emergencies who need immediate access to care. Gaps in spatial accessibility, affordability, and the access and assessment process were identified due to a lack of available information in the field.

Methods: Secondary data from the Tennessee Department of Health were used to assess financial accessibility through payer source charges and patient encounters, as well as through mapping of inpatient psychiatric facilities and conducting drive …

The Benefits And Barriers To Expanding Crna Programs In Michigan, Grace Van Zweden

Honors Theses

The demand for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and their delivery of safe, high-quality anesthesia care has increased significantly due to nationwide anesthesia provider shortages and the growing reliance on CRNAs to meet healthcare system needs. This demand underscores the importance of expanding nurse anesthesia programs in Michigan and across the United States to support nurses pursuing advanced education and to improve patient access to essential care within their communities. The CRNA profession has evolved over time to meet the changing needs of the healthcare system, and current CRNA programs require applicants to satisfy rigorous and highly specific admission criteria. …

Application Of Artificial Intelligence (Ai) In Cancer Symptom Management For Adult Cancer Survivors: A Scoping Review, Tao Wang, Haiying Wang, Mengyuan Li, Daniel Bressington, Daniel Terry, Guanjin Wang, Wai Hang Kwok, Jing Yu (Benjamin) Tan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background and aim: Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been increasingly used in cancer survivorship to support symptom management. This scoping review aimed to map existing evidence on AI applications in cancer symptom management for adult cancer survivors, including AI model development, AI-enabled intervention delivery and adoption, symptom targets, key features of the AI approaches used, reported outcomes, influencing factors, and research gaps to inform future priorities.

Method: This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews. Eight electronic databases were comprehensively searched in November 2025 and updated in March 2026. Empirical studies published in …

Reliability And Validity Of Upper Extremity Neurocognitive Reactive Tests In Collegiate Athletes, Matthew L. Gauthier, Marisa Pontillo, George J. Davies

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

Objectives: Neurocognitive function is vital in sports, but evidence supporting neurocognitive reaction testing in upper extremity return-to-sport testing is limited. This study's purpose was to quantify measurement properties of upper extremity reactive testing in collegiate athletes, hypothesizing acceptable measurement properties for clinical use.

Design: Cross-Sectional Study.

Setting: Collegiate athletics.

Participants: Sixty-three healthy athletes (25 females, age = 20.8 ± 1.6 years, BMI = 25.6 ± 2.6 kg/m2; 38 males, age = 20.8 ± 1.6, BMI = 25.7 ± 2.6 kg/m2).

Main outcome measure(s): Successful touches and average reaction time on the Upper Extremity Reactive Closed Kinetic Chain Test (UERCKCT) and …

The Unacknowledged Challenge Of Moral Distress For Nurse Academics, Adam Burston, Glenna Mae Guiriba, Meena Gupta, Sara Bayes

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The pluralistic nature of healthcare presents nurses with situations challenging their moral values which nurses must navigate. Challenges to moral values can result in the experience of moral distress, a problem that is common within the clinical nursing context. Moral distress is a known and well-researched phenomenon within nursing and has long contributed to detrimental effects such as frustration, anger, anxiety, decreased job satisfaction, burnout and ultimately attrition. However, despite extensive research in clinical environments, minimal research exists detailing this concept within the context of nursing academics and educators. Nurses can experience moral distress if they are in or exposed …

The Value Of Pilot And Feasibility Studies In Nursing Education Research: A Worked Example, Dhanya Anand Anil Kumar, Natasya Raja Azlan, Hugh Davies, Chandra P. Salgado Kent, Debbie Massey, Karen Strickland

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Feasibility studies play a critical role in determining whether clinical or educational interventions can be implemented as intended before progressing to large-scale trials. In nursing education, many innovative teaching strategies, particularly complex interventions such as simulation-based learning, are often advanced directly to full trials without first establishing feasibility. This premature progression creates recruitment, acceptability, fidelity, and protocol adherence challenges, which may compromise study quality and valuable resources. This paper addresses this gap by clarifying the purpose and value of feasibility studies in nursing education research and outlining key considerations for designing an early-stage feasibility study that aligns with contemporary …

Uncovering The Genetic Landscape Of Pediatric Hearing Loss Along The Texas–Mexico Border, Desiree Lanehart, Michelle Gray, Roberta Sierra, Camille Maldonado, Daniel Brooks, Hongzheng Dai, Aaly Rahimtoola, Sandy Magallan, Alberto Allegre, Lori Berry

School of Medicine Publications

Children in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), including the US border regions, experience delays in the diagnosis of hereditary hearing loss (HL), driven primarily by limited access to specialized genetic services. Although approximately 60% of congenital HL has a genetic etiology, many affected children in these communities remain undiagnosed, delaying timely intervention. Project GIVE is an NIH-funded virtual genomics program that expands access to genome sequencing (GS) for children with undiagnosed multisystemic conditions along the Texas–Mexico border in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) and El Paso regions of Texas, USA. Children (0–18 years) with suspected rare diseases were referred by …

Vol7iss5, Hca Healthcare

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine Covers

Cover for Volume 7 Issue 5 of the HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine.

“It Feels Like Your Life Hinges On Me”: Lived Experience Of Being Next Of Kin To Someone Who Self-Harms, Kenneth Haugjord, John-Kåre Vederhus, Tore Dag Bøe, Kristine Dahl

The Qualitative Report

Through previous research, attention has been drawn to the burden experienced by next of kin to someone struggling with self-harm, yet less attention has been given to how they experience and make sense of the relational and existential complexity of this role in their everyday lives. We asked how next of kin experienced and made sense of caring for a loved one who self-harmed. We conducted in-depth interviews with fourteen next of kin, including parents, partners, and siblings, and analyzed the data through reflexive thematic analysis within an interpretive qualitative framework. Our analysis generated an overarching theme, "It Feels Like …

Calm, Connection, Or Just Compensation: A Qualitative Investigation Of Subjective Adolescent Experiences With Behavioral Health Interventions Within A Clinical Trial, Talia Thompson, Katherine Thompson, Sarah Perzow, Holly Spinner, Bentley Porterfield-Finn, Lauren D. Gulley, Rachel G. Lucas-Thompson, Isabel Thorstad, Laura Pyle, Molly Basch, Megan J. Moran, Marian Tanofsky-Kraff, Megan M. Kelsey, Eleanor R. Mackey, Lauren B. Shomaker

The Qualitative Report

Adolescent mental health and cardiometabolic concerns are at an all-time high, necessitating the development of acceptable, feasible, and effective interventions. Investigations of behavioral health interventions with teenagers must incorporate a means of understanding how adolescents perceive and engage with an intervention, and the relevance and meaning they ascribe to its therapeutic goals, as these potentially modifiable factors may ultimately influence future uptake, sustainability, and effectiveness of the interventions. Qualitative research methods provide well-established, rigorous frameworks for addressing these questions, but are underutilized in pediatric research. This qualitative study is part of a multisite, pilot, and feasibility randomized controlled trial of …

Asking Questions Of The Data: Operationalizing The Disruptive Aims Of Poststructural Discourse Analysis, Maxxine Rattner

The Qualitative Report

I wrote this paper to support qualitative researchers in accessibly engaging with poststructural discourse analysis. In it, I detail how I flexibly adapted this methodology to meet my study’s aims. I begin by outlining poststructural understandings of discourse and explaining why a researcher may choose a poststructural discourse analysis for a study’s theoretical and methodological framework. While published poststructural discourse analyses commonly draw upon Foucauldian concepts to guide analysis, in this paper I share a more expansive approach. I demonstrate how developing and asking questions of the data can be one way to analyze diverse texts for the presence of …