1.
Olsson, Sara, et al.
(författare)
Unmet Need for Mental Healthcare in a Population Sample in Sweden: A Cross-Sectional Study of Inequalities Based on Gender, Education, and Country of Birth
2021
Ingår i: Community Mental Health Journal. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0010-3853 .- 1573-2789. ; 57:3, s. 470-481
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
This cross-sectional study investigated if gender, education, and country of birth were associated with perceived need and unmet need for mental healthcare (i.e., refraining from seeking care, or perceiving care as insufficient when seeking it). Questionnaire and register data from 2008 were collected for 3987 individuals, aged 19-64 years, in a random population-based sample from western Sweden. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were used. Men were less likely to perceive a need for care than were women, even after adjusting for mental well-being. Men were also less likely to seek care and perceiving care as sufficient. People with secondary education were less likely to seek care than those with university education. There were no statistically significant differences based on country of birth. The observed gender and education-based inequalities increases our understanding of where interventions can be implemented. These inequalities in unmet need for mental healthcare should be targeted by the healthcare system.
2.
Mårtensson, Lena, 1953, et al.
(författare)
Health literacy – a heterogeneous phenomenon: a literature review
2012
Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences. - : Wiley. - 0283-9318. ; 26:1, s. 151-160
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
Health literacy – a heterogeneous phenomenon: a literature review Background and aim: A growing responsibility on the part of individuals to make decisions in health issues implies the need of access to health information and personal skills to comprehend the information. Health literacy comprises skills in obtaining, understanding and acting on information about health issues in ways that promote and maintain health. A lack of health literacy may have effects at both the individual and societal levels. There are thus reasons for health care professionals to gain a comprehensive understanding of health literacy. The aim of this review was to explore how health literacy is described in the scientific literature and to give a synthesis of its different meanings. Methods: The review was based on approximately 200 scientific articles published 2000–2008. The analysis process was inspired by the methods of narrative literature review. Findings and conclusions: Two different approaches to health literacy became visible, one in which health literacy is expressed as a polarized phenomenon, focusing on the extremes of low and high health literacy. The definitions of health literacy in this approach are characterized by a functional understanding, pointing out certain basic skills needed to understand health information. The other approach represents a complex understanding of health literacy, acknowledging a broadness of skills in interaction with the social and cultural contexts, which means that an individual’s health literacy may fluctuate from one day to another according to the context. The complex approach stresses the interactive and critical skills needed to use information or knowledge as a basis for appropriate health decisions. We conclude that health literacy is a heterogeneous phenomenon that has significance for both the individual and society. Future research will aim at the development of assessments that capture the broadness of skills and agents characteristic for health literacy as a complex phenomenon.
3.
4.
Gunnarsdottir, Hrafnhildur, et al.
(författare)
Relative deprivation in the Nordic countries-child mental health problems in relation to parental financial stress
2016
Ingår i: European Journal of Public Health. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1101-1262 .- 1464-360X. ; 26:2, s. 277-282
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
Background: The Nordic welfare system has been acknowledged as favourable for children, successfully contributing to low child mortality and poverty rates. Nevertheless, mental health problems among children and adolescents are common and the economic situation of the family has been highlighted as an important determinant. In spite of similar social, political and cultural structures, the Nordic countries differ; Iceland was most affected by the global financial crisis in 2008. The aim of this study was to examine potential differences in parental financial stress and the associations to child mental health between the Nordic countries as well as age and gender differences. Methods: The study sample consisted of 6330 children aged 4-16 years old included in the 2011 version of the Nordic Study of Children's Health, Wellbeing and Quality of life. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire was used to measure mental health problems. Results: In Iceland, 47.7% of the parents reported financial stress while <= 20% did so in the other countries except for Finland (33.5%). However, in case of parental financial stress the OR of mental health problems comparing children to parents with and without financial stress was significantly lower among the Icelandic children (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.15-2.24) than among the others: Denmark OR 3.07 (95% CI 2.15-4.39), Finland OR 2.28 (95% CI 1.60-3.25), Norway OR 2.77 (95% CI 1.86-4.12), Sweden OR 3.31(95% CI 2.26-4.86). No significant age or gender differences in the ORs were observed. Conclusions: Besides socioeconomic situation, relative deprivation should be considered an important determinant of child mental health.
5.
Tengelin, Ellinor, 1982-, et al.
(författare)
Swedish managers' experience-based understanding of the Capacity to work in employees with Common Mental Disorders : a Focus Group Study.
2022
Ingår i: Journal of occupational rehabilitation. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1053-0487 .- 1573-3688. ; 32:4, s. 685-696
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
PURPOSE: Understanding of the capacity to work among employees with common mental disorders (CMDs) is important, but contemporary knowledge on this issue lacks the managers' perspective. The aim of this study was to explore and describe managers' experience-based understanding of capacity to work in employees with CMD.METHODS: A qualitative focus group study was designed. Managers with experience in supporting employees with CMD were recruited via organizations and networks. Eight focus group interviews with 31 participants took place.RESULTS: The analysis resulted in five categories. (1) Capacity to mentally focus on work tasks decreases or disappears, with negative consequences for work output. (2) Capacity to commit to continuous and coherent task changes, making tasks that span longer periods of time difficult. (3) Capacity to independently adapt to the needs of the situation decreases, and employees need more guidance and instructions than usual. (4) Capacity to keep up professional appearances is reduced, and the employees struggle with the professional role. (5) Ability to interact socially and professionally decreases, which potentially causes conflicts at the workplace.CONCLUSIONS: This study adds managers' perspective to the increasing knowledge on how capacity to work is influenced by CMDs. Managers understand CMDs in employees as changed, reducing the capacities needed for occupational functioning. A deeper understanding of reduced capacity to work is needed to adapt workplaces, and our findings can facilitate work accommodations for employees with CMDs.
6.
Persson, Tommy, 1976, et al.
(författare)
Notions About Men and Masculinities Among Health Care Professionals Working With Men's Sexual Health: A Focus Group Study.
2022
Ingår i: American journal of men's health. - : SAGE Publications. - 1557-9891 .- 1557-9883. ; 16:3
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
Health care professionals' (HCPs) notions about gender may influence the provision and quality of care. If care-seeking men are met by HCPs holding idealized and stereotypical notions of masculinity, this could reinforce barriers to adequate care. This study explored notions about men and masculinities among HCPs working with men's sexual health in Sweden. Focus group interviews with 35 HCPs from primary health and sexual health clinics were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The analysis resulted in three descriptive themes: (a) Contradictory masculinity-elusive but clear. Notions of masculinity as a phenomenon or concept were elusive, but masculine and un-masculine traits, behaviors, and qualities were clear. (b) Sexual health care is a social place where men and masculinities can be challenging. Male patients were associated with unwanted sexual tensions. Masculinity could challenge professionality. Seeking sexual health care was perceived as doing un-masculinity. (c) Regarding masculinity as irrelevant-a difficult ambition to achieve. Participants strived for gender-neutrality by regarding patients as humans, individuals, or patients rather than as men and masculine. The analysis also identified a theme of meaning: Notions of masculinity are situated relationally. HCPs situate masculinity in real and hypothetical relationships. Romantic and sexual preferences were used to define preferred masculinity. This study identified themes that showed how HCPs balanced professional and private notions of men and masculinity in their patient encounters. Increased gender awareness and training are needed to professionalize the management of gendered notions in encounters with men who seek care for sexual health problems.
7.
Hedna, Khedidja, 1978, et al.
(författare)
Sociodemographic and gender determinants of late-life suicide in users and non-users of antidepressants
2020
Ingår i: European Journal of Public Health. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1101-1262 .- 1464-360X. ; 30:5, s. 958-964
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
Background: The treatment of depression is a main strategy for suicide prevention in older adults. Our aim was to examine factors related to suicide in older adults (75+) with and without antidepressant (AD) therapy. Methods: A national population-based register study, including all Swedish residents aged >= 75 years between 2006 and 2014 (N = 1 413 806). A nested case-control design was used to investigate sociodemographic factors associated with suicide among users and non-users of ADs. Risk estimates were calculated in adjusted conditional logistic regression models for the entire cohort and by gender. Results: In all, 1305 individuals died by suicide (70% men). The suicide rate in men who used ADs was over four times higher than women with such treatment. Being unmarried was a risk factor for suicide in men but not in women. Being born outside of Nordic countries was associated with increased suicide risk; a 3-fold risk increase was observed in non-Nordic women without AD treatment. Lower suicide risk was observed in blue-collar women who used ADs, whereas a higher risk was found in blue-collar men who did not. Conclusions: Our differential findings on factors associated with suicide can offer clues for gender-specific preventive strategies that go beyond the healthcare sphere.
8.
Dale, Richard Allan, 1965, et al.
(författare)
YOUNG ADULTS' EXPERIENCES WITH NEAR-INJURY SITUATIONS: A CRITICAL INCIDENT STUDY IN SWEDEN
2017
Ingår i: International Journal of Child Youth & Family Studies. - : University of Victoria Libraries. - 1920-7298. ; 8:1, s. 97-111
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
As injuries are the main health threat for young adults (18-29 years) in industrial countries, a better understanding of injury risk is needed for this population. Using the Critical Incident Technique, this study explores how young people experience situations that have the potential to cause physical injury (i.e., near-injury situations). Clearly, understanding how and why near-injury situations arise can be used to develop strategies to help prevent severe injury. Content analysis was used to categorize the characteristics of the experiences into unexpected risk in ordinary tasks, duty first, and price for learning. Young adults' exposures to new or unusual environmental conditions, especially in unexpected risk in ordinary tasks, should be considered when planning injury prevention strategies. A combination of individual, social, and contextual demands and expectations was identified in both work-and sports-related experiences with near-injury situations. The price for learning, which arises from the added risk involved in learning situations, is another condition that was identified and requires further attention. The Critical Incident Technique proved to be a useful method for identifying near-injury situations that might otherwise have been difficult to recall. Young adults' efforts to display their ability to handle difficult situations at work and in their everyday lives was identified as a major contributor to near-injury situations.
9.
Lövestad, Solveig, et al.
(författare)
Intimate partner violence, associations with perceived need for help and health care utilization: a population-based sample of women in Sweden
2021
Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. - : SAGE Publications. - 1403-4948 .- 1651-1905. ; 49:3, s. 268-276
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat) abstract
Aim:To assess the association between physical intimate partner violence (physical IPV) in the past 5 years, perceived need for help and primary health care utilization due to mental health problems in a general population-based sample of women in Sweden.Methods:We performed structured follow-up interviews with 616 women between 1995 and 2015. Associations between physical IPV in the past 5 years and (i) perceived need for help and (ii) primary health care utilization due to mental health problems, were estimated by logistic regression analyses with crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).Results:Of the women who had experienced physical IPV in the past 5 years, 45.1% perceived a need for help but refrained from seeking care. After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, exposure to physical IPV in the past 5 years remained associated with perceived need for help (OR 3.54; CI 1.77-7.11). After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, the association between exposure to physical IPV and primary health care utilization did not remain statistically significant.Conclusions:Women exposed to physical IPV were more likely to perceive the need for help compared with unexposed women. A large proportion of IPV-exposed women in the general population may refrain from seeking care although they perceive a need for help. Future studies need to investigate potential barriers to mental health care seeking among women exposed to IPV. Routine questioning about IPV should be implemented in primary health care with improved referral to available support services.
10.
