Exploring the Parental Experiences in the Media: A Qualitative Analysis of Articles Written by Parents of Children with Autism in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Elvira Celebic  https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9940-6390

Haris Memisevic University of Sarajevo https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7340-3618

https://doi.org/10.33700/jhrs.2.1.62

ABSTRACT

Aim: This paper presents a qualitative study of the experiences of parents raising children with autism, as reflected in the media. The study aimed to explore the lived experiences of parents of children with autism and the challenges they face in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Methods: A content analysis of 20 media articles featuring parents of autistic children was conducted. The articles were selected from a range of sources, including newspapers, magazines, and online news portals.

Results: We identified four major themes: supports, education, spousal relationships, and future. It should be noted that these themes are often intertwined.

Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of providing support and resources to parents of children with autism, as well as the need for greater awareness and understanding of the challenges they face. The implications of these findings for policy and practice are discussed, and suggestions for future research are presented.

Keywords: parents, autistic children, content analysis, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Full Text Article

Age of Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis and associated factors

Irena Stojanovska Institute for Special Education and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Philosophy, "Ss. Cyril and Methodius" University, Skopje, Macedonia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6483-4723

https://doi.org/10.33700/jhrs.2.1.66

ABSTRACT

Introduction The mean age of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis varies globally and the factors affecting it are inconsistent across populations and studies.

Aim Quantitative research was undertaken to investigate the age ASD was diagnosed and some possibly related factors, in a sample from Macedonia.

Methods A web-based survey was conducted among 103 parents of 103 individuals with ASD, from December 2021 to May 2022. Socio-demographic characteristics of parents/families and demographic and medical characteristics of individuals with ASD were reported through an anonymous questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric inferential statistical tests were used to analyse data.

Results The median age of the ASD sample was 10 years and most individuals (47.57%) had moderately severe ASD. In 39.81% ASD was diagnosed by a psychiatrist/neuropsychiatrist, in 37.86% by several professionals, while paediatricians/developmental paediatricians were the source of diagnosis in only 2.91%. Over half of the individuals with ASD (51.46%) received the diagnosis before the age of 4, while around 17% received the diagnosis after the age of 6. The level of education of the parents, family living location, gender, current age and severity of ASD were not found to be associated with the age of diagnosis.

Conclusion Nearly 1/5 of the sample was diagnosed comparatively late ‒ at school age. However, characteristics pertaining to parents/families and to individuals with ASD, did not significantly affect the age of diagnosis. Possible influence of other, external factors (e.g., awareness and vigilance among professionals, availability of early screening programs) is acknowledged and will be included in further research.

Keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder, diagnosis, age, severity, parents

Full Text Article

Rehabilitation nurses’ knowledge, experiences, and perceptions of the provision of psychological care to stroke patients: Systematic Review

Gillian Merrigan Our Lady’s Ward, Community Rehabilitation Unit, Waterford Residential Care Centre (WRCC), HSE, Waterford, Ireland. 00353-051- 848700
Louise Bennett 2. Department of Nursing and Health Care, School of Health Sciences, South East Technological University (SETU), Cork Road, Waterford City, Ireland, X91 N2FP. 00353-051- 845558 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0311-2959

https://doi.org/10.33700/jhrs.2.1.70

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Depression and/or anxiety is associated with sub-optimal recovery and a reduction in quality of life for patients following a stroke. However, the literature suggests that the psychological needs for patients post stroke are insufficient with poor provision of psychological services.
Aim: To examine HCPs knowledge, experiences, and perceptions of the provision of psychological care to patients post stroke.
Methods: A systematic review referenced to PRISMA guidelines was used. The studies were retrieved from six databases (CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Science Direct, Wiley Online library and Ovid SP). Twelve studies were included in the final analysis.
Results: Findings demonstrate that HCPs have a basic understanding of the psychological/emotional problems associated with stroke. Psychological care was identified as been given a low priority within stroke rehabilitation services and described as inconsistent, uncoordinated, and ad hoc. Barriers to providing psychological care included: poor access to specialist expertise; lack of resources and poor managerial support. Furthermore, the need for specialist supports via case discussion and reflective practice was identified.
Conclusions: This review suggests that improvements in terms of psychological care and services offered to patients post stroke is needed as is the value of support from managers to provide sufficient resources. This review has the potential to assist policymakers to understand the barriers and potential facilitators to psychological care provision to patients post stroke.

Keywords: Stroke, HCPs, rehabilitation services, knowledge, perceptions, experiences, psychological care, service improvement

Full Text Article

Personality traits and psychosocial adjustment in patients with limb amputation

Vana Grgurinović Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1320-0250

Ana Butković Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8709-8092

https://doi.org/10.33700/jhrs.2.1.64

ABSTRACT

Purpose: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the relationship between psychosocial adjustment and personality traits since research regarding psychosocial adjustment and variables that influence adjustment in patients with limb amputation is relatively scarce.

Methods: There were 63 (81% male) participants in this study. The sample consisted of 51 men and 12 women between the ages of 27 and 86 (M = 56.63, SD = 13.35). The Next Big Five Inventory (BFI 2; Soto & John, 2017) was used to assess personality traits and The Trinity Amputation and Prosthesis Experience Scales – Revised (TAPES-R; Gallagher & MacLachlan, 2000) was used to measure psychosocial adjustment (general adjustment, social adjustment and adjustment to limitation).

Results: Extraversion was positively and negative emotionality negatively associated with general adjustment. No significant associations were found between social adjustment and personality traits. Extraversion, agreeableness and open-mindedness correlated positively with adjustment to limitation. Similar pattern of associations was found between personality facets and general adjustment and adjustment to limitation. The strongest associations were found with negative emotionality facet depression.

Conclusions: Results indicate that personality traits are associated with psychosocial adjustment in patients with limb amputation. Since this finding can be useful for adaptation to amputation, further research in larger samples is needed.

Keywords: psychosocial adjustment, limb loss, coping, amputation, personality traits

Full Text Article

Review of Educators’ Needs for Additional Knowledge About Autism in Slovenia

Irena Marinič Osnovna šola Kozara Nova Gorica, Nova Gorica, Slovenia 

https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9578-6257

https://doi.org/10.33700/jhrs.2.1.67

ABSTRACT

Aim: The project VIS A VIS “Support for professionals in education and employment in the field of autism addresses deficits in systemic support for professionals educating and employing individuals with autism in Slovenia”. The research goal was to determine the professionals' experiences with persons with autism, their knowledge of autism, their assessment of the situation in the field of education for persons with autism, their self-assessment of skills for working with persons with autism and their training needs.

Methods: Five online questionnaires were created to gain information from the educators' perspective. Employees in preschool education, basic education, music education, secondary and adult education ant tertiary education participated in the survey.

Results: The data provides insight into the needs and challenges that respondents face in their daily practice with persons with autism. Professionals at different levels of education want to acquire additional skills and support to work more successfully with persons with autism.

Conclusion: The results form the basis for developing a model of assistance and support for educators in the field of autism. Participants in the survey will have the opportunity to attend free training based on the data collected.

Keywords: education, autism, Educators’ needs, Project VIS A VIS

Full Text Article

Social skills critical for success in elementary school: teachers and special educators’ perspective

Slobodan Banković Faculty of Special Education and Rehabilitation, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4714-5496
Branislav Brojčin University of Belgrade – Faculty of Special Education and Rehabilitation, Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3993-2820
Ivana Vasilevska Petrovska Macedonian Scientific Society for Autism, Skopje, Macedonia and Autism Institute, Skopje, Macedonia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5901-1981
Marina Antonijević Elementary School "Miloje Pavlović", Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0009-0000-7931-2346
Aleksandra Bukovica Elementary School "Miloje Pavlović", Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6518-4256

https://doi.org/10.33700/jhrs.2.1.65

ABSTRACT

Introduction Students with more advanced social skills are more likely to meet teacher expectations in terms of classroom behaviour and participation in the teaching and learning process. On the other hand, students with special educational needs (SEN) often have difficulties in developing these skills. Insight into social skills that teachers consider critical for the success of students in their classes enables better preparation of SEN students for inclusion in a mainstream environment. The purpose of this study is to determine which social skills are considered critical for classroom success by regular teachers who teach students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in inclusive classrooms and special educators in special schools.
Method The sample consists of 33 regular teachers and 57 special educators. The Social Skills Improvement System (SSIS) Teaching Form was used for data collection.
Results Both participant groups attributed the highest value to Cooperation skills, however skills related to Responsibility and Self-Control were also highly valued. Ratings of teachers and special educators differ significantly only for Empathy skills, with significantly lower values attributed by special educators. Significant differences between participants who teach in lower and upper elementary grades were found only for special educators, with a higher value for Assertion attributed by special educators in upper grades.
Conclusion Teachers and special educators place significant emphasis on social skills such as Cooperation, Responsibility, and Self-Control, which facilitate unhindered teaching and learning processes.

Keywords: social skills, autism spectrum disorder, teachers, special educators, inclusive education, importance rating

Full Text Article

SHARE, MENTION, CITE, and LINK JHRS articles

Dear JHRS authors and readers,

I want to inform you that we released the newest Issue 1, Volume 2 at June 11th and you can find it here https://jhrs.almamater.si/jhrs/issue/view/2. The dead line for submission for the next issue is June 30th. I want to stress your attention on the importance of social media in scientific publishing. There are some scientific articles which show that papers which are shared, mentioned, linked on social media such us: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Mendeley, Research Gate, Academia.edu and others are more cited papers than those which are not. I hope all of you have at least one profile on these social media. I would like to ask you to do that with your papers published previously in our Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. On the right menu of our web site you can find social media buttons and you can do that very easily. You should go to some article which is your favorite and then share it or link it. It will take you less than one minute.

With this, you will increase the visibility of JHRS papers and possibility to be cited by other authors. Also the journal will increase its visibility and international impact in the field of health and rehabilitation sciences. 

JHRS Editor-in-chief

Measuring the impact of employment on persons with a disability as a means of improving the quality of employment outcomes

Peter Smith

Centre for Disability Employment Research and Practice
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9888-8113

Trevor R. Parmenter
Centre for Disability Studies, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8297-8488


https://doi.org/10.33700/jhrs.2.1.61

ABSTRACT

Aim: Current measures for disability employment focus on system outputs, not individual outcomes. This paper proposes an employment outcome measurement approach based on social quality theory as a means of improving the quality of employment outcomes for individuals.

Introduction: There is a paucity of government policies that promote practices which address the measurement of employment outcomes that reflect the goals of the individual. While there has been a recent trend towards a focus on quality of life as an outcome, process measurement and compliance to procedural regulations are still dominant.

Method: A scoping review of disability employment research from the year 2000 revealed only eleven papers which specifically addressed approaches to measuring disability employment outcomes at an individual impact level. Overall, the search failed to highlight any measure that focused on the impact of employment on the individual with existing measures focused on process measurement.

Conclusion: An outcomes-based approach, based on the four pillars of social quality theory, namely, social inclusion, social cohesion, self-determination, and social-economic security provide an opportunity to shift disability employment service provision towards individual outcomes rather than its existing focus on system outputs as a measure of success.

Keywords: meaningful employment, disability, Social Quality, NDIS, choice, control, individualized funding, outcomes, inclusion, cohesion, self-determination, practice

Full Text Article

Call for papers Vol. 2, Issue 2, 2023

 

Newest issue 1, Volume 2 for 2023 has already been published

 

Dear colleagues and readers,   We would like to inform you that 1st issue of the 2nd volume of Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences is published online today (June 11th, 2023). A total number of 7 papers are published. Next Issue 2, Vol. 2 of JHRS for the 2023 is expected to be published until September 30th, 2023.

 

Volume 2, Issue 1 Table of Contents

 

DISABILITY RESEARCH   Article: Measuring the impact of employment on persons with a disability as a means of improving the quality of employment outcomes Peter Smith, Trevor R. Parmenter Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences 2023, 2(1), 1-15; DOI: https://doi.org/10.33700/jhrs.2.1.61

 

SPECIAL EDUCATION RESEARCH   Article: Social skills critical for success in elementary school: teachers and special educators’ perspectiv Slobodan Banković, Brojčin Branislav, Ivana Vasilevska Petrovska, Marina Antonijević, Aleksandra Bukovica Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences 2023, 2(1), 16-25; DOI: https://doi.org/10.33700/jhrs.2.1.65 Article: Review of Educators’ Needs for Additional Knowledge About Autism in Slovenia Irena Marinič Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences 2023, 2(1), 26-36; DOI: https://doi.org/10.33700/jhrs.2.1.67

 

PSYCHOLOGICAL RESEARCH   Article: Personality traits and psychosocial adjustment in patients with limb amputation Vana Grgurinović, Ana Butković Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences 2023, 2(1), 37-44; DOI: https://doi.org/10.33700/jhrs.2.1.64 Article: Rehabilitation nurses’ knowledge, experiences, and perceptions of the provision of psychological care to stroke patients: Systematic Review Gillian Merrigan, Louise Bennett Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences 2023, 2(1), 45-59; DOI: https://doi.org/10.33700/jhrs.2.1.70

 

AUTISM RESEARCH   Article: Age of Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis and associated factors Irena Stojanovska Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences 2023, 2(1), 60-72; DOI: https://doi.org/10.33700/jhrs.2.1.66 Article: Exploring the Parental Experiences in the Media: A Qualitative Analysis of Articles Written by Parents of Children with Autism in Bosnia and Herzegovina Elvira Celebic, Haris Memisevic Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences 2023, 2(1), 73-81; DOI: https://doi.org/10.33700/jhrs.2.1.62

 

 

Call for papers for Vol.2, Issue 2 is open until June 30th.   Suggested topics include:   Rehabilitation Research,   Health Research,   Special Education Research,   Neuropsychological Research,   Autism Spectrum Disorders,   Disability Research,   Medical Aspects of Disability,   Social Aspects of Disability,   Master theses and PhD theses in the field,   Book Reviews in the field.

 

 

JHRS indexed in Sherpa Romeo

Dear readers,

I want to announce that JHRS is indexed in Sherpa Romeo. 

Sherpa Romeo is an online resource that aggregates and analyses publisher open access policies from around the world and provides summaries of publisher copyright and open access archiving policies on a journal-by-journal basis.

JHRS Editor-in-chief

Newest issue 1, Volume 2 for 2023 has already been published

 Dear colleagues and readers,

I would like to inform you that 1st issue of the 2nd volume of Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences is published online today (June 11th, 2023). A total number of 7 papers are published. Next Issue 2, Vol. 2 of JHRS for the 2023 is expected to be published until September 30th, 2023.

Accessing JHRS Online

To view a current articles which appears online, please visit this LINK.

You, your colleagues, and students will be able to view articles (Full-Text PDF and XML) and have unlimited access to the journal (JHRS is an open access, international, peer reviewed and non for profit journal).

Citing Articles Using the Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

When citing articles from JHRS, we encourage you to use article’s DOI in addition to traditional citation information. This is an industry standard, a link-resolving system that allows any link to remain “persistent” even if the location of the article changes at some point in the future. Hence, when you are quoting the link for an article, you should always quote the DOI rather than the URL of our home page.

Useful Online Features for Authors

Your registration in online submission (https://jhrs.almamater.si/index.php/jhrs/user/register) will enable you with continuous information connected with JHRS. We encourage you to share publications from JHRS platform and online registration with your colleagues. You can feel free to share every publication on social media.

We invite you to the content of the JHRS and we think that you will consider publishing with Journal of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.

Call for papers for Vol.2, Issue 2 is open until June 30th.

Suggested topics include:

Rehabilitation Research,

Health Research,

Special Education Research,

Neuropsychological Research,

Autism Spectrum Disorders,

Disability Research,

Medical Aspects of Disability,

Social Aspects of Disability,

Master theses and PhD theses in the field,

Book Reviews in the field.

If you have any questions or you face problems with paper submission, please feel free to contact us: editorjhrs@almamater.si

Cheers,

JHRS Editor-in-chief