R Egan
Biographic Data
| ID | 18122 |
|---|---|
| NAME | R Egan |
| GIVEN NAMES | R |
| FAMILY NAME | Egan |
| SIGNATURE | EGAN R |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Otago |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-9964-6175 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 33 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 18 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 33 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2011 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Cancer journeys and health practitioners as gatekeepers, brokers, and boundary enforcers
Cancer survival is increasingly prevalent, and the longevity of survivors enable them to provide insights into the experiences of living with cancer. The objective of this article is to consider the roles that health practitioners play that can facilitate or provide hindrances to investigations and cancer treatment following a diagnosis of cancer. From 2020 to 2022, 81 interviews were conducted with Māori and non-Māori throughout Aotearoa New Zea…
Mentoring: A Traditional Cook Island Approach to Support Men
The present study examines a unique Cook Island approach to the rehabilitation and support of men, particularly those who have been convicted of criminal offending or who are experiencing other mental health or interpersonal difficulties. The culturally appropriate method of enabling change is offered via a community-based 24-hr mentoring system to support men. Run by men, the program is based on traditional Pacific ways of male mentoring in whic…
Self‐treatment with psychedelic substances for health and wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand: An exploratory descriptive study
This study draws attention to, and provides a description of, a previously unmapped and emerging self‐medication phenomenon occurring in Aotearoa New Zealand where psychedelic substances are being used in the absence of clinical supervision to address a wide range of health and wellbeing issues, partly in response to unmet mental health needs. We interviewed 34 individuals who had self‐administered psychedelics with the intention of improving the…
Institutional objection to assisted dying: A qualitative study of stakeholders in Aotearoa New Zealand
As more countries legalize assisted dying (AD), one issue increasingly debated is institutional objection. This is when an institution decides it does not want to provide AD and wishes to prohibit some or all aspects of the AD process from occurring onsite. Aotearoa New Zealand legalized AD in 2021 but its legislation does not address institutional objection. This paper presents the first detailed examination of this issue in Aotearoa New Zealand…
Accessing diagnosis and treatment: The experience of cancer as wrangling with the system
Long term cancer survival is increasingly prevalent, and the consequences are of sociological and clinical interest. In this paper we deploy the concept of wrangling to emphasise the everyday tussle of survivorship and processes of navigating pathways through what can be an unwelcoming environment. From 2020 to 2022 81 interviews were conducted with people, Māori and non-Māori, throughout Aotearoa New Zealand identified as exceptional cancer surv…
Validation of the spiritual screening tool ConnecTo
Understanding more about an older person’s spirituality is important when they begin engagement with organizations providing care. This research sought to determine the validity of the ConnecTo spirituality screening tool. This tool enables care providers to gain some understanding of the spirituality of older people entering residential aged care or receiving a home care package. A mixed-methods, triangulated approach was used in determining tha…
Is there a right time to die? How patients, families and assisted dying providers decide on and anticipate a date with death
Research has explored why people seek assisted dying (AD), families' bereavement, and AD providers' experiences, yet few studies have investigated decision-making of the time and date for AD. This article elucidates how cancer patients, families and AD providers decide on and experience living with a date and time for AD in New Zealand. We longitudinally interviewed 23 people. Using thematic analysis, we identified four decision-making phases: de…
Disruption, discontinuity and a licence to live: Responding to cancer diagnoses
Although a diagnosis of a life-limiting cancer is likely to evoke emotions, such as fear, panic and anxiety, for some people it can also provide an opportunity to live life differently. This article is based on research undertaken in Aotearoa New Zealand on the topic of exceptional cancer trajectories. Eighty-one participants who had been identified as living with a cancer diagnosis longer than clinically expected were interviewed, along with 25 …
Mental health promotion practice in Aotearoa New Zealand: Findings from a qualitative study
Mental health promotion (MHP) is integral to improving the overall health and well being of individuals, communities, and populations. However, knowledge and reporting about MHP which occurs throughout Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) is limited. This article reports findings from a qualitative study that sought to understand NZ health promotion practitioners’ (HPPs) MHP practice. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 15 HPPs employed at vario…
Evaluation of Ebola virus disease surveillance system capability to promptly detect a new outbreak in Liberia
INTRODUCTION: Liberia was heavily affected by the 2014-2016 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak. With substantial investments in interventions to combat future outbreaks, it is hoped that Liberia is well prepared for a new incursion. We assessed the performance of the current EVD surveillance system in Liberia, focusing on its ability to promptly detect a new EVD outbreak. METHODS: We integrated WHO and US Centers for Disease Control and Preventio…
Spirituality: A Key Component of the Salvation Army’s Bridge Programme Model of Treatment in Aotearoa New Zealand
Spirituality is vital to The Salvation Army’s Bridge model of treatment for alcohol and drug addiction. Spirituality is expressed through Recovery Church, prayer, spirituality lifters, the 12-step programme, and focuses on meaning and purpose. We recruited participants from several regional centers throughout Aotearoa New Zealand and evaluated spirituality using the WHOQol-SRPB and open-ended questions. Most participants held broad understandings…
Expert insights on digital contact tracing: Interviews with contact tracing policy professionals in New Zealand
Digital contact tracing (DCT) is the application of digital tools to assist with identifying and informing close contacts of a COVID-19 case. DCT is a potential solution to capacity constraints of current manual contact tracing processes. Expert opinion from contact tracing professionals rarely informs public discourse on the benefits and limitations of DCT solutions. Three focus groups were undertaken in New Zealand to understand benefits and li…
A framework for understanding spirituality and healthy ageing: Perspectives from Aotearoa New Zealand
Spirituality permeates our land, our waters, and our people; it is inherent in Māori culture, often explicit for new migrants, but frequently ignored or tokenistically acknowledged in mainstream culture. Older New Zealanders are a pluralistic population, often fiercely secular, with a small but active religious population. How we now treat our elders requires work, needs careful consideration, and vision. As a country, New Zealand has embraced th…
Assisted dying in New Zealand: What is known about the values underpinning citizens’ positions
In New Zealand, aiding and abetting a person to commit suicide or euthanasia even with consent, is unlawful. The introduction of a third Bill on assisted dying to the House of Representatives following a high profile court case, afforded an opportunity for examining how assisted dying is discussed in the public sphere. Social media postings include the voices of citizens who may not participate in formal public consultation processes. Contributor…
The discursive context of medical aid in dying: A paradox of control
Exploring Spirituality With Older People: (2) A rigorous process
Exploring Spirituality With Older People is a research project which has aimed to develop a valid assessment tool for understanding more of the spirituality of older people living in an aged care facility. A qualitative methodology using semi-structured interviews was chosen as the most appropriate way to explore spirituality which led to addressing the question of what constitutes validity and reliability in such a study. An approach involving r…
Exploring spirituality with older people: (1) Rich Experiences
With an increasing aging population worldwide, there is a need for greater focus on the spirituality of older people, to better support them and lead them to an enhancement of their inner peace. This pilot research used a qualitative approach (with semi-structured interviews) in exploring spirituality with older people in residential aged care to understand more about the factors related to a sense of personal belief and connection that helped th…
A citizens' jury on euthanasia/assisted dying: Does informed deliberation change people's views
Euthanasia or assisted dying (EAD) remains a highly contentious issue internationally. Although polls report that a majority New Zealanders support EAD, there are concerns about the framing of the polling questions, and that those responding to the questions do not know enough about the situations described, the options available and the potential implications of EAD policy. One way to address these concerns is through a citizens' jury, which is …
The people speak: Social media on euthanasia/assisted dying
In New Zealand, aiding and abetting a person to commit suicide or euthanasia even with consent is unlawful. The introduction of a third Bill on assisted dying to the House of Representatives following a high-profile court case afforded an opportunity for examining how assisted dying was discussed in the public sphere. In this article, we report on a discourse analysis of a selection of social media to illustrate the ways in which citizens partici…
Spiritual care: What do cancer patients and their family members want? A co-design project
Purpose: Through active participant engagement, this project aimed to better comprehend the spiritual care needs of New Zealand cancer patients and their families and friends, and to gain further insight from others, including healthcare practitioners. Methods: A co-design process was undertaken, which involved presentations and interactive group workshops on the topic of spirituality and spiritual care. A facilitated, semi-structured discussion …
Layers of engagement: Staff perceptions of spiritual care in residential aged care
Addressing the spiritual care needs of residents living in aged-care facilities should be an important dimension of quality care. We conducted semi-structured interviews with residential aged-care staff (including caregivers, nurses, managers, and chaplains) in New Zealand to explore how spiritual care is understood and operationalized. Many participants appeared to equate spiritual care with holistic care that respects the whole person. Particip…
The healthy lifestyle in longevity narratives
The euthanasia debate: Synthesising the evidence on New Zealander's attitudes
New Zealand is considering a change in law to permit euthanasia and/or assisted dying (EAD). We reviewed 20 years of research to investigate New Zealanders’ attitudes towards EAD, including those of health professionals. A systematic search was conducted using relevant databases. We identified 21 quantitative and 5 qualitative studies. For quantitative data, descriptive analyses were used to examine any demographic patterns that influenced attitu…
Spiritual care training is needed for clinical and non-clinical staff to manage patients’ spiritual needs
As health-care moves towards a more person-centred approach, spiritual care has become more important in patients’ care. Recent evidence shows positive associations between both recognizing and addressing patient spiritual needs and health outcomes. Thus, we conducted a cross-sectional survey to determine levels in understanding of patients’ spiritual needs and spiritual care among clinical and non-clinical staff working with people with chronic …
Special Issue “International Conference of Spirituality in Healthcare. Nurturing the Spirit”—Trinity College Dublin 2016
This is an editorial of a Special Issue regarding the International Conference of Spirituality in Healthcare held in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Republic of Ireland (ROI), on June 2016 (Spirituality Research and Innovation Group 2016).[...]
The discursive context of medical aid in dying: A paradox of control
The people speak: Social media on euthanasia/assisted dying
In New Zealand, aiding and abetting a person to commit suicide or euthanasia even with consent is unlawful. The introduction of a third Bill on assisted dying to the House of Representatives following a high-profile court case afforded an opportunity for examining how assisted dying was discussed in the public sphere. In this article, we report on a discourse analysis of a selection of social media to illustrate the ways in which citizens partici…
The healthy lifestyle in longevity narratives
New Zealand Nurses' Perceptions of Spirituality and Spiritual care: Qualitative Findings from a National Survey
This paper presents the qualitative findings from the first national survey of New Zealand nurses' views on spirituality and spiritual care. The importance of spirituality as a core aspect of holistic nursing care is gaining momentum. Little is currently known about New Zealand nurses' understandings, perceptions and experience of spirituality. Design: A descriptive online survey. Method: A random sample of 2000 individuals resident in New Zealan…
Living into death: A Case for an Iterative, Fortified and Cross-Sector Approach to Advance Care Planning
Advance care planning (ACP) has been framed as best practice for quality palliative care, yet a growing body of literature affirms the need for an early iterative ACP process to begin when people are young and healthy. A significant gap appears to exist in the literature regarding the utility of death conversations outside the end-of-life context. Could 'death conversations' early in life be an effective tool by which doctor and patient can co-co…
Is there a right time to die? How patients, families and assisted dying providers decide on and anticipate a date with death
Research has explored why people seek assisted dying (AD), families' bereavement, and AD providers' experiences, yet few studies have investigated decision-making of the time and date for AD. This article elucidates how cancer patients, families and AD providers decide on and experience living with a date and time for AD in New Zealand. We longitudinally interviewed 23 people. Using thematic analysis, we identified four decision-making phases: de…
The euthanasia debate: Synthesising the evidence on New Zealander's attitudes
New Zealand is considering a change in law to permit euthanasia and/or assisted dying (EAD). We reviewed 20 years of research to investigate New Zealanders’ attitudes towards EAD, including those of health professionals. A systematic search was conducted using relevant databases. We identified 21 quantitative and 5 qualitative studies. For quantitative data, descriptive analyses were used to examine any demographic patterns that influenced attitu…
Why worry about something you can't control?' Negotiated risk, longevity and health behaviours
While we know about lay attitudes towards death and dying, we understand little about the ways people estimate their overall personal risk of life-limiting disease and/or death. This study contributes to the limited literature on lay longevity reckonings, with a particular focus on how these reckonings may influence health behaviours. Semi-structured interviews were held with 21 young older adults (54-65 years), addressing the core questions of '…
Employing imaginative rationality: Using metaphor when discussing death
The prevalence of metaphors in medicine is widely acknowledged. In a qualitative study exploring expectations of longevity, we observed repeated recourse to the imaginative rationality provided by metaphors to express perspectives on longevity and death. Bafflement, acceptance, uncertainty and distress were conveyed through metaphors, providing valuable insight into the internal healthcare frameworks of participants. Skilful use of imaginative ra…
What is spirituality? Evidence from a New Zealand hospice study
Spirituality is increasingly understood to be important in healthcare provision, as seen in policy, guidelines and practice across many Western healthcare systems. Definitions of spirituality remain controversial, despite their importance for consistency in research and practice. This paper reports on the definition findings of a nation-wide New Zealand (NZ) study (2006–2008) that examined understandings, experiences and ways to improve spiritual…
Still Living, Loving, and Laughing: Spiritual Life in the Dementia Unit
Semi-structured interviews, conducted with dementia unit residents, family, and staff members provided a three-way perspective on the spirituality of residents. The issues covered included: what gives meaning to life, how difficulties are coped with and hope maintained. Themes identified were: “the importance of relationships,” “the retention of identity,” and “the progression of dementia.” These themes are interdependent with relationships being…
Regulating the sale of tobacco in New Zealand: A qualitative analysis of retailers’ views and implications for advocacy
The Ability of Hospital Staff to Recognise and Meet Patients’ Spiritual Needs: A Pilot Study
Objectives: We conducted an online cross-sectional survey to determine the understanding of spirituality and spiritual care among clinical and non-clinical staff caring for people with chronic and terminal conditions. Background: As health care moves towards a more person-centred approach, spiritual care has become more important in patients’ care. Recent evidence shows positive associations between addressing patient spiritual needs and health o…
Employing imaginative rationality: Using metaphor when discussing death
The prevalence of metaphors in medicine is widely acknowledged. In a qualitative study exploring expectations of longevity, we observed repeated recourse to the imaginative rationality provided by metaphors to express perspectives on longevity and death. Bafflement, acceptance, uncertainty and distress were conveyed through metaphors, providing valuable insight into the internal healthcare frameworks of participants. Skilful use of imaginative ra…
Spiritual care training is needed for clinical and non-clinical staff to manage patients’ spiritual needs
As health-care moves towards a more person-centred approach, spiritual care has become more important in patients’ care. Recent evidence shows positive associations between both recognizing and addressing patient spiritual needs and health outcomes. Thus, we conducted a cross-sectional survey to determine levels in understanding of patients’ spiritual needs and spiritual care among clinical and non-clinical staff working with people with chronic …
Special Issue “International Conference of Spirituality in Healthcare. Nurturing the Spirit”—Trinity College Dublin 2016
This is an editorial of a Special Issue regarding the International Conference of Spirituality in Healthcare held in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Republic of Ireland (ROI), on June 2016 (Spirituality Research and Innovation Group 2016).[...]
Why worry about something you can't control?' Negotiated risk, longevity and health behaviours
While we know about lay attitudes towards death and dying, we understand little about the ways people estimate their overall personal risk of life-limiting disease and/or death. This study contributes to the limited literature on lay longevity reckonings, with a particular focus on how these reckonings may influence health behaviours. Semi-structured interviews were held with 21 young older adults (54-65 years), addressing the core questions of '…
New Zealand Nurses' Perceptions of Spirituality and Spiritual care: Qualitative Findings from a National Survey
This paper presents the qualitative findings from the first national survey of New Zealand nurses' views on spirituality and spiritual care. The importance of spirituality as a core aspect of holistic nursing care is gaining momentum. Little is currently known about New Zealand nurses' understandings, perceptions and experience of spirituality. Design: A descriptive online survey. Method: A random sample of 2000 individuals resident in New Zealan…
Living into death: A Case for an Iterative, Fortified and Cross-Sector Approach to Advance Care Planning
Advance care planning (ACP) has been framed as best practice for quality palliative care, yet a growing body of literature affirms the need for an early iterative ACP process to begin when people are young and healthy. A significant gap appears to exist in the literature regarding the utility of death conversations outside the end-of-life context. Could 'death conversations' early in life be an effective tool by which doctor and patient can co-co…
Spiritual care: What do cancer patients and their family members want? A co-design project
Purpose: Through active participant engagement, this project aimed to better comprehend the spiritual care needs of New Zealand cancer patients and their families and friends, and to gain further insight from others, including healthcare practitioners. Methods: A co-design process was undertaken, which involved presentations and interactive group workshops on the topic of spirituality and spiritual care. A facilitated, semi-structured discussion …
Layers of engagement: Staff perceptions of spiritual care in residential aged care
Addressing the spiritual care needs of residents living in aged-care facilities should be an important dimension of quality care. We conducted semi-structured interviews with residential aged-care staff (including caregivers, nurses, managers, and chaplains) in New Zealand to explore how spiritual care is understood and operationalized. Many participants appeared to equate spiritual care with holistic care that respects the whole person. Particip…
The healthy lifestyle in longevity narratives
The euthanasia debate: Synthesising the evidence on New Zealander's attitudes
New Zealand is considering a change in law to permit euthanasia and/or assisted dying (EAD). We reviewed 20 years of research to investigate New Zealanders’ attitudes towards EAD, including those of health professionals. A systematic search was conducted using relevant databases. We identified 21 quantitative and 5 qualitative studies. For quantitative data, descriptive analyses were used to examine any demographic patterns that influenced attitu…
The people speak: Social media on euthanasia/assisted dying
In New Zealand, aiding and abetting a person to commit suicide or euthanasia even with consent is unlawful. The introduction of a third Bill on assisted dying to the House of Representatives following a high-profile court case afforded an opportunity for examining how assisted dying was discussed in the public sphere. In this article, we report on a discourse analysis of a selection of social media to illustrate the ways in which citizens partici…
Exploring Spirituality With Older People: (2) A rigorous process
Exploring Spirituality With Older People is a research project which has aimed to develop a valid assessment tool for understanding more of the spirituality of older people living in an aged care facility. A qualitative methodology using semi-structured interviews was chosen as the most appropriate way to explore spirituality which led to addressing the question of what constitutes validity and reliability in such a study. An approach involving r…
Exploring spirituality with older people: (1) Rich Experiences
With an increasing aging population worldwide, there is a need for greater focus on the spirituality of older people, to better support them and lead them to an enhancement of their inner peace. This pilot research used a qualitative approach (with semi-structured interviews) in exploring spirituality with older people in residential aged care to understand more about the factors related to a sense of personal belief and connection that helped th…
A citizens' jury on euthanasia/assisted dying: Does informed deliberation change people's views
Euthanasia or assisted dying (EAD) remains a highly contentious issue internationally. Although polls report that a majority New Zealanders support EAD, there are concerns about the framing of the polling questions, and that those responding to the questions do not know enough about the situations described, the options available and the potential implications of EAD policy. One way to address these concerns is through a citizens' jury, which is …
A framework for understanding spirituality and healthy ageing: Perspectives from Aotearoa New Zealand
Spirituality permeates our land, our waters, and our people; it is inherent in Māori culture, often explicit for new migrants, but frequently ignored or tokenistically acknowledged in mainstream culture. Older New Zealanders are a pluralistic population, often fiercely secular, with a small but active religious population. How we now treat our elders requires work, needs careful consideration, and vision. As a country, New Zealand has embraced th…
Assisted dying in New Zealand: What is known about the values underpinning citizens’ positions
In New Zealand, aiding and abetting a person to commit suicide or euthanasia even with consent, is unlawful. The introduction of a third Bill on assisted dying to the House of Representatives following a high profile court case, afforded an opportunity for examining how assisted dying is discussed in the public sphere. Social media postings include the voices of citizens who may not participate in formal public consultation processes. Contributor…
The discursive context of medical aid in dying: A paradox of control
Expert insights on digital contact tracing: Interviews with contact tracing policy professionals in New Zealand
Digital contact tracing (DCT) is the application of digital tools to assist with identifying and informing close contacts of a COVID-19 case. DCT is a potential solution to capacity constraints of current manual contact tracing processes. Expert opinion from contact tracing professionals rarely informs public discourse on the benefits and limitations of DCT solutions. Three focus groups were undertaken in New Zealand to understand benefits and li…
Mental health promotion practice in Aotearoa New Zealand: Findings from a qualitative study
Mental health promotion (MHP) is integral to improving the overall health and well being of individuals, communities, and populations. However, knowledge and reporting about MHP which occurs throughout Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) is limited. This article reports findings from a qualitative study that sought to understand NZ health promotion practitioners’ (HPPs) MHP practice. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 15 HPPs employed at vario…
Evaluation of Ebola virus disease surveillance system capability to promptly detect a new outbreak in Liberia
INTRODUCTION: Liberia was heavily affected by the 2014-2016 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak. With substantial investments in interventions to combat future outbreaks, it is hoped that Liberia is well prepared for a new incursion. We assessed the performance of the current EVD surveillance system in Liberia, focusing on its ability to promptly detect a new EVD outbreak. METHODS: We integrated WHO and US Centers for Disease Control and Preventio…
Spirituality: A Key Component of the Salvation Army’s Bridge Programme Model of Treatment in Aotearoa New Zealand
Spirituality is vital to The Salvation Army’s Bridge model of treatment for alcohol and drug addiction. Spirituality is expressed through Recovery Church, prayer, spirituality lifters, the 12-step programme, and focuses on meaning and purpose. We recruited participants from several regional centers throughout Aotearoa New Zealand and evaluated spirituality using the WHOQol-SRPB and open-ended questions. Most participants held broad understandings…
Medicine (23 works) · Psychology (23 works) · Sociology (21 works) · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health (15 works) · Nursing (14 works) · Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology (13 works) · Political science (12 works) · Spirituality (12 works) · Alternative medicine (11 works) · Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues (11 works)