Purpose Student mental well-being is a matter of increasing concern on university campuses around the world. Social, psychological, academic and career aspects of graduate learning are enriched through peer mentorship. Peer-mentoring experiences and the impacts of these relationships on the mental well-being of graduate students remain underexplored in the scholarship of teaching and learning. The purpose of this study was to explore how engagement in formal and informal peer mentorship, as described by students across four academic disciplines, impacts the social connectedness and well-being of graduate students. Design/methodology/approach A convergent mixed methods research design was used, with quantitative and qualitative data gathered in parallel to gain a comprehensive, corroborated and integrated understanding of graduate students’ perspectives and experiences with peer mentorship. Online survey and interview data were collected from graduate thesis-based master’s EdD and PhD students in education, medicine, nursing and social work. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Findings The authors found a commonality of graduate student experiences across disciplines with respect to the diverse psychosocial impacts of graduate peer mentorship. Peer-mentoring relationships offered mentees emotional support, motivation and a sense of community and offered mentors opportunities for self-development and gratification. Originality/value This research is unique in its in-depth exploration of the interdisciplinary perspectives and experiences of graduate students from Education, Nursing, Medicine and Social Work. While further research is needed to explore the implementation of structural approaches to support the development of peer-mentoring relationships in graduate education, the multidisciplinary focus and depth and breadth of this inquiry suggest the potential transferability of the study findings to other disciplines and academic settings. The findings from this study further highlight the need for strategic activation of existing program resources to foster greater connectedness and well-being among graduate students.

Background: Palliative care (PC) is an added layer of support provided concurrently with cancer care and serves to improve wellbeing and sustain quality of life. Understanding what is meaningful and a priority to patients, their families, and caregivers with lived experience of cancer and PC is critical in supporting their needs and improving their care provision. However, the impacts of engaging cancer patients within the context of PC research remain unknown. Objective: To examine the impacts of engaging individuals with lived experience of cancer and PC as partners in PC research. Methods: An a priori systematic review protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42021286744). Four databases (APA PsycINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE, and MEDLINE) were searched and only published, peer-reviewed primary English studies aligned with the following criteria were included: (1) patients, their families, and/or caregivers with lived experience of cancer and PC; (2) engaged as partners in PC research; and (3) reported the impacts of engaging cancer PC patient partners in PC research. We appraised the quality of eligible studies using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) and GRIPP2 reporting checklists. Results: Three studies that included patient partners with lived experience of cancer and PC engaged at all or several of the research stages were identified. Our thematic meta-synthesis revealed impacts (benefits and opportunities) on patient partners (emotional, psychological, cognitive, and social), the research system (practical and ethical) and health care system (service improvements, bureaucratic attitudes, and inaction). Our findings highlight the paucity of evidence investigating the impacts of engaging patients, their families and caregivers with lived experience of cancer and PC, as partners in PC research. Conclusions: The results of this review and meta-synthesis can inform the more effective design of cancer patient partnerships in PC research and the development of feasible and effective strategies given the cancer and PC context patient partners are coming from.

No abstract

Background Advance care planning (ACP) is an increasing priority for people with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate characteristics of homedwelling persons with dementia and families that are related to ACP implementation. Methods An internet-based questionnaire survey was conducted with Japanese family caregivers of home-dwelling persons with dementia in June 2021. Registered members of a Japan-based survey company were recruited; inclusion criteria were being aged 40 years or older and having been a primary, non-professional caregiver of a family member with dementia. Respondents rated their level of agreement with six statements regarding advance-care-planning-related concerns. Respondents also evaluated the level of depressive symptoms in persons with dementia using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Results A total of 379 family caregivers participated in the survey. A total of 155 persons with dementia (40.9%) had initiated ACP, of which 88 (56.8%) had care professionals involved in ACP conversation. Persons with professional involvement showed significantly more severe depressive symptoms and lower family-caregiver concern compared to those who did not initiate ACP. Conclusion Presence of psychological distress such as depressive symptoms may have been a trigger to initiate ACP among people with dementia. Optimal and proactive ACP approaches need to be developed to address family concern regarding conducting ACP.

Introduction | Effective documentation of patient encounters may influence Community Health Navigators’ (CHNs) success in providing support to patients as well as provide a data source to examine CHN practices. The ENhancing COMmunity health through Patient navigation, Advocacy, and Social Support (ENCOMPASS) study, based in partnership between the University of Calgary and the Mosaic Primary Care Network (MPCN) is evaluating a CHN program to determine whether CHNs improve outcomes for patients with multiple chronic conditions. CHNs support their patients by helping them navigate the health system, connect to community resources, and access culturally appropriate support. The purpose of this study was to examine the quality and usefulness of CHN-patient documentation forms used in the ENCOMPASS pilot study (i.e., Initial Action Planning Form, Follow-up Action Planning Form, Patient Encounter Form, all implemented on the REDCap platform) and revise the documentation process using co-design with the end user. Methods | An iterative co-design quality improvement process was employed across three phases. First, content analyses were conducted on the Patient Encounter Form notes to examine how CHNs were using the forms and how they were documenting their activities. Second, a survey was distributed to CHNs to gather their perspectives about their experiences with the REDCap platform and the three forms. Third, a working group, consisting of four CHNs, met twice with research team members to discuss barriers to use and opportunities for improvement. Results | The REDCap platform and the three CHN-patient encounter forms did not adequately meet the needs of the CHNs. Content analysis revealed significant variation in how the Patient Encounter Form was utilized and various form sections were not completed as intended. In the survey, CHNs reported that the documentation experience was not satisfactory and the training that they had received to date was insufficient. The CHN working group suggested changes to the interface with the REDCap platform and form structure. Revisions were made based on these suggestions, and approved by the working group. Conclusions | The approved changes to REDCap and the three forms will be implemented and introduced to the CHN team. The research team will develop a patient encounter documentation guidelines document and will provide all members of the CHN team with the opportunity to receive re-training. These changes will be reviewed with the CHNs to continue the iterative quality improvement process. Prior to final implementation, consultation with the Clinical Research Unit administrators on the feasibility of the revisions made to the forms and interface with the REDCap platform will be held. The results of this study have the potential to provide a better overall experience for CHNs in the ENCOMPASS program and enhance their work with patients.