title: Spirituality and spiritual changes in people living with dying

authors: Du Toit, Deidre

subjects: Spirituality

abstract: This study investigated spirituality and the spiritual changes people living with dying may experience. The study was based on a phenomenological perspective where the centrality of the participant’s personal worldview and experiences was highlighted. Data was gathered through open and semi-structured interviews with three participant groups: health care professionals working in palliative care and hospices, people who had experienced a serious or life-limiting health condition, and the caregivers of terminally ill patients. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. A thematic analysis approach was used to analyse the data. The findings showed a diversity of spiritual understandings and suggested that participants understood neither religion nor spirituality in exactly the same manner. The analysis revealed that some participants used religion to describe their understandings of spirituality. Some participants regarded the terms ‘spiritual’ and ‘religious’ as synonymous while for others the terms were conceptually independent. Participants used a variety of definitions to describe spirituality. These primarily involved regarding spirituality as a belief in a God or a higher being, or as a relationship with or connection to a God or higher being. Participants also viewed spirituality either in terms of the human spirit or soul and its continued existence into an afterlife, or in terms of mysterious events and the paranormal. Findings further revealed that many people living with dying described periods of gradual spiritual growth, or sudden and unexpected spiritual transformation: however, not all people reported spiritual changes. These findings imply that people may have a dominant spiritual perspective through which they understand experiences. Identification of these perspectives in clinical settings may make it possible to tailor spiritual support resources according to individual spiritual perspectives. However, further exploration of the different spiritual perspectives is suggested as different groups may have different spiritual needs.

text: Spirituality and spiritual changes in people living with dying This study investigated spirituality and the spiritual changes people living with dying may experience. The study was based on a phenomenological perspective where the centrality of the participant’s personal worldview and experiences was highlighted. Data was gathered through open and semi-structured interviews with three participant groups: health care professionals working in palliative care and hospices, people who had experienced a serious or life-limiting health condition, and the caregivers of terminally ill patients. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. A thematic analysis approach was used to analyse the data. The findings showed a diversity of spiritual understandings and suggested that participants understood neither religion nor spirituality in exactly the same manner. The analysis revealed that some participants used religion to describe their understandings of spirituality. Some participants regarded the terms ‘spiritual’ and ‘religious’ as synonymous while for others the terms were conceptually independent. Participants used a variety of definitions to describe spirituality. These primarily involved regarding spirituality as a belief in a God or a higher being, or as a relationship with or connection to a God or higher being. Participants also viewed spirituality either in terms of the human spirit or soul and its continued existence into an afterlife, or in terms of mysterious events and the paranormal. Findings further revealed that many people living with dying described periods of gradual spiritual growth, or sudden and unexpected spiritual transformation: however, not all people reported spiritual changes. These findings imply that people may have a dominant spiritual perspective through which they understand experiences. Identification of these perspectives in clinical settings may make it possible to tailor spiritual support resources according to individual spiritual perspectives. However, further exploration of the different spiritual perspectives is suggested as different groups may have different spiritual needs.

year: 2014

title: Evidence-based interventions for primary-aged children exhibiting externalising behaviours: A systematic literature review

authors: Powell, Gina

abstract: Background: Externalising disorders (EDs) are among the most common behavioural problems in childhood, with disruptive behaviours in Aotearoa New Zealand schools recently identified as a major concern. Despite widespread implementation of interventions, uncertainty remains about their effectiveness and alignment with developmental theory. 

Objectives: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for primary-aged children (5–14 years) exhibiting EDs, assess the certainty of evidence, examine moderating factors of intervention outcomes, and consider implications for practice in the Aotearoa context. 

Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, eight databases and trial registries were searched. Eligible studies were randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of interventions targeting EDs in primary-aged children. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2.0 tool, and findings were synthesised narratively given heterogeneity across interventions and outcomes. 

Results: Twenty-three RCTs met inclusion criteria, yielding 148 outcome measures. The majority (77.7%) were at high risk of bias, largely due to reliance on unblinded raters, insufficient reporting, and baseline imbalances. Sensitivity analyses excluding very low-certainty studies left only 17 outcomes, of which eight were rated as high certainty. Behavioural outcomes were heavily over-represented (67.5%), with relational and environmental outcomes underexplored. Moderator analyses indicated that interventions targeting single subgroups produced more favourable outcomes than multisystem approaches, though overall evidence quality limited confidence in these findings. 

Conclusions: Current RCT evidence for ED interventions in primary-aged children is of low quality, restricting firm conclusions about effectiveness. The imbalance in outcome domains and mechanisms suggests an overemphasis on behaviourist approaches at the expense of relational and ecological factors. High-quality, large-scale RCTs are urgently needed, particularly those addressing classroom environments, relational mechanisms, and culturally grounded approaches relevant to Aotearoa. 

Registration: The protocol for this review was registered with the Open Science Framework (OSF). https://osf.io/9afzx/

text: Evidence-based interventions for primary-aged children exhibiting externalising behaviours: A systematic literature review Background: Externalising disorders (EDs) are among the most common behavioural problems in childhood, with disruptive behaviours in Aotearoa New Zealand schools recently identified as a major concern. Despite widespread implementation of interventions, uncertainty remains about their effectiveness and alignment with developmental theory. 

Objectives: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for primary-aged children (5–14 years) exhibiting EDs, assess the certainty of evidence, examine moderating factors of intervention outcomes, and consider implications for practice in the Aotearoa context. 

Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, eight databases and trial registries were searched. Eligible studies were randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of interventions targeting EDs in primary-aged children. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2.0 tool, and findings were synthesised narratively given heterogeneity across interventions and outcomes. 

Results: Twenty-three RCTs met inclusion criteria, yielding 148 outcome measures. The majority (77.7%) were at high risk of bias, largely due to reliance on unblinded raters, insufficient reporting, and baseline imbalances. Sensitivity analyses excluding very low-certainty studies left only 17 outcomes, of which eight were rated as high certainty. Behavioural outcomes were heavily over-represented (67.5%), with relational and environmental outcomes underexplored. Moderator analyses indicated that interventions targeting single subgroups produced more favourable outcomes than multisystem approaches, though overall evidence quality limited confidence in these findings. 

Conclusions: Current RCT evidence for ED interventions in primary-aged children is of low quality, restricting firm conclusions about effectiveness. The imbalance in outcome domains and mechanisms suggests an overemphasis on behaviourist approaches at the expense of relational and ecological factors. High-quality, large-scale RCTs are urgently needed, particularly those addressing classroom environments, relational mechanisms, and culturally grounded approaches relevant to Aotearoa. 

Registration: The protocol for this review was registered with the Open Science Framework (OSF). https://osf.io/9afzx/

year: 2025

title: Tū Māori Ake: Seeking which is above.

authors: Maxwell, Te Kahautu

abstract: Te Waka Āwhina 2015 Seeking that which is above Kaupapa - Philosophy o Aotearoa “Tū Māori ake” E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā karangatanga, nei rā te powhiri ki a koutou katoa ‘MĀ TE MĀORI, MŌ TE MĀORI’ Te Waka Āwhina o Aotearoa National Training Hui by Māori for Māori within local government Āwhea: 2 – 4 February 2015 Ki whea: The Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts, The University of Waikato, Hamilton Hau kāinga: Te Puku o te Ika.

text: Tū Māori Ake: Seeking which is above. Te Waka Āwhina 2015 Seeking that which is above Kaupapa - Philosophy o Aotearoa “Tū Māori ake” E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā karangatanga, nei rā te powhiri ki a koutou katoa ‘MĀ TE MĀORI, MŌ TE MĀORI’ Te Waka Āwhina o Aotearoa National Training Hui by Māori for Māori within local government Āwhea: 2 – 4 February 2015 Ki whea: The Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts, The University of Waikato, Hamilton Hau kāinga: Te Puku o te Ika.

year: 2015-02-03