Preferred Self-Care Behaviors of Participants Who Have Completed a Caring Science Online Course

Abstract

In this study, participant narratives within a Caring Science, Mindful Practice Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) were analyzed to determine preferred self-care activities in and outside of work, and the degree to which course content supported the creation of self-care goals. Data was collected from open discussion boards in a Caring Science, Mindful Practice massive open online course (MOOC). Although the course explores many different ways to apply Watson’s Human Caring Theory, data collected for this study was focused on self-care activities as reported by the course participants. Exploring and identifying preferred self-care activities among course participants may help facilitate relevant and meaningful self-care support and education for those interested in a Caring Science based approach to self-care at work and beyond. The aim of this study was to discover the preferred self-care behaviors of participants who have completed a Caring Science, Mindful Practice Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). Self-care activities as reported by course participants in weekly discussion board postings were analyzed for themes and consistencies related to preferred self-care activities. Data was also analyzed to assess the focal point of self-care activities, for example were participants primarily focused on improving home life, work life, or both, through the use of specific self-care strategies. Themes were identified and analyzed to determine if specific preferred self-care activities were dependent on whether participant focus was on improving work life or home life, or both. This study was conducted by an undergraduate Honors College Student at East Carolina University under the guidance of an East Carolina University College of Nursing professor and was done in the form of a descriptive qualitative review of narrative responses related to the topic of self-care, caring-science, and mindfulness.