Art therapists’ experiences of delivering manualised group art therapy for healthcare professionals at risk of burnout: a hybrid thematic analysis

Burnout among healthcare professionals (HCPs) is a growing concern with wide-reaching implications. Manualised, evidence-based art therapy interventions offer a promising approach to staff support and have shown effectiveness in recent clinical trials. However, little is known about art therapists’ experiences of delivering these structured models. Understanding these experiences is essential to inform future implementation and sustainability. To explore art therapists’ lived experiences of delivering a manualised group art therapy intervention for HCPs at risk of burnout, and to identify factors influencing implementation. A qualitative study using Reflexive Thematic Analysis and Template Analysis was conducted. A focus group with four therapists who delivered the intervention was transcribed and analysed to explore personal, professional, and systemic influences on delivery Three interconnected domains were identified: (1) Art therapy groups as emotionally resonant, relational spaces that disrupted workplace hierarchies; (2) Therapist perspectives on balancing fidelity to the manual with flexible, relational practice; and (3) Organisational influences on delivery, including resource constraints and emotional labour. Therapists valued supportive relationships, the manual’s containing function, and contextual knowledge. Embedded expertise enhanced delivery, while systemic barriers challenged sustainability. Delivering a manualised art therapy intervention in a medical setting was both meaningful and demanding. The structured framework supported emotional safety and creative expression, but long-term sustainability depends on organisational investment and integration into existing systems. Findings emphasise the need for dedicated art therapy roles, appropriate infrastructure, and further research into scalable implementation and long-term impact. This study explored how art therapists experienced delivering a manualised group art therapy programme for healthcare professionals at high risk of burnout. Four art therapists who facilitated the sessions as part of a randomised controlled trial took part in a focus group to share their reflections. Transcripts of the discussion were carefully examined using thematic analysis to explore common themes and differences. Therapists described how working within a structured manual helped them feel organised and grounded in delivering the intervention. The manual provided a clear framework that was highly valued for keeping art-making central to the sessions, preserving the integrity of the model, and fostering authentic expression and connection. Therapists also highlighted the importance of remaining flexible and responsive to the needs of each group. Being open about the manual and the research context helped build trust and engagement with participants. Delivering the intervention was experienced as both professionally enriching and personally meaningful. However, therapists also identified challenges, including organisational pressures, unpredictable physical spaces, and the emotional demands of the work. Access to supervision, team support, and strong working relationships with clinical colleagues were seen as critical to sustaining therapist wellbeing and programme delivery. The study highlights that group art therapy was experienced as creating restorative spaces for healthcare professionals within hospital environments. To sustain programmes like this, healthcare organisations need to invest in supporting art therapists through dedicated roles, protected time, appropriate spaces, regular supervision, and opportunities for reflection and creativity. Future work should explore how to adapt and extend this kind of programme across different hospitals and staff groups while keeping its core relational and creative focus alive.

“Part of a cog, of a system; a system that’s broken”: social workers’ experiences of moral injury in England

Moral injury is the long-term effect of the experience of events that violate deeply held moral beliefs. Social workers in adult care settings are tasked with managing morally complex situations and make decisions that impact the lives of service users. Simultaneously, they adhere to their professional ethical code and organisational standards, potentially giving rise to moral injury. Little is known about these experiences. This qualitative descriptive study aimed to explore social workers’ experiences of moral injury. Remote interviews were conducted with ten social work professionals, in adult services in England. Data were inductively analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Three themes were identified: a) System-related impacts; b) Service-related impacts; c) Individual psychological impacts. Social worker moral injury can arise from efforts to uphold professional values whilst navigating limited resources, interprofessional conflicts, and working within a constrained system. Witnessing dehumanising, low-quality, and impersonal care is a major source of moral injury. This is marked by professional disempowerment, sadness, guilt, betrayal, and helplessness. Recognising these experiences is important. Building psychosocial resilience through formal support is essential for moral repair. Application of the concept for social work, alongside further research, is paramount to adequately support staff.

Digital health technology adoption factors: a rapid review of systematic reviews and checklist development

This rapid review of systematic reviews aimed to synthesize the adoption factors of digital health technologies (DHTs). A reference search was performed on MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsychInfo, PubMed, EBM Review, Web of Science, Scopus, PROSPERO and Google Scholar to search systematic reviews published in the last three years. Study selection was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. The methodological quality of the included systematic reviews was assessed with the AMSTAR 2 tool. The identified adoption factors were classified using the Nonadoption, Abandonment, Scale-Up, Spread, and Sustainability (NASSS) framework, in which the self-determination factors were integrated. Out of 4277 identified references, 45 systematic reviews were retained. The quality of most included systematic reviews, assessed by AMSTAR 2, was critically low. The most cited adoption factors included DHT’s ease of use, training for using DHT, adopters’ access to DHT and a high-speed internet connection, technical support, DHT’s customizability, the relevance and reliability of DHT data, the demand-side value of DHT (desirability), safety, cost-effectiveness, staff and patient competence, patient relatedness with others, organizational readiness, necessary changes in team routines, capacity for innovation , along with the political, economic, regulatory and sociocultural contexts . Integrating the findings of this rapid review, a DHT adoption checklist was elaborated. This checklist would aid future developers and implementers of DHT in successfully adopting the technology. This review synthesized the DHT adoption factors using the NASSS framework and Self-Determination Theory. When developing or implementing a DHT, the micro-, meso- and macro-level adoption factors must be considered.

Exploring the use of smartphone applications during navigation-based tasks for individuals who are blind or who have low vision: future directions and priorities

Mainstream smartphone applications are increasingly replacing the use of traditional visual aids to facilitate independent travel for people with blindness or low vision. However, little is known about which navigation apps are being used, the factors underpinning these decisions and why apps are not used in certain contexts. The goal of this study was to explore the navigation-based apps used by individuals who are blind or who have low vision, the factors influencing these decisions, and perceptions about gaps to address future needs in navigation. An international online survey was conducted with 139 participants who self-identified as blind or low vision. Findings indicate that the decision to use an app based on artificial intelligence (AI) versus live video assistance is related to whether the task is dynamic or static in nature. Although most participants rely on apps only during unfamiliar routes (60.9%), apps are shown to supplement rather than replace traditional tools such as the white cane and dog guide. Participants underscore the need for future apps to better assist with indoor navigation and to provide more precise information about points of interest (POI). These results provide vital insights for technology developers about the perceived utility of smartphone apps for people with low vision or blindness during navigation. Our results highlight the importance of built-in accessibility features for users with visual impairments. As additional technology-based solutions are developed, it is essential that blind and low vision users, including rehabilitation professionals, are meaningfully included within design.

User experience and cybersickness in neuromuscular patients using recreational immersive virtual reality

To explore the user experience of neuromuscular patients engaging with virtual reality. In this observational study, patients aged 16 and older, with a clinical and/or genetic diagnosis of neuromuscular disease, underwent a recreational VR experience. The virtual reality activity consisted of using Tripp ® application during hospitalisation using Oculus Quest 2 ® . Subsequently, they completed a set of questionnaires assessing technology acceptance, cybersickness, and flow state, defined as the level of engagement during an activity. Fifty-nine patients reported low levels of cybersickness and high levels of flow state. A significant positive correlation was found between user experience and flow state, while no significant relationship was observed between technology acceptance and cybersickness. Overall, this research highlights the feasibility of virtual reality as an acceptable tool in the neuromuscular population providing insights into the technology’s application in clinical settings.

Sexuality, nudity and the body in Soviet cinema edited by Birgit Beumers, Catherine Géry and Eugénie Zvonkine, eds, London and New York, Routledge, published 2025, copyright 2026, 254 pp., 43 illustrations, index, £145 (hardcover), £42.99 (e-book), ISBN 9781032615325

Rising Seas: Representations of Antarctica, Climate Change, And Sea Level Rise in U.S. Newspaper Coverage

A changing Antarctica carries large implications for global climate systems and sea level rise. However, how climate change is altering Antarctica and how these changes are communicated in news media remains unclear. This article explores how Antarctica, climate change, and sea level rise are portrayed in digital print news media by conducting a content analysis of Antarctic climate coverage in seven U.S. newspapers between March 2007 and December 2022. Findings suggest that newspaper reporting of Antarctica’s changing climate is limited, and that framed coverage about Antarctica, climate change, and sea level rise primarily emphasizes scientific and ecological implications.

Climate Change Discourse and Coastal Erosion in New Caledonia: an Analysis of Press Coverage in Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes

Like many other islands in the Pacific and beyond, New Caledonia struggles with coastal erosion and marine flooding. How communities adapt to such erosion depends in part on media reporting. We therefore here examine coastal erosion in New Caledonia through an analysis of public discourse in Les Nouvelles Calédonienne s, published between the years 2003 and 2024 in combination with information from 23 interviews with coastal management stakeholders conducted during fieldwork in New Caledonia in March 2024. We find an overall increase in attention to coastal erosion, yet that increase is not uniform across time and space but follows specific events and projects. While erosion is increasingly linked to climate change, it is often also discussed without specific reference to climate change, underlining the importance of studying discourse beyond certain terms. Finally, we find that New Caledonians do not seem overly concerned about coastal erosion, including because of a (potentially false) sense of security, and the dominance of other, political and economic, debates.

Safety and efficacy of an outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy program at a tertiary hospital in Belgium: a monocentric retrospective observational study

Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) offers a safe, effective, and resource-sparing alternative to inpatient treatment for various infections. Despite its widespread adoption globally, the implementation of OPAT programs in Belgium has been limited until recently. This study evaluates the safety, efficacy and healthcare impact of an OPAT program at a university hospital in Liège, Belgium. We conducted a retrospective observational study at a 1038-bed tertiary teaching hospital, including patients who received OPAT between January 2018 and December 2021. Electronic medical records were reviewed for demographics, diagnoses, treatment regimens, adverse events, and outcomes. Potential risk factors for adverse events and treatment failure were investigated. A total of 352 OPAT episodes in 327 patients were analyzed. The most frequent indications were bloodstream infections (29.8%) and urinary tract infections (27.8%). Continuous antibiotic administration was used in 60.6% of cases, with a median OPAT duration of 16 days. Clinical cure was achieved in 86.4% of patients. Unplanned readmission linked to OPAT, infection-related death, drug-related adverse events, and line-related complications occurred in 8.2%, 1.1%, 5.1%, and 4.2% of episodes, respectively. Risk factors for adverse outcomes were identified, including cirrhosis, hematological malignancies, osteoarticular infections, chronic renal failure, and the use of specific antibiotics. The program avoided a mean of 1692 hospitalization days per year, underscoring its significant healthcare impact. This study highlights the favorable outcomes and safety profile of the OPAT program at our tertiary teaching hospital. Tailored interventions and careful antibiotic selection are warranted for specific patient groups.

Sociodemographic correlates of and barriers to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation: implications for public health research

This study examines sociodemographic characteristics associated with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation and barriers to enrollment among low-income households in Massachusetts. Using data from a large statewide survey (December 2021–February 2022), multivariable logistic regression assessed correlates of participation. Respondents with greater food insecurity, lower income, children, larger household size, or who identified as disabled, non-Hispanic Black or Hispanic had higher odds of participation. Enrollment barriers included a desire for self-sufficiency, fear of depriving others, and stigma. These findings suggest that lower income households may delay benefit enrollment until needs become too great to be met by other means.