| 1. |
- Aasa, Ulrika, et al.
(författare)
-
Relationships between work-related factors and disorders in the neck-shoulder and low-back region among female and male ambulance personnel.
- 2005
-
Ingår i: Journal of Occupational Health. - : Wiley. - 1341-9145 .- 1348-9585. ; 47:6, s. 481-9
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This cross-sectional study on a random sample of 1,500 ambulance personnel investigated the relationships between self-reported work-related physical and psychosocial factors, worry about work conditions, and musculoskeletal disorders among female and male ambulance personnel. Three different outcomes, complaints, activity limitation, and sick leave, for the neck-shoulder and low-back region, respectively, were chosen. Among the female personnel, physical demands was significantly associated with activity limitation in the neck-shoulder (OR 4.13) and low-back region (OR 2.17), and psychological demands with neck-shoulder (OR 2.37) and low-back (OR 2.28) complaints. Among the male personnel, physical demands was significantly associated with low-back complaints (OR 1.41) and activity limitation (OR 1.62). Psychological demands and lack of social support were significantly associated with neck-shoulder complaints (OR 1.86 and OR 1.58, respectively) and activity limitation (OR 3.46 and OR 1.71) as well as activity limitation due to low-back complaints (OR 2.22 and OR 1.63). Worry about work conditions was independently associated with activity limitation due to low-back complaints among the female (OR 5.28), and to both neck-shoulder and low-back complaints (OR 1.79 and OR 2.04, respectively) and activity limitation (OR 2.32 and OR 1.95) among the male personnel. In conclusion, the association patterns between physical and psychological demands and MSDs suggest opportunities for intervention.
|
|
| 2. |
|
|
| 3. |
|
|
| 4. |
- Wiitavaara, Birgitta, et al.
(författare)
-
Striking a balance - health experiences of male ambulance personnel with musculoskeletal symptoms : a grounded theory
- 2007
-
Ingår i: International Journal of Nursing Studies. - : Elsevier BV. - 0020-7489 .- 1873-491X. ; 44:5, s. 770-779
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are a dominant cause to long-term sick leave and early retirement. Some occupational groups are more affected than others and ambulance personnel are among them. Despite a vast amount of research, only a small part focuses the experiences of the affected.Objectives: The aim of the study was to explore the experience of illness and wellness in ambulance personnel with musculoskeletal symptoms.Design: An emerging design was used in accordance with Grounded Theory.Participants: Informants in the study were ten men with musculoskeletal symptoms, working as ambulance personnel at an ambulance station located in a mid-sized city in Sweden.Methods: Narrative interviews were performed, parallel to a constant comparative analysis.Results: The study resulted in a model, which describes the experience of illness and wellness as characterised by an effort to strike a balance. Wellness through nurturing appeared parallel to encountering illness as an experience and a threat. Accepting and handling illness was of importance to maintaining wellness, and wellness through nurturing was the motivation for accepting and handling illness.Conclusions: Enhancing the understanding of wellness and illness makes it possible to avoid undermining the meaningfulness that support accepting and handling illness, and by understanding different aspects of illness prevention can become facilitated. This is of importance as other aspects than solely physical have shown to be similarly important in the development of MSD.
|
|
| 5. |
- Wiitavaara, Birgitta, et al.
(författare)
-
Striving for balance : a grounded theory study of health experiences of nurses with musculoskeletal problems
- 2007
-
Ingår i: International Journal of Nursing Studies. - : Elsevier. - 0020-7489 .- 1873-491X. ; 44:8, s. 1379-1390
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are one of the major causes of the high levels of long-term sickleave and early retirement, and healthcare personnel are among the occupational groups most affected. Only limited research in the area has focused on the experiences of those affected, and to increase the understanding of MSD, all dimensions of the health experiences need to be taken into consideration.Objectives: The aim of this paper was to explore the experiences of illness and wellness among female healthcare personnel with musculoskeletal symptoms.Design: A qualitative grounded theory approach guided the study in data collection and analysis.Settings: Medical and surgical ward units at three hospitals; one university hospital and two minor hospitals.Participants: Eight women, registered nurses and nursing aides, with neck, shoulder and/or back problems in early stages.Methods: A grounded theory approach was used with narrative thematic interviews and parallel data analysis with constant comparisons.Results: The analysis revealed a process of striving to reach a balance between illness and wellness, through accepting and handling illness. Illness appeared as a threat and an experience, while experiences of wellness were simultaneously nurtured. The informants were striving for balance through an inner reasoning leading to acceptance and by handling illness in various ways depending on the character of the illness.Conclusion: This paper indicates the diversity of the illness experience, the parallel importance of wellness, and the process of balancing these two in order to feel well enough. As previous research has shown that MSD has a multifactorial cause, a holistic view of health promotion, prevention and rehabilitation may provide a more effective tool than the bodily physical focus most frequently used today.
|
|
| 6. |
- Wiitavaara, Birgitta, 1959-, et al.
(författare)
-
Well, I'm healthy, but... : lay perspectives on health among people with musculoskeletal disorders
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Disability and Rehabilitation. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0963-8288 .- 1464-5165. ; 38:1, s. 71-80
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- urpose: The purpose was to investigate lay perspectives on health among people with musculoskeletal disorders. Method: Semi-structured interviews were performed with 39 women and 30 men, (aged 22–63 years) with long-term, non-specific musculoskeletal disorders in the neck, shoulder and/or low back. Data was analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results: These people experienced health as “having resources and opportunities to lead the life one wants”. Three categories, “a good enough physical and psychological functioning, freedom of action, and a positive state of emotion and an enriching life”, illustrate the different resources and opportunities that the informants described as important for them to perceive themselves as healthy. The informants also reflected on “being ill” and “being well” and what makes the difference. Five aspects influenced the dynamics of their health experiences: “body and soul, prognosis, character of symptoms, physical and social activity, and emotional state”. Consequently, the informants expressed a holistic view of health, where the focus lies on the opportunity and the ability to lead their lives the way they want. Conclusions: This study points at the value of taking lay perspectives on health into account, as it might increase the opportunity to design effective, personalized rehabilitation strategies.
|
|
| 7. |
- Wiitavaara, Birgitta, et al.
(författare)
-
When the body makes itself heard : the experience of bodily illness among people with neck-shoulder problems
- 2008
-
Ingår i: Advances in Physiotherapy. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1403-8196 .- 1651-1948. ; 10:2, s. 85-94
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to explore the experience of bodily illness among people with musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the neck/shoulder region. The study had a grounded theory approach, with constant comparisons and simultaneous data collection and analysis. Initially, parts of interviews about health experiences related to MSDs previously performed among men and women with musculoskeletal symptoms in the neck/shoulder and/or back were analysed. Next, complementary semi-structured interviews among men and women with neck/shoulder problems were performed, focusing on the experience of bodily illness, until saturation was reached. The results describe the experiences of bodily illness among people with MSDs in the neck/shoulder region as being characterized by uncontrollable fluctuations. The experiences are presented as a model of the disease course as experienced by the affected. The process usually developed from a beginning with insidious symptoms to a state of constant discomfort. Along the line of this development, periods of intermittent events of increasing illness occurred with peaks of consuming intensity. A variety of different symptoms was present during the process, which are presented in this paper. An increased knowledge of the disease course can be useful in prevention and treatment as communication about the disorder can be more specific.
|
|
