Search Results (150)

Background/Objectives: Pancreatic cancer remains highly fatal, often diagnosed late with poor prognoses and worse psychological quality of life compared to other cancers. Globally, it is the twelfth most common cancer but the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with actual 5-year survival rates below 5%. Northern Ireland’s outcomes are among the worst, yet research on people’s experiences across the illness trajectory is scarce. Consequently, the unique needs of people with pancreatic cancer are poorly understood. It is crucial we develop deeper understanding of the entire pancreatic cancer journey to address this. This study aims to explore the lived experiences of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in Northern Ireland and generate a theory that explains their journeys, from pre-diagnosis through to survivorship or end of life. Methods: This study will adopt a grounded theory approach, incorporating multiple qualitative data generation methods: semi-structured interviews with patients and care partners, and focus groups with professionals. An optional photovoice (participatory photography) method will be offered to participants. Theoretical sampling principles and constant comparative analysis will guide recruitment, data collection, and analysis to ensure the explanatory theory is rooted in participants’ lived experiences. Conclusions: Establishing a holistic, in-depth understanding of people’s pancreatic cancer journeys will enable us to better comprehend, anticipate, and meet their needs. A theory grounded in empirical data about lived experiences can inform priorities for future care, support services, policy, and research, and contribute to the development of support interventions that help people to maintain the best possible quality of life, whether during a short-term, terminal illness; treatment journey; long-term symptom management; or survivorship. Full article

Families in rural communities face a constellation of challenges that significantly hinder their ability to support adolescents. Our study aimed to explore family functioning as a protective factor for adolescent mental health from the perspective of parents in rural communities of southern Ecuador, using Photovoice as a participatory research tool. The research design corresponds to Participatory Action Research. Five Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted. A total of 29 parents of adolescents participated in the study. The research team employed qualitative content analysis for the interpretation phase. Through photographs and focus groups, parents commented on aspects of family life that they perceived as necessary for supporting adolescents, such as effective communication, cohesion, supervision, and expressions of care. The main conclusion indicated that the implementation of Photovoice converted participants from subjects to collaborators, allowing them to critically reflect on their behaviors while aiding or reinforcing in the co-creation of strategies. Full article

Promoting active lifestyles among adolescents is essential due to their short-, medium-, and long-term contributions to young people’s holistic development and overall health. Beyond physical well-being, Physical Education foster physical activity, autonomy, social connectedness, motivation and emotional well-being, thus constituting a key dimension of quality education. Background/Objectives: The “Estilos de Vida Activos (EVA)” project is a school-based intervention designed to foster adolescent agency and motivation in adopting active habits. Grounded in the salutogenic model, self-determination theory, and the health-based Physical Education pedagogical model, this protocol describes the design and implementation strategies of a participatory intervention in secondary schools. Methods: A variety of research methods will be used to collect quantitative and qualitative data before, during, and after the intervention. Validated questionnaires will assess active commuting, socioeconomic status, satisfaction of basic psychological needs, motivation, levels and intention to engage in physical activity. Qualitative data include interviews with teachers, Photovoice sessions with students, observation notes, and programme materials. Intervention: The EVA intervention is collaboratively developed by students, teachers, and researchers using participatory action research. It includes needs analysis, participatory activities, and co-design of tailored physical activity programmes. The intervention is described using the Template for Intervention Description and Replication checklist (TIDieR) to enhance transparency and replicability. Conclusions: This protocol presents a theoretically grounded and participatory approach to school-based health promotion. By integrating educational and collaborative strategies, it offers a replicable model that promotes adolescent active lifestyles, from contextual relevance, and pedagogical coherence, serving as a guide for inclusive and sustainable interventions in school settings. Full article

Background/Objectives: Youth perceptions of their environments provide critical insight into the social and physical determinants of health. This study investigated how Hispanic and African American children conceptualize health within their neighborhood and school settings. Methods: A total of 44 participants (29 Hispanic, 15 African American; Mean age = 9.27 years, SD = 1.28 years) participated in a photovoice project, capturing photographs and quotes in response to two guiding prompts: (1) “What does your dream of a healthy community look like?” and (2) “What should we do to make your community healthier?” Results: Thematic analysis of participants’ quotes and photographs yielded four overarching themes across both neighborhood and school environments: (1) access to nutritious food options, (2) opportunities for physical activity and recreation, (3) clean and safe spaces, and (4) access to extracurricular and community-based programs. A fifth theme, emergency preparedness and response, emerged uniquely within school context. Participants also proposed context-specific solutions to address identified health concerns. Conclusions: These findings emphasize the importance of environmental context in shaping child and preadolescent health perceptions and priorities. The results support the development of children and adolescent-informed, community-level interventions aimed at improving environmental health conditions, particularly in underserved communities disproportionately affected by poverty and structural inequities. Full article

Aging parents caring for adult children with disabilities or other care needs face significant challenges and health-related issues over extended periods. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of aging parents with caregiving responsibilities. This qualitative participatory study followed the research process of a photovoice study. Thirteen parents, aged 51 to 76 years, of adult children with care needs, aged 20 to 49 years, participated in this study. The parents captured photographs depicting their daily lives which were contextualized and coded during group discussions. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis and reviewed collaboratively with the participants. Six key themes emerged in the data analysis. 1. mastering complexity, 2. being an expert and advocate, 3. balancing autonomy and care, 4. care as a lifelong journey, 5. standing on the margins of society, and 6. worrying about the future. This study underscores the urgent need for comprehensive and coordinated support systems that ensure the well-being of aging caregivers while addressing the evolving needs of their adult children. Full article

This research investigates how community participation can be enhanced to support the sustainable reconstruction of residential heritage in the Old City of Aleppo. In the aftermath of the Syrian war, reconstruction interventions on traditional courtyard houses have been affected by several issues, such as a lack of knowledge among junior architects and craftsmen (regarding houses’ conditions, relevant regulations, and residents’ needs), and limited residents’ participation in decision-making processes. Drawing on international experiences in similar post-war contexts that highlight the role of education and a participatory approach as critical components for sustainable reconstruction efforts. This research conducts a comparative analysis of several international capacity-building and co-creation initiatives to identify effective methods of stakeholder engagement. Building on these findings, the study proposes an education programme tailored to the socio-cultural and regulatory context of the Old City of Aleppo. The proposed programme integrates academic knowledge with community perspectives using validated teaching and participatory methods, such as photovoice, walkthrough, and lectures etc., within a co-creation framework. It aims to raise awareness, build capacity, and enable residents through participation in all phases of the programme: co-diagnostic, co-design, co-implementation and co-monitoring. This way, residents are empowered to play an active role in interventions on residential heritage and to align these interventions with their needs and current regulations. Thus, the research presents a scalable model for cultural and socially sustainable residential heritage reconstruction. Full article

This article utilises Max-Neef’s Human Scale Development (HSD) framework (1991) to answer two research questions: what impact does government and community-based social protection (SP) have on UK asylum-seeker wellbeing; how are interactions with all forms of SP, both as giver and receiver, supporting or harming the satisfaction of asylum-seekers’ fundamental human needs at this time? The research study utilised a mixed-methods, collaborative, case study design situated within a refugee and asylum-seeker (RAS) support charity in Southwest England. Methods included peer-led Qualitative Impact Protocol interviews, Photovoice, surveys, and staff interviews. Data were subjected to an inductive, bottom-up process on Causal Map software (version 2, Causal Map Ltd., 39 Apsley Rd., Bath BA1 3LP, UK) and the analysis used the HSD framework. We found eight over-arching themes. The four main needs-violators/destroyers of asylum-seeker wellbeing were dehumanisation, unfreedoms, enforced ignorance, and (re)traumatisation, and the four main needs-satisfiers were common humanity, autonomy and resistance, exerting agency through knowledge exchange, and healing. Five policy and practice-focused bridging satisfiers are recommended to help move individual and collective experience from a negative to a positive state in the research population. Policy and practice should be transparent and evidence-based, efficient and equitable, supportive of participation and productivity, trauma-informed, and multi-agency. Full article

This community-based participatory research (CBPR) study explored, using a Photovoice methodology, the lived expeiences of northeastern Black and/or African American youth and mothers who were currently experiencing the incarceration of their fathers and husbands. Grounded in critical theories of dual consciousness and comparative conflict, the findings provide valuable insights into how this population navigates the intersections of family, school, and community within the context of the criminal legal system, and, in the process, underscore the relevance of Abolitionist practice in capturing their theoretically lived experiences. Participants documented through photography and narrative reflections the multifaceted impacts of incarceration on fathers and husbands, including disrupted family dynamics, social stigma, and barriers to community resources. A focus group with the mothers of these youth highlighted the profound impact of incarceration on their family structure, revealing significant emotional burdens for caregivers as well as personal changes to parenting styles as a result of this project. A central theme that emerged was the development of a “double” or “dual consciousness”—an ability to see humanity and injustice in their circumstances, fueling a desire for systemic change. Overall, this CBPR project amplifies the voices of marginalized youth and mothers, illuminating how the criminal legal system perpetuates cycles of trauma, stigma, and disempowerment. The implications call for a radical reimagining of the role of social work in creating more equitable, restorative, and healing-centered communities, including an immediate embrace of Abolitionist practice concepts and interventions. Full article

The present study explores residents’ perceptions of Stintino (Sardinia, Italy) as a tourist destination. The municipality is predominantly known for La Pelosa beach, widely regarded as one of the most attractive coastal sites in Europe. However, its popularity has raised critical issues related to carrying capacity and seasonal overcrowding, contributing to a tourism model centered almost exclusively on beach-related activities. This study aims to investigate how locals conceptualize their place beyond the dominant seaside narrative, particularly considering Stintino’s identity as a former fishing village with a strong maritime tradition. As part of Italy’s designated inner areas, Stintino also embodies a deep-rooted connection to cultural heritage, further reinforcing the need for its preservation. Adopting a photovoice-based participatory visual methodology, this study engaged 15 local stakeholders from key sectors (hospitality, fishing tourism, retail, gastronomy, and cultural institutions) who produced and discussed photographic representations of their lived experience of the territory. The visual material was thematically analyzed using a conceptual framework informed by theories of place perception and social representations. The findings suggested a multifaceted territorial storytelling rooted in local heritage, symbolic spaces, and everyday practices. Tourism governance strategies could incorporate community-based approaches, such as participatory mapping and inclusive narrative development, to foster more sustainable and place-sensitive promotion models. Full article

Family violence is a social issue that impacts families and communities every day in Canada and around the world. As family violence rates continue to increase there is an urgent need for cross-sectoral collaboration to codesign social work and social service systems, in partnership with those experiencing family violence. This article will share learnings from a two-year community-based participatory research study that worked alongside survivors and witnesses of family violence, community partners from diverse social service agencies, and researchers, to understand experiences of family violence in racialized communities in Peel region, Ontario, Canada. An intersectional-trauma-informed approach guided the work that included establishing a community advisory board, hiring peer research assistants, Photovoice, and holding a knowledge exchange event (KEE) with survivors and witnesses of family violence, researchers, and community partners to rapidly generate ideas for intervention areas through a 25/10 crowdsourcing activity and codesign preliminary solutions through a mini hackathon. Key findings from the photovoice highlighted systemic failures and gaps experienced by those facing family violence. As we shifted into ideation, this preliminary focus on systems solidified and top ideas identified included barrier-free, culturally aware provision of services ranging from mental health supports, safe housing, financial independence, and accessing wrap-around services. Our work concluded with the collaborative development of preliminary solutions to these ideas and emphasized the need for cross-sectoral partnerships and lived experience engagement to change systems. Centering the voices of those who have experienced FV in system-level change and advocacy is necessary to ensure services and supports meet the needs of service users. Full article

This study evaluated an innovative teaching methodology in a Health Anthropology course for Pharmacy students aimed at transforming their perceptions of diabetes. Through patient interviews and the photovoice technique, students gained deeper insights into the psychosocial aspects of the disease. Surveys were administered at the beginning, midpoint, and end of the course to assess shifts in students’ perspectives. The results revealed a significant change, with students evolving from a primarily biomedical view to a more holistic understanding, emphasizing the patient’s lived experience. Additionally, students responded positively to the innovative approach, citing enhanced motivation and learning, though some noted the methodology’s demanding workload. This teaching intervention fostered empathy and a broader perspective on the challenges faced by patients living with diabetes, supporting a more patient-centered and humanistic approach to healthcare. Despite the positive feedback, there was some uncertainty about whether this methodology could be applied to other subjects within the Pharmacy curriculum. Full article

Background/Objectives: Art-based community projects positively impact mental health recovery by fostering creativity, self-expression, and social engagement. Despite growing evidence on participatory art interventions, limited studies have used a mixed-methods approach to examine their effects. The present study examines how participation in the Artistic Couples project influences individuals’ subjective perceptions of recovery, psychological well-being, and self-stigma. Methods: This exploratory multi-center study employed an embedded mixed-methods design, integrating qualitative Photovoice methodology with a quantitative pre–post survey. Participants (N = 30) from five mental health institutions across Catalonia engaged in collaborative art creation with local artists. Qualitative data from Photovoice discussions and semi-structured interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis, while quantitative data from standardized measures were examined using paired t-tests and correlation analysis. Results: Qualitative findings revealed the following three key themes: (1) artmaking as an artistic couple, emphasizing the collaborative process and art as a means of self-expression; (2) social connections, highlighting increased belonging, emotional support, and reduced loneliness; and (3) understanding mental health recovery, showcasing art’s role in identity reconstruction and personal growth. Quantitative results indicated a significant improvement in the “Connecting and Belonging” subscale of the RAS-DS (t = −2.51; p = 0.023), particularly among women (t = −2.85; p = 0.019), suggesting enhanced social integration. However, no statistically significant changes were observed in overall recovery, well-being, or self-stigma scores. Conclusions: This study provides evidence that participatory community art projects enhance social connections and self-expression, which are key elements of mental health recovery. The findings suggest that creative collaborations facilitate emotional processing and challenge stigma. The improvement in social belonging supports integrating arts-based interventions in recovery-oriented care. Future research should examine long-term effects and gender-sensitive approaches. Full article

Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) (10–19 years) make up approximately 4.2% (320,000) of people living with HIV in South Africa. Adolescence is a developmental period characterized by pervasive biological, social and psychological changes, which challenges adherence and retention in care for ALHIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Further, as ALHIV grow “older”, they are expected to transition to the adult HIV treatment programme, where they should assume greater responsibility for managing their chronic condition and healthcare pathway. Whereas it is imperative that ALHIV are transitioned when they are ready, little is known about the challenges and experiences of ALHIV before and during transition. The aim of this paper was to report on the experiences and challenges of transition for ALHIV who received ART at an adolescent-friendly service that is adjunct to a public primary healthcare facility in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Methods: Photovoice methods were employed to explore the transition experiences of ALHIV on ART at a “supportive transition” public health facility in the Cape Town Metro in South Africa. Participants took pictures that depict their experience pre- and during transition to adult care and discussed these in groups with peers. Audio data were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim and subjected to thematic analysis using Atlas.Ti version 24. Results: The emergent themes described their apprehension to transitioning to adult care; self-management; challenges to adherence; the need for psychosocial support; and how adolescent-friendly services were filling the gap. Conclusions: We illuminate the “I-We-I” configuration, to reflect (the first “I”) individual ALHIV experiences as isolated before being transferred to the supportive facility; how they experience a sense of belonging and family (“we”) in the supportive facility; but face apprehension about transitioning to adult care in the local clinic, where they have to self-manage (final “I”). Full article

Despite the emphasis on consumption and production patterns in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), plastic pollution remains inadequately addressed. This research contributes to the limited literature on sustainable consumption and disposal of plastic in developing contexts and demonstrates how universities can effectively integrate sustainability competencies into a subject-specific curriculum. This study examined how teacher training programs can address plastic pollution through curriculum innovation and experiential challenge-based learning. Focusing on technology student teachers (TSTs) at a South African institution, the research explored their experiences with community-based problem-solving activities related to plastic consumption and disposal. The polymer module was restructured to combine theoretical knowledge with practical sustainability actions, engaging students in real-world environmental challenges. Data were generated via focus group interview, reflective journal, and photovoice. Working in teams across four communities, TSTs conducted plastic audits in households, shared findings with community members, and collaboratively developed sustainable solutions. This approach bridged the gap between academic learning and environmental action, addressing the critical global plastic crisis that contributes to fossil fuel depletion, ecosystem damage, and greenhouse gas emissions. The findings highlight the potential of teacher education to cultivate environmentally conscious educators who can inspire sustainable thinking and action across educational settings. The practical implications of this research extend beyond the classroom, offering a replicable model for teacher education programs to empower future educators as change agents who can facilitate sustainable community action through knowledge co-creation and context-specific environmental problem-solving. Full article

Given the importance of youth mental health for public policy, it is crucial to involve young people directly in participatory research to investigate their views and translate their demands into concrete actions. The aim of the study was to define the concept of mental wellbeing as perceived by a group of adolescent and young adult patients in two large hospitals in northwestern Italy and to find out, together with them, what institutions can do to promote youth wellbeing. Thirty-nine participants (13–25 years old, 90% female), divided into four groups, took part in a Photovoice workshop. Individual interviews were conducted with 21 participants and the transcripts were thematically analyzed. The photos were categorized into five themes: nature, traveling, passions and leisure, relationships, and animals. The definition of mental wellbeing can be traced back to eight themes: sharing experiences and emotions with others, calm and tranquility, personal fulfilment, sense of belonging, pleasant physical sensations, freedom and discovery, involvement and commitment, and happiness. The key recommendations for promoting mental wellbeing were providing information about mental health, tackling the stigma of mental illness, and providing psychological support in school and health services. The implications of these findings for policy makers involved in planning health services for young people are discussed. Full article