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- Nilsing Strid, Emma, 1973-
(författare)
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The Sick Leave Process : Sick Leave Guidelines, Sickness Certificates, and Experiences of Professionals
- 2013
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Decisions on entitlement to sickness benefits and return to work interventions have substantial impact on individuals’ lives and on society. In most Western European countries, such decisions are based on sickness certificates, which should provide information on how a disease or injury reduces the individual’s work ability. These are challenging and complex assessments. In 2008, guidelines for the management of sick leave were implemented in Sweden, emphasizing early assessments of work ability and return to work, and increasing the quality demands of sickness certificates by underscoring descriptions of activity limitations related to work. The overall aim of this thesis was to gain a deeper knowledge of the sick leave process with special emphasis on the content of sickness certificates and primary health care (PHC) professionals’ experiences with the process. Specific aims were to compare the quality of sickness certificates regarding descriptions of functioning by the use of WHO’s International Classification of Functioning, disability, and health (ICF), as well as the prescribed interventions before versus after implementation of the Swedish sick leave guidelines.The thesis comprises three studies. A cross-sectional design was used in studies I and II, which included 475 and 501 new sickness certificates consecutively collected in Östergötland County, Sweden, in 2007 and 2009, respectively. Text on functioning was analysed with a deductive content analysis using the ICF. Study III was an exploratory study using data from four semi-structured focus group discussions with a purposeful sample of PHC professionals (n=18) in Östergötland County. An inductive content analysis was used in this study.The thesis comprises three studies. A cross-sectional design was used in studies I and II, which included 475 and 501 new sickness certificates consecutively collected in Östergötland County, Sweden, in 2007 and 2009, respectively. Text on functioning was analysed with a deductive content analysis using the ICF. Study III was an exploratory study using data from four semi-structured focus group discussions with a purposeful sample of PHC professionals (n=18) in Östergötland County. An inductive content analysis was used in this study.An overall conclusion drawn from this thesis is that patient functioning and needs might not be adequately communicated in the sick leave process. Despite the implementation of sick leave guidelines, this information is limited in sickness certificates and the collaboration is poor among the involved stakeholders, i.e., health care, the social insurance office, the employer and the OHS. The basis for decisions on entitlement to sickness benefits could be improved by including a description of the patients’ activity limitations or participation restrictions related to work demands. One way to enhance the decision basis might be to use the available team competencies at the PHC.
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| 2. |
- Abbott, Allan, 1978-, et al.
(författare)
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Effectiveness of implementing a best practice primary healthcare model for low back pain (BetterBack) compared with current routine care in the Swedish context : an internal pilot study informed protocol for an effectiveness-implementation hybrid type 2 trial
- 2018
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 2044-6055. ; 8:4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction Low back pain (LBP) is a major health problem commonly requiring healthcare. In Sweden, there is a call from healthcare practitioners (HCPs) for the development, implementation and evaluation of a best practice primary healthcare model for LBP.Aims (1) To improve and understand the mechanisms underlying changes in HCP confidence, attitudes and beliefs for providing best practice coherent primary healthcare for patients with LBP; (2) to improve and understand the mechanisms underlying illness beliefs, self-care enablement, pain, disability and quality of life in patients with LBP; and (3) to evaluate a multifaceted and sustained implementation strategy and the cost-effectiveness of the BetterBack☺ model of care (MOC) for LBP from the perspective of the Swedish primary healthcare context.Methods This study is an effectiveness-implementation hybrid type 2 trial testing the hypothesised superiority of the BetterBack☺ MOC compared with current routine care. The trial involves simultaneous testing of MOC effects at the HCP, patient and implementation process levels. This involves a prospective cohort study investigating implementation at the HCP level and a patient-blinded, pragmatic, cluster, randomised controlled trial with longitudinal follow-up at 3, 6 and 12 months post baseline for effectiveness at the patient level. A parallel process and economic analysis from a healthcare sector perspective will also be performed. Patients will be allocated to routine care (control group) or the BetterBack☺ MOC (intervention group) according to a stepped cluster dogleg structure with two assessments in routine care. Experimental conditions will be compared and causal mediation analysis investigated. Qualitative HCP and patient experiences of the BetterBack☺ MOC will also be investigated.Dissemination The findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences. Further national dissemination and implementation in Sweden and associated national quality register data collection are potential future developments of the project.
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| 3. |
- Akerstedt, Anita, et al.
(författare)
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Evaluation of single event multilevel surgery and rehabilitation in children and youth with cerebral palsy - A 2-year follow-up study
- 2010
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Ingår i: DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0963-8288 .- 1464-5165. ; 32:7, s. 530-539
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Method. A prospective single-subject study with AB design and 2-year follow-up, included 11 children between 8 and 18 years old with CP, Gross Motor Function Classification System I-III. Visual analyses were used to present physical function with Physical Cost Index (PCI). Descriptive statistics were used to present number of children with a clinically important change in Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), self-reported walking ability, and HRQOL with child health questionnaire (CHQ). Results. PCI showed a trend of lower energy cost during gait in six children and GMFM was unchanged for 10 children and improved for one child. Walking ability was improved in 10 children. Gait distance increased in all 11. Both physical and psychosocial dimensions of CHQ improved in six of nine (two missing data). Expectations of outcomes were fulfilled in seven and partly fulfilled in four. Satisfaction with care was fulfilled in 10 of 11. Conclusion. Self-reported walking ability improved after multilevel surgery and intensive rehabilitation. This result was partly supported by lower energy cost and improved HRQOL. Expectations and satisfaction were fulfilled for the majority of children.
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| 4. |
- Alwin, Jenny, et al.
(författare)
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Support/services among family caregivers of persons with dementia - perceived importance and services received
- 2010
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Ingår i: International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. - : John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.. - 0885-6230 .- 1099-1166. ; 25, s. 240-248
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Conclusion: The results from this study suggest that there is almost no difference between groups of caregivers experiencing higher and lower NI regarding their perception of what are important types of support/services. The caregivers rated different types of support/services within the areas of information, relief and counselling as very important.
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| 5. |
- Andersson, Agneta, et al.
(författare)
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Health care and social welfare costs in home-based and hospital-based rehabilitation after stroke
- 2002
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences. - : Wiley. - 0283-9318 .- 1471-6712. ; 16:4, s. 386-392
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- During the 1990s most western European and Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries experienced financial difficulties and were forced to cut back on or restrain health care expenditures. Home rehabilitation has received attention in recent years because of its potential for cost containment. Often forgotten, however, is the redistribution of costs from one caregiver to another. The aim of this study was to analyse whether a redistribution of costs occurs between health care providers (the County councils) and social welfare providers (the municipalities) in a comparison of home-based rehabilitation and hospital-based rehabilitation after stroke. The study population included 123 patients, 53 in the home-based rehabilitation group and 68 in the hospital-based rehabilitation group. The patients were followed up at 6 and 12 months after onset of stroke. Resource use over a 12-month period included acute hospital care, in-hospital rehabilitation, home rehabilitation and use of home-help service as well as nursing home living. The hospital-based rehabilitation group had significantly fewer hospitalization days after a decision was made about rehabilitation at the acute care ward and consequently the cost for the acute care period was significantly lower. The cost for the rehabilitation period was significantly lower in the home-based rehabilitation group. However, the cost for home help service was significantly higher in the home-based rehabilitation group. The total costs for the care episode did not differ between the two groups. The main finding of this study is that there seems to occur a redistribution of costs between health care providers and social welfare providers in home rehabilitation after stroke in a group of patients with mixed degree of impairment.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Balducci, C, et al.
(författare)
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Negative impact and positive value in caregiving : Validation of the COPE index in a six-country sample of carers
- 2008
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Ingår i: The Gerontologist. - 0016-9013 .- 1758-5341. ; 48:3, s. 276-286
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: The present study attempts to further validate the COPE Index on a large sample of carers drawn from six European countries. Design and Methods: We used a cross-sectional survey, with approximately 1,000 carers recruited in each of six countries by means of a common standard evaluation protocol. Our saturation recruitment of a designated quota of carers occurred by means of several channels, in identified geographical zones within countries. Interviews were carried out with primary informal carers by use of a common assessment tool. We subjected items of the COPE Index to principal component analysis and we assessed emergent components through the use of Cronbach's alpha reliability procedures. We examined factor components as summative scales for confirmatory correlations with caregiving and psychological variables. Results: Three components emerged, which we identified as the negative impact of caregiving, the positive value of caregiving, and the quality of support for caregiving. Internal consistency was good for negative impact and satisfactory for positive value and quality of support. Negative value was most consistently and strongly correlated with caregiving and psychological variables, although we did find diverse associations between these variables and the COPE Index subscales. Implications: The COPE Index is a brief, first-stage assessment of some sophistication that can enable health and social care professionals to develop appropriately targeted interventions to enhance the positive aspects of the caregiving experience and quality of support, as well as reduce the negative impacts of caregiving. Copyright 2008 by The Gerontological Society of America.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
- Bernhardsson, Susanne, 1958, et al.
(författare)
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A preference for dialogue: exploring the influence of patient preferences on clinical decision making and treatment in primary care physiotherapy
- 2019
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Ingår i: European Journal of Physiotherapy. - : Informa UK Limited. - 2167-9169 .- 2167-9177. ; 21:2, s. 107-114
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Eliciting and considering patients’ preferences is essential to any clinical encounter and to good, high quality health care. Little research exists on how preferences are accommodated in decision making and how they influence treatment and rehabilitation. Aims: To explore perceptions of patients with musculoskeletal pain regarding how their preferences were accommodated in clinical decision making and influenced their rehabilitation, and whether their preferences changed during their rehabilitation. Methods: Qualitative interview study. Results: Participants’ preferences had, for the most part, influenced both choice of treatment and rehabilitation as a whole. While preferences were expressed to various extents, and largely perceived to be accommodated in the decision process, a good dialogue was considered essential for collaborative rehabilitation. Treatment decisions were to a large extent made jointly by the physiotherapist and the patient. Regardless of the strength of the preferences, participants appreciated the dialogue with the physiotherapist and the opportunity to discuss treatment options. The participants described how the physiotherapy episode of care had influenced their perceptions of and preferences for different treatment methods. Conclusions: The findings emphasise the importance of eliciting patient preferences, two-way communication and discussing treatment options, in order to stimulate collaborative rehabilitation.
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| 10. |
- Bernhardsson, Susanne, 1958-
(författare)
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Advancing evidence-based practice in primary care physiotherapy : Guideline implementation, clinical practice, and patient preferences
- 2015
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Research on physiotherapy treatment interventions has increased dramatically in the past 25 years and it is a challenge to transfer research findings into clinical practice, so that patients benefit from effective treatment. Development of clinical practice guidelines is a potentially useful strategy to implement research evidence into practice. However, the impact of guideline implementation in Swedish primary care physiotherapy is unknown. To achieve evidence-based practice (EBP), research evidence should be integrated with clinical expertise and patient preferences, but knowledge is limited about these factors in Swedish primary care physiotherapy.The overall aim of this thesis was to increase understanding of factors of importance for the implementation of EBP in Swedish primary care physiotherapy. Specific aims were: to translate and adapt a questionnaire for the measurement of EBP and guidelines; to investigate physiotherapists’ attitudes, knowledge and behaviour related to EBP and guidelines; to examine clinical practice patterns; to evaluate the effects of a tailored guideline implementation strategy; and to explore patients’ preferences for physiotherapy.The thesis comprises four studies (A-D), reported in five papers. In Study A, a questionnaire for the measurement of EBP and guidelines was translated, cross-culturally adapted, and tested for validity (n=10) and reliability (n=42). Study B was a cross-sectional study in which this questionnaire was used to survey primary care physiotherapists in the county council Region Västra Götaland (n=271). In Study C, a strategy for the implementation of guidelines was developed and evaluated, using the same questionnaire (n=271 at baseline, n=256 at follow-up), in a prospective controlled trial. The strategy was based on an implementation model, was tailored to address the determinants of guideline use identified in Study B, and comprised several components including an educational seminar. Study D was an exploratory qualitative study of patients with musculoskeletal disorders (n=20), using qualitative content analysis.The validity and reliability of the questionnaire was found to be satisfactory. Most physiotherapists have a positive regard for EBP and guidelines, although these attitudes are not fully reflected in the reported use of guidelines. The most important determinants of guideline use were considering guidelines important to facilitate practice and knowing how to integrate patient preferences with guidelines. The tailored, multi-component guideline implementation significantly affected awareness of, knowledge of, and access to guidelines. Use of guidelines was significantly affected among those who attended an implementation seminar. Clinical practice for common musculoskeletal conditions included interventions supported by evidence of various strengths as well as interventions with insufficient research evidence. The most frequently reported interventions were advice and exercise therapy. The interviewed patients expressed trust and confidence in the professionalism of physiotherapists and in the therapists’ ability to choose appropriate treatment, rendering treatment preferences subordinate. This trust seemed to foster active engagement in their physiotherapy.In conclusion: The adapted questionnaire can be used to reliably measure EBP in physiotherapy. The positive attitudes found do not necessarily translate to guideline use, due to several perceived barriers. The tailored guideline implementation strategy used can be effective to reduce barriers and contribute to increased use of guidelines. The clinical practice patterns identified suggest that physiotherapists rely both on research evidence and their clinical expertise when choosing treatment methods. Patients’ trust in their physiotherapist’s competence and preference for active engagement in their therapy need to be embraced by the clinician and, together with the therapist’s clinical expertise, integrated with guideline use in the clinical decision making. Further research is needed on how the EBP components and different knowledge sources can be integrated in physiotherapy practice, as well as on implementation effects on patient outcomes.
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