Following a terrorist attack, responses to a psychosocial disaster range from low-intensity initiatives to high-intensity treatment. Some studies described post-disaster psychosocial services and planning across Europe. However, little is known about the psychosocial support (PS) actually delivered after terrorist attacks.

This study assesses prevalence and the factors associated with not receiving short-term PS among terror-exposed people with probable mental health disorders following the January 2015 terrorist attacks in France.

This study used data from the first wave of a longitudinal survey conducted six months after the attacks. Prevalence and factors associated with not receiving PS were described in the immediate period (48 hours), the early post-immediate period (48 hours-one week), and the medium-term (over one week) using a robust Poisson regression for each of the three periods.

Nearly one-half of the participants (N = 189) did not receive PS in any period (46.6% in the immediate period, 45.5% in the early post-immediate period, and 54.5% in the medium-term). In each period, not receiving PS was associated with not being very close to the attack sites. Not receiving PS in the immediate period was also associated with being a direct witness (DW) rather than being directly threatened (DT) and not having support in daily life; in the early post-immediate period, not receiving PS was associated with not having a peri-traumatic dissociation experience and being followed for a psychological problem before the attacks; and in the medium-term period, it was associated with perceived social isolation.

The characteristics of the terror exposure and social support seemed to influence presence or absence of PS after the terrorist attack and highlight the need for strategies to reach out to people regardless of the type of exposure.

To describe the experiences of dignity encounters from the perspective of people with long-term illness and their close relatives within a primary healthcare setting.

The importance of dignity as a concept in nursing care is well known, and in every healthcare encounter, the patient’s dignity has to be protected.

A purposive sample of 10 people (5 couples) participated in this qualitative descripted study. One person in each of the couples had a long-term illness. Conjoint interviews were conducted and analyzed with an inductive qualitative content analysis.

The analysis resulted in three themes: i) Being supported by an encouraging contact; ii) Being listen to and understood; and iii) Being met with respect. Couples described being encountered with dignity as having accessibility to care in terms of being welcomed with their needs and receiving help. Accessibility promoted beneficial contact with healthcare personnel, who empowered the couples with guidance and support. Couples described a dignity encounter when healthcare personnel confirmed them as valuable and important persons. A dignity encounter was promoted their sense of feeling satisfied with the care they received and promoted safe care. Treated with dignity had a positive impact on the couples’ health and well-being and enhanced their sense of a good impression of the healthcare personnel within the primary health care.

Healthcare personnel must regard and consider people with long-term illnesses and their close relatives’ experiences of dignity encounters to gain an understanding that enables them to support their needs and to know that the care is directed toward them.

Encounters play an important role in the relationship between healthcare personnel and the close relatives of people with a long-term illness.

The aim of this study was to elucidate the meanings of encounters for close relatives of people with a long-term illness within a primary healthcare setting.

Interviews using a narrative approach were conducted with seven women and three men, and the phenomenological hermeneutic method was used to interpret the interview texts.

The structural analysis revealed three major themes: being confirmed as a family, being informed of the care, and being respected as a valuable person. Close relatives stated that they wanted to be confirmed as a family and have a familiar and trusting relationship with healthcare personnel. They valued being informed concerning the care of the ill person so that they could give support at home. It was also important to be compassionately viewed as an important person in a welcoming atmosphere based on respect and dignity.