Fear of depression recurrence among individuals with remitted depression: a qualitative interview study.

Background: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a prevalent psychiatric condition and the largest contributor to disability worldwide. MDD is highly recurrent, yet little is known about the mechanisms that occur following a Major Depressive Episode (MDE) and underlie recurrence. We explored the concept of fear of depression recurrence (FoDR) and its impact on daily functioning among individuals in remission from MDD.

Learner handover: Perspectives and recommendations from the front-line.

Introduction: Current medical education models increasingly rely on longitudinal assessments to document learner progress over time. This longitudinal focus has re-kindled discussion regarding learner handover-where assessments are shared across supervisors, rotations, and educational phases, to support learner growth and ease transitions. The authors explored the opinions of, experiences with, and recommendations for successful implementation of learner handover among clinical supervisors.

Does Educational Handover Influence Subsequent Assessment?

Purpose: Educational handover (i.e., providing information about learners' past performance) is controversial.

Training and support needs of scleroderma support group facilitators: the North American Scleroderma Support Group Facilitators Survey.

Peer-facilitated support groups are an important resource for people with scleroderma, but little is known about challenges faced by support group facilitators. The objective was to identify training and support needs of scleroderma support group facilitators to inform the development of an educational training program. A 32-item survey assessed confidence of support group facilitators to execute tasks necessary for successfully facilitating support groups.

Factors associated with negative observer responses towards individuals with visible differences: A scoping review.

People with visible differences are often confronted with negative observer responses, including stares, disgust, and avoidance. Characteristics of negative observer responses are well-documented, but less is known about associated factors. We conducted a scoping review to map what is known about factors associated with negative observer responses.

Use of the nominal group technique to identify stakeholder priorities and inform survey development: an example with informal caregivers of people with scleroderma.

Objectives: The nominal group technique (NGT) allows stakeholders to directly generate items for needs assessment surveys. The objective was to demonstrate the use of NGT discussions to develop survey items on (1) challenges experienced by informal caregivers of people living with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and (2) preferences for support services.

Design: Three NGT groups were conducted.

Development and preliminary validation of the Scleroderma Support Group Leader Self-efficacy Scale.

Support groups are an important resource for people living with systemic sclerosis (SSc; scleroderma). Peer support group leaders play an important role in the success and sustainability of SSc support groups, but face challenges that include a lack of formal training. An SSc support group leader training program could improve leader self-efficacy to carry out important leadership tasks, including the management of group dynamics.

Reasons for attending support groups and organizational preferences: the European scleroderma support group members survey.

Purpose: The objectives were to identify reasons why patients attend scleroderma support groups and to ascertain preferences for how meetings are best organized.

Methods: The survey included 30-items on reasons for attending and nine items on organizational preferences. Patients were recruited through European patient organizations.

Understanding coping strategies among people living with scleroderma: a focus group study.

Purpose: Systemic sclerosis or scleroderma is a chronic, rare connective tissue disease with negative physical and psychological implications. Coping strategies used by scleroderma patients have not been studied in-depth. The objective of the present study was to gain a greater understanding of the coping strategies employed by people living with scleroderma.

Value congruence, control, sense of community and demands as determinants of burnout syndrome among hospitality workers.

Employees working in the hospitality industry are constantly exposed to occupational stressors that may lead employees into experiencing burnout syndrome. Research addressing the interactive effects of control, community and value congruence to alleviate the impact of workplace demands on experiencing burnout is relatively limited. The present study examined relationships among control, community and value congruence, workplace demands and the three components of burnout.

Reasons for Not Participating in Scleroderma Patient Support Groups: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: Peer-led support groups are an important resource for many people with scleroderma (systemic sclerosis; SSc). Little is known, however, about barriers to participation. The objective of this study was to identify reasons why some people with SSc do not participate in SSc support groups.

Perceived Benefits and Factors that Influence the Ability to Establish and Maintain Patient Support Groups in Rare Diseases: A Scoping Review.

Background: Support groups are an important resource for many people living with rare diseases. The perceived benefits of participating in support groups for people with rare diseases and factors that may influence the ability to successfully establish and maintain these groups are not well understood. Thus, the objective of this scoping review was to provide a mapping of the available evidence on the (1) benefits or perceived benefits of participating in rare disease support groups and (2) barriers and facilitators of establishing and maintaining these groups.

Effect of support group peer facilitator training programmes on peer facilitator and support group member outcomes: a systematic review.

Objective: Peer facilitators play an important role in determining the success of many support groups for patients with medical illnesses. However, many facilitators do not receive training for their role and report a number of challenges in fulfilling their responsibilities. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the effects of training and support programmes for peer facilitators of support groups for people with medical illnesses on (1) the competency and self-efficacy of group facilitators and (2) self-efficacy for disease management, health outcomes and satisfaction with support groups among group members.

Reasons for non-participation in scleroderma support groups.

Objectives: Peer-led support groups are an important resource for people living with many rare diseases, including scleroderma (systemic sclerosis, SSc). Little is known, however, about the accessibility of SSc support groups and factors that may discourage people from participating in these groups. The objective of this study was to identify reasons why people with SSc do not participate in SSc support groups.

Exploring Sources of Emotional Distress among People Living with Scleroderma: A Focus Group Study.

Background: Systemic sclerosis, or scleroderma, is a chronic and rare connective tissue disease with negative physical and psychological implications. Sources of emotional distress and the impact they have on the lives of people with scleroderma are not well understood.

Objectives: To gain an in-depth understanding of the emotional experiences and sources of emotional distress for women and men living with scleroderma through focus group discussions.