OAR@UM Collection:

Women's lived experience of enduring domestic violence and substance abuse

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Women's lived experience of enduring domestic violence and substance abuse Abstract: Background: Domestic violence and substance abuse are interconnected issues that have serious effects on women’s physical, emotional, and social wellbeing. These intersecting experiences often trap women in cycles of trauma, dependency, and marginalisation. Understanding how women experience and cope with these challenges is essential not only for developing effective, trauma-informed responses but also for providing appropriate support and intervention. Design: A qualitative phenomenological design was employed to explore the lived experiences of women exposed to both domestic violence and substance abuse, conducted in accordance with the principles and framework of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Setting: Semi-structured, audio-recorded interviews were conducted with participants in rehabilitation settings. Four interviews took place within the rehabilitation centre during participants’ treatment programmes, while one interview was conducted outside the centre with a participant in the reintegration phase. Participants: Five adult female participants who have been exposed to domestic violence and substance abuse at any point in their lives. Method: Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants. Interview data were transcribed verbatim and analysed following the principles of IPA. Results: Seven Group Experiential Themes (GETs) emerged from the analysis, each with corresponding subthemes. The first GET, Substance Use, captures the journey from curiosity to dependency and the use of substances as a coping mechanism. The second, Domestic Violence and Abuse, reveals ongoing cycles of control and the emotional and interpersonal violence experienced. The third, Emotions, reflects the trauma, psychological impact, and resilience demonstrated by participants. The fourth, Relationships, explores patterns of broken connections, power, and manipulation. The fifth, Family and Social Support, highlights fractured family bonds and system failures in providing adequate support. The sixth GET, Experiences with Support Services, and lastly Sharing Advice and Future Aspirations, illustrates barriers to seeking help, perceptions of available services, and participants’ reflections on growth, recovery, and advice for others. Conclusion: The study highlights the complex interplay between domestic violence and substance abuse in shaping women’s lived experiences. Participants’ narratives reveal cycles of trauma, resilience, and recovery, underscoring the need for integrated, trauma-informed approaches that address both issues simultaneously. Enhanced awareness, coordinated services, and empathetic support are essential to promote healing and empowerment among affected women. Description: M.Sc.(Melit.)

A comparison between the 12-lead electrocardiogram and hand-held spectral waveform doppler ultrasound in the detection of atrial fibrillation (Master's dissertation).

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Title: A comparison between the 12-lead electrocardiogram and hand-held spectral waveform doppler ultrasound in the detection of atrial fibrillation (Master's dissertation). Abstract: Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most prevalent sustained cardiac arrhythmia and a leading cause of thromboembolic stroke. Early detection is essential to initiate timely intervention and reduce associated morbidity and mortality. While electrocardiography (ECG) remains the gold standard for AF diagnosis, its routine use in community settings is limited. Pedal Doppler ultrasound (US) is already widely utilised in podiatric practice for vascular assessments, offering a potential opportunity for opportunistic AF screening during routine foot care. However, evidence quantifying the accuracy of pedal Doppler US for arrhythmia detection is limited. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of pedal Doppler US in identifying atrial fibrillation when compared with ECG findings, to determine its potential role as an opportunistic screening tool within podiatric practice. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 112 participants aged 65 years and older. Pedal Doppler US was used to classify peripheral pulse patterns as regular, partially regular, or irregular. ECG served as the reference standard to confirm the presence or absence of arrhythmias. Chi-square analysis was employed to assess the association between Doppler findings and ECG results, and Cramér’s V was calculated to estimate effect size. Results: A strong, statistically significant association was found between Doppler-detected irregular pulses and ECG-confirmed arrhythmias (χ²(1, N=112)=52.42, p<0.001, Cramér’s V=0.68). Doppler US reliably identified all cases of irregularly irregular rhythms indicative of AF but failed to detect regular arrhythmias such as first-degree atrioventricular block and sinus bradycardia. Conclusion: Pedal Doppler US shows considerable promise as a rapid, non-invasive, and accessible preliminary screening tool for irregular arrhythmias in podiatric settings. With appropriate training to standardize interpretation, podiatrists could play a pivotal role in opportunistic AF detection, facilitating timely ECG referral and potentially reducing stroke incidence in at-risk populations. Larger-scale, multi-center studies are recommended to validate these findings and inform future clinical guidelines. Description: M.Sc.(Melit.)

Tympanostomy tubes and bone-conduction hearing aids in children with cleft palate : intervention outcomes

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Title: Tympanostomy tubes and bone-conduction hearing aids in children with cleft palate : intervention outcomes Abstract: Children with cleft palate (CP) are highly susceptible to conductive hearing loss (CHL) due to chronic eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) and middle ear effusion (MEE). Tympanostomy tubes (TTs), better known as grommets, and bone-conduction hearing aids (BCHAs) represent the most common interventions; however, direct comparative evidence in this population remains limited. This study involved a multiple case study design integrating quantitative and qualitative data analysis. Six children with CP, their caregivers, and nine healthcare professionals (HCPs), which included three ENT specialists, two audiologists, and four speech-language pathologists (SLPs), also participated in this study. Audiological and medical records provided secondary quantitative data of hearing thresholds and tympanometric outcomes, while semi-structured interviews explored lived experiences, clinical decision-making, and perceptions related to intervention effectiveness. Quantitative analyses showed improvements in aided hearing thresholds among children who used a BCHA, specifically the bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) softband, with stable aided performance over time. In contrast, TTs outcomes were perceived as beneficial but in the short-term, as often extrusion of TTs was followed by recurrence of MEE. Qualitative findings indicated that both intervention options supported speech and language development; however, HCPs viewed BCHAs as providing more stable and long-term hearing access in this cohort. Parents valued multidisciplinary team (MDT) support and empathetic communication but identified delays, inconsistent follow-up, and limited information at diagnosis as persistent challenges. Given the findings, the need for structured protocols, clearer MDT coordination, and improved information sharing within Malta’s clefthearing services is underscored. Description: M.Sc.(Melit.)

The awareness of paediatric hearing loss across medical, educational and social settings in Malta

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Title: The awareness of paediatric hearing loss across medical, educational and social settings in Malta Abstract: The primary purpose of this study was to investigate educators’, general practitioners’ and caregivers’ awareness towards paediatric hearing loss. The current study used a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative research methods to reach its’ aim. Three questionnaires for the three studied populations were designed by the researcher following analysis and reading of literature. These questionnaires explored the level of awareness, knowledge, and attitudes regarding paediatric hearing loss and aimed to identify gaps in understanding, referral practices, and perceptions of early detection and intervention in these populations. A one-to-one interview with an audiologist was conducted to explore professional perspectives on the current awareness, misconceptions, and challenges surrounding paediatric hearing loss across medical, educational, and parental contexts. It aimed to gain deeper insight into interdisciplinary collaboration, parental reactions to diagnosis, and strategies for improving awareness and support for affected children and their families, while also contextualising the findings and highlighting systemic strengths and challenges within the Maltese context. The data gathered from the questionnaire was analysed statistically using SPSS while the data gathered from the interview was analysed qualitatively through a conversational and thematic analysis. Results revealed variability in awareness across groups. Among educators, nearly half had experience teaching a child with hearing loss, yet a substantial proportion reported limited familiarity with the condition despite generally recognising its effects on speech, language, and social-emotional development. While participants were generally aware of common classroom accommodations such as preferential seating and visual aids, familiarity with assistive technologies and sign language was lower, and the majority had received no formal training on supporting children with hearing loss. Nonetheless, all educators expressed strong interest in receiving additional training and resources, highlighting a clear demand for structured professional development in inclusive and auditory support practices. General practitioners demonstrated high awareness of paediatric hearing loss and recognised the importance of newborn screening. They identified common causes such as ototoxic drugs, infections, otitis media, and trauma, and consistently associated speech or language delays and lack of response to sound with potential hearing loss, though awareness of recurrent otitis media as a cause was moderate. Most participants had received no formal training, but most expressed strong interest in further education, highlighting the need for enhanced training and clearer guidance to support early detection and referral. Caregivers generally perceived their understanding of paediatric hearing loss as fair, indicating moderate awareness of the condition, and most attributed hearing loss to genetic factors or prenatal infections, with fewer recognising environmental causes. The majority considered hearing testing at birth important, and nearly all acknowledged that hearing loss can affect a child’s language and speech development, though some were unsure where to access testing. Most caregivers were aware of grommets as a treatment option, although around one-third were unfamiliar with or unsure about this intervention. In the interview, the audiologist mentioned the rising awareness about paediatric hearing loss since the implementation of the newborn screening, more specific referrals by ENT consultants, social stigma, parental emotional reactions to an early diagnosis, the need for support and multidisciplinary team collaboration and accessibility to information. This study highlights the need for accessible professional training and creation of awareness campaigns for educators, general practitioners, and caregivers to improve awareness, early identification, and effective management of paediatric hearing loss. It underscores gaps in practical knowledge, familiarity with screening processes, and confidence in implementing classroom accommodations or referral practices. Additionally, the findings emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the provision of targeted resources to support children with hearing impairments and their families. Description: M.Sc.(Melit.)