| 1. |
- Arman, M., et al.
(författare)
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Women's Perceptions and Beliefs About the Genesis of Their Breast Cancer
- 2006
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Ingår i: Cancer Nursing. - : Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). - 0162-220X .- 1538-9804. ; 29:2, s. 142-148
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A person's belief is seen as a set of assumptions, depending on perceptions, and formed with the influence of experiences and social culture. With the aim of understanding the beliefs about the genesis of their illness, 118 (59 + 59) women with different stages of breast cancer were interviewed. Half of the sample had chosen complementary care in an anthroposophical hospital, and the other half was a matched group. Qualitative content analysis was used. Three themes emerged: (1) belief in a link to life lived (71%), (2) heredity as the sole genesis (4%), and (3) rejection of the question (25%). Under beliefs in a link to life lived, external aspects to the patient's own life (eg, diet and lifestyle) were cited, as well as inner aspects such as psychosocial problems and stress. The findings show that women are well informed about medical facts, although their beliefs reveal a holistic approach. The women's beliefs, where inner psychosocial factors are uppermost, point to a reverse of the causal ranking of medical advisors. The difference between the groups was that the matching sample was more likely to reject the influence of possible causes from life lived. In a caring perspective, women's perceptions of the genesis of their illness are in some cases turned to creative health activities that may increase well-being.
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| 2. |
- Björling, Gunilla, Docent, et al.
(författare)
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Tracheostomy inner cannula care : a randomized crossover study of two decontamination procedures
- 2007
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Ingår i: American Journal of Infection Control. - : Elsevier BV. - 0196-6553 .- 1527-3296. ; 35:9, s. 600-5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Today several methods for decontaminating inner cannulae exist. These methods are not based on scientific data, but often on local clinical tradition. This study compares two different decontamination methods. The aim was to find a practical and safe decontamination method. It is a randomized, single-blinded, comparative crossover study. METHODS: Fifty outpatients with long-term tracheostomy with an inner cannula were consecutively included and randomly allocated to begin with one of two different treatment sequences: detergent and chlorhexidine-alcohol (A) or detergent (B). Samples for bacterial culture were taken before and after decontamination, and the number of bacteria colonies was counted. RESULTS: Before decontamination, the inner cannulae grew high numbers of bacteria, which were parts of the normal flora of the upper respiratory tract and did not differ significantly between the two sequences (AB; BA). The primary variable was the culture count value after chlorhexidine-alcohol/detergent (A) and detergent (B). The effects of both methods were larger than expected, and the results showed a nearly total elimination of organisms. The equivalence criterion, ratio of mean colony counts (A/B) >0.8, was met at a significance level of P<0.001. CONCLUSIONS: Cleaning the tracheostomy inner cannula with detergent and water is sufficient to achieve decontamination.
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| 3. |
- Carlsson, Marianne, et al.
(författare)
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A five-year follow-up of quality of life in women with breast cancer in anthroposophic and conventional care
- 2006
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Ingår i: Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1741-427X .- 1741-4288. ; 3:4, s. 523-531
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Complementary and alternative medicine is used by many cancer patients in most parts of the world, and its use is increasing. The aim of the present study was to examine, over 5 years, the perceived quality of life/life satisfaction in two samples of women with breast cancer who were treated with anthroposophic care or conventional medical treatment only. Data from admission, after I year and after 5 years are used for the comparisons. On admission to the study the women in anthroposophic care perceived their quality of life to be lower than that of the women in the conventional treatment group, especially for emotional, cognitive and social functioning and overall quality of life. Sixty women who actively chose treatment with anthroposophic medicine and 60 individually matched women treated with conventional medicine participated. Quality of life was measured by the EORTC QLQ-C30 and the Life Satisfaction Questionnaire. Twenty-six women within anthroposophic care and 31 women within conventional medicine survived the 5 years. Effect size (ES) estimation favored the anthroposophic group in seven of the subscales mostly measuring emotional functioning. The ES for four of the subscales favored the conventional treatment group, mostly concerning physical functioning. After 5 years there were improvements in overall quality of life and in emotional and social functioning compared to admission for the women in anthroposophic care. The improvements took place between admission and 1 year, but not further on. Only minor improvements were found in the matching group.
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| 4. |
- Carlsson, Marianne, et al.
(författare)
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Coping in women with breast cancer in complementary and conventional care over 5 years measured by the mental adjustment to cancer scale
- 2005
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Ingår i: Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. - : Mary Ann Liebert Inc. - 1075-5535 .- 1557-7708. ; 11:3, s. 441-447
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: Many patients with cancer, women more often than men, use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and care. Our aim was to examine coping over 5 years (November 1995 to January 1999) in two samples of women with breast cancer who were treated with anthroposophic care or conventional medical treatment. The present study is part of a larger study of the outcome of anthroposophic care for women with breast cancer. Design: A nonrandomized controlled trial design was used with individual matching and repeated measurements on six occasions (at admission, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 5 years). The matching was based on the following variables: stage of disease at entry, age, treatment during the 3 months before entering the study, and prognosis. Setting: An anthroposophic hospital and conventional hospitals in Sweden. Subjects: Sixty (60) women treated with anthroposophic medicine and 60 women from an oncology outpatient department participated. Forty-nine (49) women in anthroposophic care and 51 in the outpatient group survived 1 year, 26 women in anthroposophic care and 31 in the outpatient group survived 5 years. Intervention: An anthroposophic care program. Outcome measure: Coping was measured using the Mental Adjustment to Cancer scale. Repeat measures of analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for within-group comparisons, and effect size (ES) was used for between-group comparisons. Results: The women in anthroposophic care showed more passive and anxious coping on admission, but this decreased over time. In the women in anthroposophic care, there were small ES improvements in fighting spirit and passive, anxious coping at 4 of the measured timepoints compared to admission. Conclusion: The choice of anthroposophic care could be seen as a possible way to cope with emotional distress in this group of women with breast cancer. © Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
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| 5. |
- Ekstrand, Per
(författare)
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"Tarzan och Jane" : Hur män som sjuksköterskor formar sin identitet
- 2005
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The study focuses on locally situated interactions between men and women and among men. The main focus is on how men in nursing practice constitute their identities. The aim of the disserta-tion is to understand the meaning of gender, particularly the constitution of masculinities, in the formation of identity for men in nursing.Theoretical points of departure were post-structuralist and masculinity theories. Within the theoretical framework, processes of gender should be seen as activities that are relational and integrated in ongoing organisational life, in this case, in the nursing context.My methodological approach was qualitative, based on ethnography. Techniques used for data collection were following observations and interviews. I followed seven men in their daily work in two hospital environments, one emergency department and a department in elder care (sheltered housing).The gender order was maintained by rewards to medical and technical knowledge and skills. The phenomenon of”gender dizziness” was manifested through interaction and became visible through the men’s practice. Different positions of masculinities co-operated and the physicality of the body was important in performing masculinities. Hegemonic positions of masculinities are maintained and other positions are subordinated. Homosociality creates influence and power in social relations, and it was obvious that the informants in these organisations found ways to keep together, in spite of their different positions in the organisation.Some of the informants cross over the border and perform ideals that are not traditional for men in nursing. In the nursing environment these men’s identities show a caring attitude. The stereotype, connected to heteronormative ways of thinking, plays an important role for men in constructing their identities in the nursing context. A central conclusion in this study is that sexuality order put strong pressure on identity formation and the construction of masculinities for men in nursing.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Gottvall, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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High HPV vaccine acceptance despite low awareness among Swedish upper secondary school students
- 2009
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Ingår i: European journal of contraception & reproductive health care. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1362-5187 .- 1473-0782. ; 14:6, s. 399-405
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To investigate knowledge of human papillomavirus (HPV) and attitudes to HPV vaccination and condom use among Swedish first year upper secondary school students. METHODS: Classroom questionnaire filled in by 608 students from a strategic sample of seven upper secondary schools in Sweden. RESULTS: Only 13.5% (n = 82) of the students had heard about HPV and 6% (n = 35) were aware of HPV vaccination. As many as 84% (n = 508) would like to be vaccinated against HPV. The high cost of vaccination was the greatest obstacle (total group 37%, n = 227); among girls the second major hindrance was the fear of needles (19%, n = 65). Before considering an HPV vaccination 73% (n = 443) wanted more information and 36% (n = 220) would like to receive such information from the school nurse. The students considered it less likely that they would use a condom when having intercourse with a new partner if they were vaccinated than if they were not (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Despite intensive marketing directed at potential vaccine consumers, knowledge of HPV and of HPV vaccines was very low among first year upper secondary school students. Their attitude towards vaccination was positive but most of them wanted more information before considering vaccination.
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| 8. |
- Koinberg, Inga-Lill, et al.
(författare)
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The usefulness of a multidisciplinary educational programme after breast cancer surgery : A prospective and comparative study
- 2006
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Ingår i: European Journal of Oncology Nursing. - London : Elsevier. - 1462-3889 .- 1532-2122. ; 10, s. 273-82
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of the study was to compare and evaluate a multidisciplinary educational programme with traditional follow-up visits to a physician after breast cancer surgery in terms of well-being, aspects of self-care and coping ability 1 year after diagnosis. A reduction in the intensity of follow-up after breast cancer surgery is recommended. New follow-up models are being debated and could be of interest. The study design was non-randomised and comparative. Ninety-six consecutively selected women with newly diagnosed breast cancer, classified as stage I or stage II, participated in either a multidisciplinary educational programme (n = 5 0), or traditional follow-up by a physician (n = 4 6). Three questionnaires were used: Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G), a study specific questionnaire regarding self-care aspects (SCA) and Sense of Coherence (SOC). With the exception of physical well-being at baseline there was no significant difference between the groups. The women in the multidisciplinary educational programme increased their physical and functional well-being (P < 0.0 1). The women in traditional follow-up by a physician increased their functional well-being while social/family well-being (P < 0.0 1) decreased over time. There was a statistically significant difference in SOC (P < 0.0 0 1) in the traditional follow-up by a physician between baseline (mean=74.4, SD=12.4) and the 1-year follow up (mean=67.7, SD=11.4). Thus, women in the traditional follow-up by a physician scored lower in the area of SOC 1 year after diagnosis. A multidisciplinary educational programme may be an alternative to traditional follow-up by a physician after breast cancer surgery, but more research is needed about the financial benefits and effectiveness of such a programme.
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| 9. |
- Leander, Mai, et al.
(författare)
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Health-related quality of life predicts onset of asthma in a longitudinal population study
- 2009
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Ingår i: Respiratory Medicine. - : Elsevier BV. - 0954-6111 .- 1532-3064. ; 103:2, s. 194-200
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life (HRQL) has been increasingly used as an outcome measure in asthma, but less is known about the prognostic implication of low health-related quality of life. The purpose of this study was to investigate if a set of quality of life measures could predict onset of asthma. METHODS: In the baseline study 391 subjects without asthma answered a respiratory questionnaire and the Gothenburg Quality of Life (GQL) instrument in 1990. The GQL questionnaire included two parts: (1) the prevalence of HRQL-related symptoms and (2) well-being scores for physical, mental and social dimensions. The participants were also investigated with spirometry and allergy testing. In 2003, the same respiratory questionnaire that had been used in 1990 was sent. There were 290 responders, of whom 22 subjects had developed asthma. RESULTS: Participants who had developed asthma by the follow-up had a higher prevalence of sleep disturbances (30% vs. 10%), problems with chest pain (16% vs. 2%), depression (40% vs. 20%) difficulty relaxing (40% vs. 13%) and constipation (25% vs. 2%) at baseline than participants who did not develop asthma (p<0.05). Subjects who developed asthma also scored significantly lower on well-being variables as sleep, energy, mood, patience, memory, appetite, fitness and sense of appreciation outside home. These differences remained after adjusting for age, sex, smoking habits, asthma heredity, socioeconomic groups and building dampness. CONCLUSION: Participants with low health-related quality of life at baseline were more likely to report having developed asthma 12 years later.
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| 10. |
- Leander, Mai, et al.
(författare)
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Non-respiratory symptoms and well-being in asthmatics from a general population sample
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of Asthma. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0277-0903 .- 1532-4303. ; 46:6, s. 552-559
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Different instruments have been developed to assess health-related quality of life (HRQL) in asthma patients. However, relatively few studies have assessed HRQL in asthma patients from a general population, and it is still unclear which instrument is most suitable. The purpose of this study was to compare HRQL in clinically verified asthmatics with subjects with respiratory symptoms without asthma and with subjects with no respiratory symptoms from a general population. The generic instrument Gothenburg Quality of Life (GQL) was used. A secondary aim was to study if GQL had any prognostic value in asthma. METHODS: A cohort of three age groups in Sweden was investigated in 1990 using a respiratory questionnaire and GQL. The cohort consisted of 616 subjects with asthma, 488 subjects with respiratory symptoms but no asthma, and 347 subjects without respiratory symptoms. The participants were also investigated by spirometry and allergy testing. In a follow-up study, subjects were identified who had persistent and improved asthma. RESULTS: The prevalence of 28 of the 30 common symptoms in GQL was significantly increased (p < 0.001) in subjects with asthma as compared to non-asthmatics. All symptoms in the domains heart and lung, head, musculoskeletal, tension, and depression were significantly increased among the asthmatics. The asthmatics also rated their physical well-being lower (p < 0.001) than subjects with no respiratory symptoms. Subjects with persistent asthma had a significantly higher prevalence of 7 of the 30 symptoms and lower social well-being than subjects showing improvement in asthma during the follow-up. All differences remained significant after adjusting for age, sex, and smoking habits. CONCLUSION: Subjects with asthma had different symptom-profiles compared to those of non-asthmatics, with a higher prevalence of both respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms. Asthma is also a disease that is related to low well-being. The use of quality-of-life questionnaires such as the GQL may provide useful information for evaluating the non-respiratory aspects of asthma as well as for assessing the impact of disease on health status and well-being.
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