Search Results (1,509)

Background/Objectives: Culturally responsive care requires both intercultural communication competence (ICC) and empathy; however, these constructs are often examined separately in nursing research. This study aimed to (i) describe nurses’ ICC and empathy levels, (ii) test the association between ICC and empathy, and (iii) examine group differences by selected demographic and professional variables. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional correlational design was conducted with 300 nurses recruited from state and private hospitals. ICC was measured using the Arasaratnam Intercultural Communication Competence Scale (cognitive, affective, and total), and empathy was assessed using the 18-item Jefferson Scale of Empathy (compassionate care, perspective taking, standing in the patient’s shoes, and total). Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, independent-samples t-tests, and one-way ANOVAs with Scheffé post hoc tests (α = 0.05). Results: Both ICC and empathy were above the scale midpoint. Cognitive ICC (M = 4.71, SD = 1.42) exceeded affective ICC (M = 4.35, SD = 1.34), and total empathy was high (M = 4.50, SD = 0.90), with compassionate care as the highest subscale (M = 4.60, SD = 1.10). ICC total was moderately correlated with total empathy (r = 0.607, p < 0.05); affective ICC correlated with compassionate care (r = 0.455) and perspective taking (r = 0.493). Male nurses reported higher ICC than female nurses (p < 0.05), while empathy did not differ by gender. Younger nurses (20–29) scored higher in ICC and empathy than older groups, and nurses with ≥28 years of experience also showed elevated levels. Nurses who willingly chose nursing had higher ICC and empathy across dimensions (all p < 0.001). Hospital type showed minimal differences except for “standing in the patient’s shoes” (private > state, p = 0.04). Conclusions: ICC and empathy were generally high and interrelated among nurses, with meaningful variation across workforce characteristics. Training should emphasize experiential and reflective approaches to strengthen affective ICC and perspective taking, while organizational strategies should foster intrinsic motivation and support professional development across career stages. Full article

Background: Sexual health research with migrant and refugee communities presents unique challenges, shaped by cultural sensitivities, stigma, and the under-representation of these populations in health research. However, lived experiences insights are essential for the development of appropriate and useful research and health initiatives. It is important to learn from researchers’ experiences to expand the representation of migrant and refugee community voices. Method: This paper draws on two qualitative studies conducted in South Australia: one exploring the sexual and reproductive health perspectives of refugee and migrant women, and the other of men. We reflect upon the methodological and ethical considerations in conducting research in this sensitive field and provide recommendations for future researchers and healthcare providers when working with migrant and refugee communities. Results: Both studies encountered difficulties in relation to participant recruitment, cross-cultural communication, and addressing taboos surrounding sexual health. At the same time, they highlighted opportunities for generating meaningful insights through culturally safe, gender-sensitive approaches and collaboration with community stakeholders. Conclusions: By synthesising experiences from both projects, we identify practical strategies for building trust, overcoming linguistic and cultural barriers, and creating supportive environments for discussing sensitive topics. These reflections offer guidance for researchers and clinicians aiming to advance culturally responsive sexual health research and strengthen healthcare provision for migrant and refugee populations. Full article

Background/Objectives: Urology residency training widely varies across countries, and evidence comparing residents’ experiences at an international level is limited. This study reports the results of an international survey of urology residents from different countries worldwide, aiming to characterize training environments, educational exposure, and trainee expectations across diverse healthcare systems. Methods: A 39-item online survey was administered to urology residents during the Société Internationale d’Urologie (SIU) Regional Meeting (Florence, November 2024), assessing demographics, training exposure, educational resources, workload, satisfaction, and career perspectives. The results were compared between trainees at different postgraduate years (PGYs) to explore associations for key outcomes. Results: Overall, 208 urology residents from 21 countries completed the survey. Most residents were actively involved in research (76.4%), although confidence in independent scientific production was moderate (significantly lower among junior trainees). Surgical exposure increased with PGY, with good experience in endoscopy but limited hands-on exposure and expected autonomy in laparoscopic, robotic, and major open surgery. Despite high overall satisfaction with urology, residents described heavy workloads, inconsistent access to structured teaching and international fellowships, and a long-term shift in career expectations toward private practice. Conclusions: Urology residents worldwide report high engagement in research, strong satisfaction with their specialty choice, and interest in international mobility. Nonetheless, persistent disparities in surgical exposure, research confidence, workload, and gender representation highlight the need for competency-based curricula, structured mentorship, and improved training organization to promote equitable and high-quality urology education globally. Full article

Demand for camel milk products is growing in Morocco and worldwide, creating opportunities to strengthen the livelihoods of populations living in arid regions through the development of camel-based dairy value chains. In addition to their economic potential, such value chains may contribute to sustainability by supporting food systems adapted to arid environments, promoting the use of locally resilient livestock species, and enhancing the socio-economic viability of vulnerable rural communities. This exploratory qualitative study investigates urban consumer behavior related to dairy consumption with a specific focus on the potential integration of camel milk products into local dietary habits. To capture nuanced consumer perspectives, gender-segregated focus-group discussions were conducted in three Moroccan cities using a semi-structured questionnaire on dairy consumption habits. Key factors examined included milk types, product preferences, purchasing locations, consumption frequency and willingness to include camel products in the household diet. The results indicate that camel milk is rarely consumed outside areas where camels are raised. Nevertheless, participants expressed interest in several camel milk-based products, particularly fermented milk and spreadable cheeses. This interest was primarily driven by perceptions of camel milk as a healthy product and by its association with traditional food practices. These findings suggest that expanding camel milk consumption in urban markets could support more sustainable and territorially rooted dairy systems by linking consumer demand with production models suited to dryland conditions. This study indicates promising market opportunities for the development of camel milk products in urban areas, particularly if challenges related to pricing strategies, distribution network, and region-specific supply chains are strategically managed. Full article

This study investigates European citizens’ perspectives on farmers’ roles, highlighting gender, age, education, political orientation, community size, social class, and attitudes towards the EU. This study was developed using 21,002 interviews with European Citizens from all 27 EU countries. A quantitative data analysis methodology was used from the European Eurobarometer 97.1 survey. Seven models were formulated and tested. It is shown that men prioritise economic growth and food stability, while women emphasise environmental protection and animal welfare. Younger individuals focus on rural job creation, whereas older citizens value food security. Higher education levels correlate with environmental and animal welfare concerns. Right-leaning citizens favour economic development, whereas left-leaning individuals prioritise ecological issues. Larger communities emphasise economic growth, while smaller ones focus on environmental preservation. Social class influences priorities, with higher classes concerned about sustainability and lower classes about job creation. Pessimistic views about the EU correlate with food safety concerns, while optimistic views align with environmental and animal welfare priorities. These findings suggest that aligning agricultural and food policies with citizens’ diverse needs can foster a more sustainable and resilient European food system. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cancer places emotional and psychosocial demands on healthcare professionals; therefore, this study aimed to examine sociodemographic and psychosocial determinants, including emotional competence, empathy, and stigma, and to assess their interrelationships with mental health, attitudes towards cancer, and cancer-related stigma among healthcare professionals involved in cancer care. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2025 to January 2026 via a self-administered questionnaire among 264 hospital and primary care healthcare professionals in Osijek, Croatia (69 men and 195 women; median age 37 years, IQR 31–47, age range 20–64 years), all directly involved in providing healthcare to cancer patients in Croatia. Results: Significant differences were observed by gender, age, occupation, and workplace. Men were more frequently physicians and had higher education levels and socioeconomic status, whereas women achieved higher scores in emotional competence and empathy. Physicians more often had shorter overall work experience and reported greater perceived controllability of cancer. Age-related differences were found in perceived discrimination, stigma, and controllability of cancer. Primary healthcare professionals showed a higher level of empathy and proactivity and a lower perception of cancer as an incurable disease. Higher empathy was associated with lower stigma, while negative emotions and greater proactivity were associated with higher stigma, and emotional competence was a strong predictor of empathy. Conclusions: The study identified notable sociodemographic and psychosocial differences among healthcare professionals. Emotional competence strongly predicted empathy, which was inversely associated with cancer-related stigma, suggesting potential targets for interventions to improve attitudes towards cancer care. Furthermore, women exhibited significantly higher emotional competence and empathy than men, highlighting the importance of incorporating gender-specific perspectives into developing educational and support strategies for cancer healthcare professionals. Full article

Background: Examining the relationship between burnout and absenteeism is important for understanding how chronic occupational stress translates into economic costs, reduced productivity, and deterioration in the health of nursing staff. The aim of this study was to evaluate absenteeism among nursing staff and its association with burnout from a gender perspective. Methods: A total of 154 nursing professionals with permanent contracts were included. An interview was conducted, which included the collection of sociodemographic data, characteristics related to their employment status, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory questionnaire in its Spanish-validated healthcare personnel version. The absenteeism rate was calculated using information from the hospital’s human resources department. The Mantel–Haenszel test was used to identify the association between burnout and absenteeism from a gender perspective. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The prevalence of burnout was 70.1%; 52.6% reported absenteeism in 2024. The general nursing category was significantly associated with burnout (p = 0.039). Although no association was found between burnout and overall absenteeism, holding multiple jobs was identified as a determinant of partial absenteeism (p < 0.05). The hospital absenteeism rate was 4.8%. No statistically significant difference was found between burnout, gender, and absenteeism, with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.386 (95% CI: 0.75–2.65) after controlling for the effect of gender (χ²_MH = 0.672, df = 1, p = 0.412). Conclusions: Nursing staff present a critical level of burnout. No statistically significant difference was found between burnout, gender, and absenteeism, which could indicate that gender roles in the workforce may be changing in our population. Full article

Architectural heritage plays a central role in shaping visitors’ emotional experiences within cultural tourism contexts. However, empirical research examining how specific architectural styles evoke emotional responses remains limited, particularly when using objective measurement techniques. This study investigates emotional reactions to architectural heritage by applying the Stimulus–Organism–Response (SOR) theoretical framework. In this model, architectural styles act as environmental stimuli, emotional processing represents the organismic state, and the resulting emotional activation constitutes the response. An experimental protocol was conducted with a sample of 645 participants exposed to a series of standardized architectural heritage images representing different architectural styles and infrastructure types. Emotional reactions were captured in real time through facial emotion recognition technology, enabling the objective measurement of eight basic emotions: neutral, happiness, sadness, surprise, fear, disgust, anger, and contempt. The collected emotional data were statistically analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to identify significant differences in emotional responses across architectural styles, heritage typologies, and gender. When significant differences were detected, Tukey’s HSD post hoc tests were applied to determine specific group contrasts. The findings reveal that different architectural styles generate distinct emotional patterns, highlighting the role of architectural aesthetics as a powerful mediator of affective engagement with heritage environments. From a theoretical perspective, this research contributes to heritage tourism and environmental psychology by integrating the SOR framework with real-time emotion detection technologies, providing a novel methodological approach for analyzing emotional responses to architectural heritage. Full article

The present study examined how parental attachment and cultural background shape love styles in emerging adulthood. Drawing on attachment theory and cross-cultural perspectives, we investigated whether gender, attachment to mother and father, and nationality (Italian vs. Angolan) predicted the development of love styles in 370 young adults. Participants completed validated measures of parental attachment (IPPA) and love attitudes (LAS). Hierarchical regression analyses revealed a differentiated pattern across love styles. Emotionally detached relational styles (Ludus) were significantly predicted by gender, paternal attachment, and nationality, with higher levels reported by men, those with lower paternal attachment, and Angolan participants. While Storge showed no significant associations, passionate love expression (Eros) was robustly predicted by nationality, with Italian participants reporting higher levels of passion in love. Results suggest that while paternal attachment serves as a critical developmental anchor in preventing Ludus, the cultural macrosystem remains the primary architect of Eros. These findings call for culturally attuned clinical and educational interventions that differentiate between early relational deficits and normative cultural variations in intimacy. Full article

Background: Assisted Partner Notification Services (APNS) support HIV disclosure and reduce HIV transmission. Despite this potential, APNS remains underutilized due to several barriers. A clearer understanding of APNS utilization, barriers, and the facilitators is essential to guide APNS improvement. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the level of APNS utilization, barriers, and facilitators for its uptake among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Singida. Methods: We employed a convergent mixed-methods design. A cross-sectional survey quantified APNS utilization and its associated factors among PLWH who have sexual partners, while complementary qualitative interviews explored perceived barriers and facilitators from the perspectives of both PLWH and healthcare providers. Results: In the Singida region, only forty percent of participants reported the use of APNS. Higher knowledge of HIV disclosure was positively associated with uptake (AOR = 2.65, 95% CI: 2.28–2.81; p = 0.02), whereas depressive symptoms reduced engagement (AOR = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.91–0.99; p = 0.027). Qualitative interviews in Singida identified multilevel barriers, including stigma, gender dynamics, and cultural constraints. Facilitators provided supportive medical advice, non-judgmental counseling, and assurances of confidentiality. Conclusions: Findings reveal low APNS uptake in Singida, constrained by stigma and cultural dynamics. Strengthening knowledge of disclosure, providing supportive medical advice, and ensuring confidentiality may enhance the use of APNS. Full article

This study explores how gender roles shape transnational caregiving among Nigerian immigrants between northern BC and Nigeria. It examines the persistence or renegotiation of traditional caregiving expectations and how carers navigate societal norms, professional roles, and personal motivations. It also investigates how the elder care recipient’s gender influences caregiving dynamics, including cultural taboos, communication, and family interactions. This qualitative study employed a narrative inquiry approach, guided by a care and gender (Gender+) lens, to explore the caregiving experiences of 10 Nigerian immigrant carers (five women, five men) residing in northern BC and supporting elderly relatives in Nigeria. Participants were recruited through snowball and purposive sampling. A pre-interview survey captured demographic and caregiving background data. In-depth semi-structured interviews elicited personal caregiving narratives, and thematic analysis was used to identify key patterns related to gender, culture, and transnational caregiving dynamics. The study revealed four key themes regarding caregiving practices among Nigerian immigrant families: gendered cultural caregiving expectations, perceptions of caregiving abilities based on gender, resistance to traditional norms, and cultural taboos and gendered caregiving assignments. Caregiving experiences of Nigerian immigrants are influenced primarily by gender, with migration stage, class, and birth order acting as contextual modifiers. Centering a Gender+ lens, this research underscores the need for culturally responsive policies that address the challenges of immigrant carers and support their efforts to fulfil caregiving responsibilities within transnational settings. Full article

This qualitative study analyzes the perceived effects of the Quiero Mi Barrio—I love my neighborhood—(PQMB) urban regeneration program on the physical and social environments and residents’ quality of life in two deprived neighborhoods in Temuco, Chile, where PQMB was implemented in 2007 and 2015, using a phenomenological approach and a gender perspective. PQMB is a state-led program that combines improvements in urban infrastructure with participatory processes aimed at strengthening community life. Data were collected through interviews, focus groups, and non-participant observations. The findings indicate improvements in public spaces, increased social interaction, and enhanced community cohesion, although these effects were unevenly distributed. Women and older adults experienced greater benefits due to higher participation and leadership in neighborhood organizations, while younger residents’ involvement was more limited and focused on the use of sports facilities. Differences between neighborhoods highlight the importance of time and institutional continuity in maintaining program-related effects. The study shows that changes in the built environment interact with participation patterns and community organization, shaping how residents experience improvements in quality of life. However, the sustainability of these effects depends on long-term institutional support and communities’ capacity to sustain collective action and influence local decision-making beyond the formal closure of interventions. Full article

Chile faces an institutional context marked by public distrust and increasing demands for legitimacy in public management. In this scenario, this study aimed to examine, within the framework of the Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) theory and the HERO model, the relationships between servant leadership, public service motivation, work engagement, and healthy organizational outcomes in the Chilean public sector, considering the moderating effect of the supervisor’s gender. We used a sample of 428 employees from 22 public institutions, with validated instruments to assess servant leadership, public service motivation, work engagement, and organizational outcomes. Structural equation modeling confirmed the five proposed hypotheses: servant leadership was positively related to public service motivation and work engagement, and work engagement was positively associated with healthy organizational outcomes, showing partial mediation effects among these variables. No moderating effects of the supervisor’s gender were found. This study provides empirical evidence on the motivational mechanisms operating within the public sector and highlights the relevance of servant leadership as a key social resource for fostering motivation, work engagement, and organizational well-being within the specific context of Chilean public institutions included in the study. Full article

Farming is recognized as one of the most stressful occupations worldwide, with farmers experiencing heightened prevalences of chronic stress, depression, anxiety, and suicidality. However, there is limited research that has qualitatively examined gendered experiences of farmers’ mental health in Canada. This study explored Canadian farmers’ perspectives on mental health through a gendered lens to address this gap in knowledge. Seventy-five farmers and agricultural community members participated in semi-structured interviews centred on stress, mental health challenges, and help-seeking, conducted between 2017 and 2018. Data were analyzed thematically using a Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) approach. Three major themes were identified: identity, workload, and mental health support. Women farmers described persistent struggles to be recognized as “farmers,” highlighting how gender-assumptive language and agricultural norms undermined their identity and contributed to their mental distress. They also reported disproportionate workloads, often resulting in overwhelm, exhaustion, and diminished wellbeing. Finally, while men often positioned women as the preferred recipients of mental health education, women expressed that this expectation intensified their already heavy burden. Findings underscore that gendered roles and expectations in Canadian agriculture profoundly shape farmers’ mental health in that women’s contributions remain undervalued, and their mental health is further strained by both visible and invisible workloads and by expectations to safeguard family and community wellbeing. Full article

This study examines how pre-service teachers construct pedagogical knowledge to promote equity in school settings through reflection and research from an intersectional gender perspective. Situated within current debates on gender, interculturality, and social justice in teacher education, the study explores how pre-service teachers develop critical awareness of inequality and envision transformative practices. Using a qualitative design, three reflective workshops were conducted with students from Early Childhood and Elementary Education programs in Chilean universities. Thematic analysis identified nine principal codes, which were later organized into four analytical domains: knowledge construction, interculturality and inclusion, gender practices, and intersectional meanings. Results show that participants conceive teaching as a political and ethical practice linked to community engagement, democratic coexistence, and affective responsibility. They also challenge traditional gender roles by proposing co-care and collective well-being as foundations for equitable education. Furthermore, intercultural and situated pedagogies emerge as key strategies for connecting theory with practice and validating diversity within the classroom. Participants demonstrate emerging forms of intersectional and gender awareness, questioning the feminization of teaching and proposing notions of co-care and collective well-being that transcend binary gender norms. They also value intercultural and contextual pedagogies, emphasizing empathy, recognition of diversity, and the validation of students’ origins and trajectories. Full article