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Biomedical subjects

Debbie Kralik

Publications and source records attributed to Debbie Kralik.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

The quest for ordinariness: transition experienced by midlife women living with chronic illness.

AIMS: This paper reports the findings of research that aimed to elucidate the meaning of midlife women's experiences of living with chronic illness. BACKGROUND: A lack of awareness by health professionals of the context in which women must live with chronic illness often results in women feeling overwhelmed, alienated and without voice within the delivery of health care. This inquiry privileged women's voices. DESIGN: The construct of 'transition' in chronic illness experience evolved from this collaborative and participatory research with midlife women living with adult onset chronic illness. Over a 1-year timeframe, 81 women were asked to tell their stories of living with a chronic illness. These correspondence data were thematically analysed to provide storied accounts. Guided by feminist principles, women were empowered through research processes and have actively participated in the development of the transition construct. FINDINGS: The research revealed that when women are first confronted with a chronic illness they appear to move through a complex trajectory that involves an 'extraordinary' phase of turmoil and distress; however, they may then make the transition toward an 'ordinary' phase that involves incorporating chronic illness into their lives. Transitions in chronic illness experience involve movement from extraordinariness to ordinariness and sometimes back again and were found to be processes that are nonlinear, sometimes cyclical and potentially recurring throughout a woman's life. Four major constructs emerged from women's narratives: How quickly life changes; extraordinariness: confronting life with illness; The illness experience as transforming and ordinariness: reconstructing life with illness. CONCLUSION: Nurses are in a position where they may make a difference to women who live with chronic illness. Understanding illness transitions offers a framework that will enable nurses to move beyond the bio-medically orientated concepts of nursing practice, towards a holistic approach to the provision of nursing care.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed2002

Constructions of sexuality for women living with multiple sclerosis.

AIM: In this paper we reveal constructions of sexuality that were articulated by 12 women who participated in an inquiry, which aimed to understand the experiences of women who live with multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of this paper is to consider constructions of sexuality when chronic illness such as MS intervenes. BACKGROUND: In previous studies women placed their sexuality on the agenda for discussion, claiming that their concerns had not previously been vocalized nor understood. DESIGN: This participatory inquiry was framed by the principles of 'look, think and act'. These principles are operationalized as looking at ourselves, reflecting and questioning aspects of our lives, and then taking action to resolve the issues identified. Twelve women aged between 30 and 60 years who lived with MS joined the three researchers for five group sessions. Each session lasted 3 hours. In addition, several women opted to be interviewed individually. In this paper we describe the way in which women have constructed and articulated their sexuality since acquiring MS. FINDINGS: Sexuality has multiple meanings that are shaped and influenced by life experiences. When MS intrudes in a woman's life, sexuality is reshaped against a foundation of previous sexual experiences and expectations. Constructions of sexuality encompassed physical sexual responses, perceptions of appearance and attractiveness to self and others, communication and relationships, self-image and self-esteem, and the sense of affirmation and acknowledgement that women experienced from others in their everyday lives. CONCLUSIONS: This paper reveals that sexuality was not privileged by women but was regarded as an ordinary part of life. Often sexual activity was placed on hold as other aspects of living with a chronic illness intervene, for instance an exacerbation of MS. Whilst this paper has a focus on constructions of sexuality, there is a close relationship to shifts in self and identity. Health professionals need to reject the myths and stereotypes surrounding disabled women and attempt to understand the possible impact of long-term illness on women's sexuality.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Enhancing lives through the development of a community-based participatory action research programme.

A community-based participatory action research (PAR) programme that has spanned 5 years is discussed in this article. A primary healthcare philosophy requires research in this practice setting and supports the way healthcare is ideally organized within an integrated team and supported by a community network that includes not only the healthcare workers and service providers but also the community as partners. The principles driving three PAR inquiries are described: the development of a model for prevention of workplace violence; working with clinicians towards improving wound management practice; and management of continence for community-dwelling women living with multiple sclerosis. Participatory action research is a potentially democratic process that is equitable and liberating as participants construct meaning in the process of group discussions. We conclude that the cyclical processes inherent in PAR promote reflection and reconstruction of experiences that can lead to the enhancement of people's lives, either at an individual or community level, or both.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed2002

Compromising and containing: self-management strategies used by men and women who live with multiple sclerosis and urinary incontinence.

This study aimed to expose the experiences of men and women living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and how they manage the challenge of urinary incontinence in their lives. We explore the commonalities and diversities between men and women living with MS and urinary incontinence and conclude the paper by making recommendations for nursing practice.

Adult↗