Health & Social Care in the Community最新文献

{"title":"Patterns, Determinants, and Perceptions of Traditional Medicine Use Among People Living With HIV/AIDS on ART in Rural Ethiopia","authors":"Getachew Moges, Mengistie Yirsaw Gobezie, Zeynudin Assefa Demissie, Teshager Aklilu Yesuf, Minimize Hassen, Solomon Ahmed","doi":"10.1155/hsc/2450680","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/hsc/2450680","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Traditional medicine (TM) remains widely used in Ethiopia, even among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) who are enrolled in antiretroviral therapy (ART). Despite improved ART accessibility, concomitant use of TM poses risks of herb–drug interactions, treatment failure, and toxicity. However, little evidence exists pertaining to TM use among PLHIV from semiurban and rural settings in Ethiopia. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence, types, reasons, and factors associated with TM use among PLHIV on ART.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A mixed-methods cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022 among 331 adults on ART. Structured, pretested questionnaires were used for quantitative data, analyzed with SPSS, and logistic regression identified predictors of TM use. Qualitative data were collected from 11 purposively selected patients via in-depth interviews and thematically analyzed to complement quantitative findings.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The prevalence of TM use after initiating ART was 64.4%, while 28.7% reported use within the past 6 months. Herbal medicines were the most common forms (77.9%), Demakese (<i>Ocimum lamiifolium</i>), garlic (<i>Allium sativum</i>), ginger (<i>Zingiber officinale</i>), and black cumin (<i>Nigella sativa</i>) being frequently used. Spiritual therapies such as holy water (Tsebel) and Zemzem water were also reported. The main reasons for TM use were treatment of opportunistic infections or symptom relief (84%), immune boosting (36.6%), general well-being, and faith-based motivations. Factors significantly associated with TM use included age ≥ 61 years (AOR = 5.08, 95% CI: 1.01–25.45), history of opportunistic infection (AOR = 6.82, 95% CI: 3.02–15.39), viral load 50–1000 copies/mL (AOR = 6.66, 95% CI: 1.30–34.06), being on third-line ART regimens (AOR = 4.43, 95% CI: 1.32–14.91), presence of comorbidities (AOR = 3.97, 95% CI: 1.86–8.48), and trust in traditional healers (AOR = 3.68, 95% CI: 1.80–7.54). Qualitative findings revealed that TM use was shaped by accessibility, cultural beliefs, dissatisfaction with modern care, family influence, and religious guidance.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Despite expanded ART access, TM use remains common among PLHIV in rural Ethiopia, mainly for symptom relief and immune support. Cultural and religious beliefs, opportunistic infections, comorbidities, and limited counseling drive this practice. Strengthening patient education, training healthcare providers, and raising awareness of TM in","PeriodicalId":48195,"journal":{"name":"Health & Social Care in the Community","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/hsc/2450680","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149205990","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Resilience Among People With Hearing Impairment in Saudi Arabia: A Descriptive Qualitative Study","authors":"Leyan Baghdadi,&nbsp;Roaa Alharbi,&nbsp;Safa Elgothmi,&nbsp;Tahani Ismail Hawsawi","doi":"10.1155/hsc/7547625","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/hsc/7547625","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Introduction</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Resilience among adults with hearing impairment involves using available resources to cope with psychological distress that may lead to social exclusion. As social inclusion depends on culturally and linguistically appropriate resources, qualitative insights from collectivist cultures remain limited. Therefore, this study explores how resilience is experienced among adults with hearing impairment within collectivist cultural contexts such as Saudi Arabia.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>An exploratory descriptive qualitative design was implemented under social constructionism. Data were collected from seven participants using semistructured interviews. Inductive thematic analysis was used to synthesize participants’ narratives. The study was reported following the COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) guidelines.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Participants’ narratives revealed descriptions that align with the Theory of Planned Behavior, participants’ intentions were to be socially included. They had positive attitudes about their coping abilities and positive expectations toward the support of family and peers. However, they perceived the social environment as disabling, which limited their sense of self-efficacy.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Previous research demonstrates that self-efficacy is essential for adults with hearing impairment to manage hearing-related stressors effectively, with social support serving as a key facilitator. Although self-efficacy and resilience may support psychological adjustment among adults with hearing impairment, limited empirical research has directly examined the relationship between these constructs. Therefore, future research should investigate the relationship between self-efficacy and resilience among adults with hearing impairment.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Patient or Public Contribution</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Six of the study participants validated the study findings using member-checking. The authors presented the study findings to participants in multiple one-to-one online sessions.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":48195,"journal":{"name":"Health & Social Care in the Community","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/hsc/7547625","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149205909","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correction to “‘Taking Care of Yourself First’: Exploring Users’ Experiences of an ACT-Based Intervention to Improve the Well-Being of Parents and Carers of Children With Visible Differences”","authors":"","doi":"10.1155/hsc/9798570","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/hsc/9798570","url":null,"abstract":"<p>E. Waite, D. Harcourt, and M. Thornton, “<i>′Taking Care of Yourself First’</i>: Exploring Users’ Experiences of an ACT-Based Intervention to Improve the Well-Being of Parents and Carers of Children With Visible Differences,” <i>Health &amp; Social Care in the Community</i> 2026 (2026): 5479958, https://doi.org/10.1155/hsc/5479958.</p><p>In the above article, a reference to Thornton et al. (2026) was inadvertently omitted. The reference has now been added as reference [23]:</p><p>[23] Thornton, M., Waite, E., White, P., Zarola, A., Antoniou, N., Clarke, A., &amp; Harcourt, D. (2026). Evaluating the Visible Difference Parenting Toolkit: an ACT-based intervention to improve parental/carer stress and psychosocial well-being of carers of children with appearance affecting conditions and injuries. <i>Journal of Pediatric Psychology.</i>https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsag043.</p><p>Moreover, the subsequent references have been renumbered in both the article body and reference list. The corrected version of the original article has been updated accordingly.</p><p>We apologize for this error.</p>","PeriodicalId":48195,"journal":{"name":"Health & Social Care in the Community","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/hsc/9798570","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149205885","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Placing Gender at the Center of Health Programming: Institutional Determinants of Gender-Responsive Health Governance","authors":"Issam Iyrot","doi":"10.1155/hsc/8273822","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/hsc/8273822","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Despite global commitments to gender equality, the integration of gender perspectives into health policies and programs remains uneven and is frequently concentrated in maternal and reproductive health. This study examines how gender considerations are incorporated into health governance and identifies institutional and political conditions associated with variation in gender-responsive health programming. The study employs a qualitative comparative documentary design examining Rwanda, India, and Sweden. The cases were purposively selected to capture substantial variation in governance structures, institutional arrangements, and approaches to gender equality while allowing comparison of the extent and breadth of gender integration in health governance. The analysis draws entirely on secondary sources, including peer-reviewed studies, policy documents, government publications, and institutional reports, and is organized around four analytical dimensions: political commitment, institutional capacity, policy integration, and implementation mechanisms. The findings suggest that gender-responsive health governance is associated with the interaction of political commitments, institutional capacities, policy integration, and implementation arrangements, although these relationships vary across institutional contexts. Rwanda illustrates a context in which strong formal commitments and institutional arrangements coexist with resource and implementation constraints. India demonstrates substantial subnational variation in the translation of gender-related policy commitments into health governance, particularly across Kerala and Bihar. Sweden illustrates a more institutionalized approach to gender mainstreaming within a mature welfare-state context while also highlighting the importance of considering inequalities beyond aggregate gender indicators. Cross-case analysis further suggests that formal rules, informal institutional influences, and institutional logics provide useful interpretive lenses for understanding variation in the depth and scope of gender integration. The study contributes a feminist institutionalist framework for examining gender-responsive health governance across diverse institutional settings. It also develops analytically derived propositions concerning the relationship between formal commitments, institutional capacity, policy integration, implementation arrangements, and context-specific informal influences. Because the study relies on documentary evidence and does not include primary data, these propositions should be treated as analytically informed patterns requiring further empirical validation.</p>","PeriodicalId":48195,"journal":{"name":"Health & Social Care in the Community","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/hsc/8273822","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149205558","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"“I’m Supposed to Solve a Problem That I Don’t Really Understand”: A Phenomenological Analysis of Tenancy Officers’ Perceptions of Hoarding Behaviour","authors":"Gemma Peters,&nbsp;Jenny Quinn,&nbsp;Mary Clare O’Connell,&nbsp;Annie Beyer,&nbsp;Philip Tyson","doi":"10.1155/hsc/1742913","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/hsc/1742913","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Hoarding disorder (HD) is a complex, multifaceted condition with lifelong progression that impacts physical, psychological and environmental wellbeing. Treatment and support are often hindered by disengagement, therapy-interfering behaviours and high drop-out rates. A wide range of professionals, such as counsellors, occupational therapists, support workers, community nurses, housing officers and social service staff, may encounter individuals who hoard. Yet housing officers are frequently among the first to identify hoarding and tasked with the challenge to respond. Many report frustration, limited knowledge and discomfort when working with hoarding individuals compared to those with other presenting issues. However, training and specialist guidance is often not accessible to professionals such as those in housing support, despite evidence that suggests that a psychologically informed understanding of the disorder is needed for successful outcomes. This study used interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to explore the lived experiences of three tenancy officers from a housing association in South Wales. Semistructured interviews identified four superordinate themes: (i) hoarding behaviour results from an underlying cause; (ii) the duality of staff roles in both providing support and enforcing policy; (iii) conflicting goals and perceptions between staff and tenants and (iv) perceived barriers to collaboration. Officers recognised links between hoarding, mental health and the need for safety and comfort, but often felt frustrated by resistance to de-cluttering. While officers sought to build collaborative, trusting alliances, the dual supportive-enforcement role risked damaging trust, leading to moral conflict and professional isolation. Findings underscore the need for training, systemic support and multiagency collaboration to better equip non–mental health professionals with the appropriate knowledge and resources.</p>","PeriodicalId":48195,"journal":{"name":"Health & Social Care in the Community","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/hsc/1742913","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149205887","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Realist Evaluation of Individual Service Funds for Adults With Intellectual Disabilities Living in England","authors":"Liz Croot,&nbsp;Alice Dunning,&nbsp;Katie Hullock,&nbsp;Clare Tarling,&nbsp;Steven Ariss","doi":"10.1155/hsc/2997065","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/hsc/2997065","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Individual Service Funds (ISFs) are an innovative way to improve support for adults with learning disabilities in England by enabling highly tailored support that makes use of community resources and adapts quickly to changing needs. Despite this, ISFs are not widely implemented. Where they are used, changes are often superficial, with funding being rebranded without substantive changes to service configuration or delivery, and there is little research evidence to inform their implementation at scale.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This qualitative realist evaluation builds on an initial programme theory of ISFs developed by a participatory realist review. We used semi-structured interviews and focus groups with a diverse group of participants (<i>n</i> = 48), including those with experience of developing and using ISFs and those engaged with traditional social care services. Questions explored how initial theories aligned with participants’ perceptions and experiences and sought to elicit additional theories. Analysis was iterative, focusing on developing context-mechanism-outcome configurations to identify mechanisms and contextual factors that support or constrain successful use of ISFs.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Findings</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Findings revealed the dynamic and relational nature of the contexts in which ISFs are implemented. Five interconnected programme theories were identified, operating as continua across system, organisational and individual levels of social care delivery. These theories explain how different contextual factors interact with mechanisms to generate outcomes. The theories address: (1) the development of shared values and understanding between stakeholders; (2) the quality and nature of relationships; (3) the degree of transparency in processes and decision-making; (4) the extent of restrictions placed on budget use and (5) approaches to risk management and positive risk-taking. Each theory represents a spectrum of possible configurations rather than binary states, reflecting the fluid and dynamic nature of support provision.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We identified five cross-cutting theory areas that together form a practice-informed programme theory to guide ISF implementation within complex social care systems.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":48195,"journal":{"name":"Health & Social Care in the Community","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/hsc/2997065","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149205890","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Associations Between Guilt and Self-Compassion Among Iranian Family Caregivers of Cancer Patients","authors":"Arefeh Salarmohamadi,&nbsp;Mahya Torkaman,&nbsp;Sirous Pourkhajoei,&nbsp;Neda Asadi","doi":"10.1155/hsc/8177627","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/hsc/8177627","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;div&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Introduction&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;Family caregivers of cancer patients often face substantial psychological burdens, including feelings of guilt. Self-compassion has been proposed as a protective factor, yet its relationship with caregiver guilt has not been well studied in Iran. This study aimed to examine the association between caregiver guilt and self-compassion in family caregivers of cancer patients.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Methods&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;This cross-sectional study was conducted between October and December 2024 among 160 family caregivers of patients with cancer recruited from oncology-related wards of three hospitals affiliated with Kerman University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected using the Caregiver Guilt Questionnaire (CGQ) and the Self-Compassion Scale–Short Form (SCS-SF). Pearson correlation coefficients were used to examine bivariate associations. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to assess the independent association between self-compassion and caregiver guilt after adjusting for demographic and caregiving characteristics, including age, sex, marital status, employment status, and daily caregiving hours.&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Results&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;The mean age of caregivers was 41.9 ± 10.0 years, and the majority were female (53.1%), married (73.1%), and provided more than 8 h of care daily (90.6%). The mean caregiver guilt score was 55.58 ± 8.58, while the mean self-compassion score was 34.74 ± 6.93. Total self-compassion was strongly and inversely correlated with caregiver guilt (&lt;i&gt;r&lt;/i&gt; = −0.71, 95% CI: −0.77 to −0.63, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001). In the adjusted multiple linear regression model, higher self-compassion was independently associated with lower caregiver guilt (&lt;i&gt;B&lt;/i&gt; = −0.62, 95% CI: −0.73 to −0.46, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; &lt; 0.001). Female caregivers had higher guilt scores than male caregivers (&lt;i&gt;B&lt;/i&gt; = 4.16, 95% CI: 1.70 to 6.62, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.001), while caregivers who were children of the patient had lower guilt scores than those who were parents (&lt;i&gt;B&lt;/i&gt; = −3.93, 95% CI: −6.96 to −0.89, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.012). Caregivers providing more than 8 h of care daily had higher guilt scores than those providing 8 h or less (&lt;i&gt;B&lt;/i&gt; = 5.93, 95% CI: 2.31 to 9.55, &lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.001).&lt;/p&gt;\u0000 &lt;/section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;section&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;h3&gt; Conclusion&lt;/h3&gt;\u0000 \u0000 &lt;p&gt;Among family caregivers of patients with cancer, higher self-compassion was associated with lower caregiver guilt after controlling for demographic and caregiving characteristics. These findings highlight the potential value of caregiver support programs focusing on self-compassion de","PeriodicalId":48195,"journal":{"name":"Health & Social Care in the Community","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/hsc/8177627","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149205557","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of Recovery College Online Courses Across Learner Types: A Multilevel Analysis","authors":"Galaad Lefay,&nbsp;Eugénie Samson-Daoust,&nbsp;Filippo Rapisarda,&nbsp;Catherine Briand","doi":"10.1155/hsc/1319353","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/hsc/1319353","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated global mental health challenges, emphasising the need for community-based interventions. Recovery Colleges (RCs), offering egalitarian, colearning environments, have been associated with improvements in mental well-being, reduced stigma and greater empowerment. Despite positive outcomes, the effects of online RC courses across learner types and repeated participation remain underexplored.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Aims</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>To investigate the impact of online RC courses on well-being, anxiety, resilience, empowerment and stigma among diverse learner groups and assess the effects of repeated participation.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>A quasi-experimental, repeated-measures study was conducted with 434 participants completing standardised assessments at precourse (T0), postcourse (T1) and follow-up (T2). Mixed linear models analysed the effects of time, learner types and course frequency.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>After correction for multiple comparisons, significant improvements were observed in well-being, anxiety, empowerment (self-esteem/self-efficacy) and disclosure/help-seeking, with benefits sustained to follow-up. Learner types influenced outcomes: Healthcare practitioners showed reduced stigma, while peer helpers, patient partners and relatives demonstrated notable empowerment gains. Repeated participation was not associated with reliable additional benefits after correction.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Discussion/Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Findings suggest that online RC participation is associated with improvements in mental health and reductions in stigma across diverse learner types. Sustained engagement within the RC’s mixed-learner model, rather than group-specific course designs, appears important for supporting these benefits. Future research should explore long-term impacts, mechanisms of change and service- and organisation-level outcomes.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":48195,"journal":{"name":"Health & Social Care in the Community","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/hsc/1319353","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149205377","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rural GPs’ Perspectives on SP: A Qualitative Study From Regional New South Wales","authors":"James Nash,&nbsp;Uchechukwu Levi Osuagwu","doi":"10.1155/hsc/9322682","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/hsc/9322682","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Rural Australia faces a double burden of chronic disease and social isolation, intensified by geographic isolation and healthcare workforce shortages. Social prescribing (SP), linking patients to nonclinical community resources, offers a way to address psychosocial needs beyond pharmacological care, yet it remains underutilised and lacks a formal national framework. This study explored rural general practitioners’ (GPs) understanding, current use and perceived barriers to SP in regional New South Wales.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Using a qualitative descriptive framework, semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 rural GPs (including registrars and fellows) in rural New South Wales. Data were analysed using codebook thematic analysis, incorporating both inductive coding and deductive refinement within seven predefined analytical domains.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Eight key themes were identified. While most GPs were unfamiliar with the formal nomenclature of ‘SP’, they viewed the concept as an intuitive ‘cornerstone’ of rural medicine. A significant ‘knowledge vacuum’ was identified, driven by high medical workforce turnover and the prevalence of fly-in, fly-out doctors who lack local community emersion. Practitioners reported a pervasive ‘pill paradigm’, where patient preference for immediate pharmacological ‘instant fixes’ over behavioural change created therapeutic resistance. Systemic friction, including the 15-min consultation limit and the ‘cascade of problems’ following the loss of a driver’s licence in sprawling rural areas, further hindered implementation. Facilitators included strong clinical rapport and nurse-led health assessments. GPs identified a latent need for ‘lifestyle hubs’ or link workers to manage behavioural follow-up and navigate vague referral pathways.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>SP is an essential but under-supported rural health program. Transitioning to a sustainable system requires addressing the knowledge gap through mandated service literacy training for transient staff, resolving systemic friction via Medicare Benefits Schedule reform for longer consultations and integrating a digital platform for routine prescribing into existing GP software for easy access to activities, and/or link workers to bridge the follow-up gap. These supports are vital for normalising SP as a routine component of rural healthcare delivery.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":48195,"journal":{"name":"Health & Social Care in the Community","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/hsc/9322682","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149205644","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mediation Analysis of Barriers and Attitudes in the Nexus Between Adolescent Contraceptive Knowledge and Use: A Cross-Sectional Study in Ho, Volta Region","authors":"David Adedia,&nbsp;Faith Klinogo,&nbsp;Felix Kwesi Nyande,&nbsp;Vincent Uwumboriyhie Gmayinaam,&nbsp;Sandra Amoateng Marfo,&nbsp;Stephen Agyemaneg,&nbsp;Isaac Baabon,&nbsp;Emmanuel Nkrumah,&nbsp;Victoria Efua Quansah,&nbsp;Joseph Opoku Cobbinah,&nbsp;Nimatu Yahaya,&nbsp;Isaac Menokuu Kelle,&nbsp;Rosemary Komeh Tetteh,&nbsp;Franklina Magblemdio Logodzo,&nbsp;Hubert Amu","doi":"10.1155/hsc/4658108","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/hsc/4658108","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Background</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Despite the high prevalence of pregnancies and births among adolescents, contraceptive uptake remains low, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like Ghana. To understand how knowledge of contraceptives translates into actual contraceptive use among adolescents, the mediation effects of barriers and attitudes were examined.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Methods</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 841 adolescents aged 10–19 years residing in Ho Municipality, using a structured, validated questionnaire. A path model was fitted to estimate the direct and indirect effects of knowledge on contraceptive use via barriers and attitudes, using a two-tailed significance level of 5%.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Results</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The sample comprised 516 female participants (61.4%) and 325 male participants (38.6%); median age was 16 years (IQR 14–18). Knowledge correlated positively with contraceptive use (<i>r</i> = 0.693, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and negatively with barriers (<i>r</i> = −0.246, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). In the path model (CFI = 1.00, TLI = 1.00, RMSEA = 0.00, SRMR = 0.00), knowledge had a significant direct effect on contraceptive use (<i>β</i> = 0.67, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and an indirect effect via barriers (<i>β</i>_indirect = 0.013, <i>p</i> = 0.046). Barriers directly reduced contraceptive use (<i>β</i> = −0.06, <i>p</i> = 0.036). The indirect effect via attitudes was not significant (<i>β</i>_indirect = −0.013, <i>p</i> = 0.068).</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <h3> Conclusion</h3>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Our findings demonstrate that knowledge fosters contraceptive use primarily by mitigating barriers rather than through attitude change alone. Interventions should therefore combine comprehensive contraceptive education with strategies to reduce access and social barriers among adolescents. This emphasizes the importance of addressing and mitigating barriers to enhance the effectiveness of knowledge-based family planning programmes towards achieving SDGs 3 and 5, such that women of reproductive age could have their family planning needs met.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":48195,"journal":{"name":"Health & Social Care in the Community","volume":"2026 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2026-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/hsc/4658108","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149205376","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}