Browsing by Author "Rifshana, Fathimath"
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- ItemThe lived experience of parents caring for a child with Type 1 diabetes : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Clinical Psychology at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand(Massey University, 2017) Rifshana, FathimathType 1 diabetes is the most common chronic metabolic condition seen in children and adolescents. Parents of children with Type 1 diabetes are responsible for carrying out a demanding treatment regimen on a daily basis, to prevent short- and long-term complications related to blood-sugar control. Parents can experience significant stress related to this role, but there is limited in-depth qualitative research on the parental experiences of caring for a child with Type 1 diabetes. Understanding the experiences of parents can contribute to better parental and child adjustment to the illness. The present study explored parental experiences by using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) of in-depth semi-structured interviews with 17 parents of children with Type 1 diabetes. In this study, parents experienced a profound biographical disruption from the moment their child was diagnosed, which undermined their confidence in the ability to care for their child. Parents likened this to the experience of having a new baby. They used repair structures to reconstruct parental identity based on the idea of normality. These involved normality through typical childhood experiences, embracing a new normality, and preserving family normality. Looking after a child with diabetes was also dominated by the ‘constant-ness’ of the disease, driven by a need for constant vigilance and better management in the context of an unpredictable body. Parents responded to some of the embodied experiences of the child through their own embodied acts of caregiving. They also made comparisons between diabetes and other conditions as a way of coping with the embodied unpredictability of childhood diabetes. Parents’ accounts of resilience in the context of Type 1 diabetes reflected a mainstream understanding of resilience as an individual attribute or capability. However, from their talk of navigating through daily challenges, an alternative conceptualisation of resilience for these parents is presented as ‘doing’ resilience. ‘Doing’ resilience also involved a separation of actions and emotions of the parents, which supported the daily ‘doing’ of diabetes. These findings highlight the psychosocial implications of parenting a child with Type 1 diabetes. They indicate a need to acknowledge the profound impact on the parents’ lives and the ways that they attempt to cope with the demanding caregiving responsibilities. Understanding these lived experiences can enable health professionals to provide better support in making sense of and coping with the changes in parents’ lives.
- ItemOutcome evaluation of the Massey University Concussion Clinic: a pilot study : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Psychology at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand(Massey University, 2009) Rifshana, FathimathThe primary aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention provided by Massey University Concussion Clinic for individuals following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI). Concussion Clinics were set up across New Zealand to provide early intervention and assessment for individuals with MTBI to prevent long term complaints. Treatment outcomes at these clinics have not been empirically examined before. The current study compared the levels of post concussion symptoms, anxiety, depression, and psychosocial functioning between an intervention and a control group using a quasi-experimental design. In addition, reasons for nonattendance to the clinic, and participants’ perceptions of their recovery were also explored. The main outcome measures used were the Rivermead Postconcussion Symptoms Questionnaire, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the Sydney Psychosocial Reintegration Scale-2. Outcomes were initially assessed soon after injury or referral to the clinic and then three months later. Participants were recruited from the Palmerston North Hospital Emergency Department and the Massey University Concussion Clinic. With 20 participants in the intervention group and 15 in the control group, the main results showed that the Concussion Clinic intervention significantly decreased the level of anxiety and depression reported by participants in the intervention group over the control group. Greater improvements in post concussion symptoms and psychosocial functioning were also indicated in the intervention group. Additional findings suggest difficulty with transportation as a reason for nonattendance, which could be a potential barrier to recovery. Furthermore, participants highlighted the benefits of attending the service and its role in their recovery. Important issues relating to the referral processes were also identified. Findings of the current study suggest that the Concussion Clinic intervention is effective in improving recovery for those accessing the service. Nevertheless, these results must be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size. Further research is warranted to examine the effectiveness of the Concussion Clinics with larger samples, and the current study may serve as a valuable pilot for these future investigations.