interview analysis

Thematic Analysis
Northern Ontario Health Care Students’ Knowledge and Self-Efficacy Regarding FASD
During the interview, Kelly explores the status of health practitioners on fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). FASD is a term referring to a variety of medical conditions in individuals whose mothers took alcoholic drinks during pregnancy. Kelly approaches the interviewee, Charlotte, by seeking to know what her understanding of the situation is. “So what are your first impressions of what’s going on here?” It is inferred from her admission she is a nursing student. “…I’m currently in my second year”. The following two themes are vivid from the transcript.
Shallow Scope of the Education System
It is evident that there is an apparent focal lightness on FASD during nurse training. When Kelly quips, “And so what do you know or what can you tell me about FASD?” her reply is she doesn’t know a lot. “I don’t know a lot.” This is despite her current stage in the program.”…but now it’s a 2 year program because it’s combined with a Master’s. So I’m currently in my second year. ” She again confesses to an ignorance of Canadian guidelines regarding FASD. “I didn’t know there was guidelines.” Additionally, Charlotte does project the time she is likely to cover FASD in her curriculum. “And I assume, I’m not sure, but I assume in second semester of our health assessment class we will learn about it.” Though hopeful, it is a testament that FASD is not majored on. However, there is an effort by health practitioners to share the information they acquire.

“…that’s what nursing and health care professionals have to do, they have to share their knowledge.” This is especially beneficial in rural areas.
Social Awareness on FASD
In addition, it is seen that awareness can be created at the clinics in a bid to reduce cases of FASD. Charlotte shows this by saying, “I would always, always tell a woman to…if she was not a person who consumed a lot of alcohol, I would always, or if she felt like she was able to stop, I would always tell the woman that she should not drink.” This will help maintain the mother-child bond as an adherence to such will help prevent cases of losing a child to children service agencies. Practitioners are obligated to report cases when a pregnant mother would be in a poor state of raising the baby. “We had to…she felt that she had to advise Child and Family Services just to make sure that when the baby is born, that the mom has proper support.” Also, the practitioners themselves, as seen through Charlotte, may be in the dark. This is a risk as awareness is delivered by them. What she says is indicative of what they should do: “I didn’t know there was guidelines…I’m gonna have to look up on that…”
Summary table
Data extract Coded for
Um…well, I see the mom, Kimberly, as being, you know, concerned for the well-being of her unborn baby. But I find that it’s unfair of her partner to, you know, to create pressures on her to, you know, kind of have a drink and relax even though that’s not what she wants to do. That’s
how I feel about the vignette. All mothers care and are concerned about their babies
The environment around a pregnant woman needs to be conducive
Okay. So, um, now the nurse practitioner program is, it used to be 12 months but now it’s a 2 year program because it’s combined with a Master’s. So I’m currently in my second year There has been an extension of nursing studies
Mhm. Um…have you ever heard of FASD from any other sources, so for example what’s your perception regarding how FASD is portrayed in the media? What information is available concerning FASD?
How is your perception affected by available information
And I assume, I’m not sure, but I assume in second semester of our health assessment class we will learn about it because we are gonna touch on, you know, special populations, so babies, moms, elderly, newborns The studies are likely to be at a later unspecified
It is done under a study of special populations