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- Arvidsson, Susann
(författare)
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Health promoting factors in people with chronic musculoskeletal pain or with rheumatic diseases: a descriptive and interventional study
- 2011
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Aim: The overall aim of this thesis with a salutogenic approach was to describe health promoting factors in people with chronic musculoskeletal pain and in people with rheumatic diseases, and to evaluate the effects of an intervention study with a self-care promoting PBL-program for people with rheumatic diseases having chronic musculoskeletal pain, sleep disturbances and/or fatigue. Methods: This thesis is comprised of four samples: a randomly selected sample from a Swedish general population (study I) and three different samples containing people with rheumatic diseases registered at a hospital for rheumatic diseases in the southwest of Sweden (studies II, III and IV). Study I had a longitudinal cohort design with an eight-year follow-up in a general population. There were 1109 participants without chronic pain and 700 participants with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Study II had a longitudinal cohort design with participants with rheumatic diseases (n=185) 12 months after rehabilitation at a hospital for rheumatic diseases. Study III had a descriptive qualitative design with a phenomenological approach based on a reflective life-world perspective. Twelve participants were interviewed about their experiences about health-promoting self-care. Study IV had a randomised controlled design with post-test six months after the one-year self-care promoting problem-based learning (PBL) program for people with rheumatic diseases. The participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group, 54 participants, or to the control group, 148 participants. Data in studies I, II and IV were analysed with statistics. In study III a Husserlian phenomenological approach based on a reflective life-world perspective was used in the data collection and analysis. Results: Study I: Although participants without chronic musculoskeletal pain reported better health-related quality of life (HRQL) than participants with chronic musculoskeletal pain, similar health factors were found to promote a better HRQL in the eight-year follow-up. The most important factors were feeling rested after sleep and having good sleep structure. Study II: The most important factors promoting better outcome in HRQL 12 months after rehabilitation in participants with rheumatic diseases were having a strong sense of coherence (SOC), feeling rested after sleep, having work capacity, and having good sleep structure. Study III: The meaning of health-promoting self-care as experienced by people with rheumatic diseases was that self-care takes place against a background of continual hope and belief to be able to influence health in positive ways. Self-care was a way of life and implied being ready to understand and respond to signals from the body. Three interrelated constituents elucidated the experiences: dialogue, power struggle and choice. Study IV: At the six month follow-up the participants in the experimental group had stronger empowerment after participation in the self-care promoting PBL-program compared with the control group which only got standard care for people with rheumatic diseases. There were no differences in HRQL, self-care ability, SOC, pain, quality of sleep or fatigue between the experimental group and the control group. The participants in the experimental group also stated that they had implemented lifestyle changes which they had not done without the PBL-program. Conclusion: The results of this thesis provide a valuable and useful insight in health promoting factors in people with chronic musculoskeletal pain and in people with rheumatic diseases, but also in that people with rheumatic diseases have benefit from taking part in patient education with a self-care promoting PBL-program. These results contribute to evidence supporting the introduction of a more salutogenic approach in rheumatology care and research.
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- Axelsson, Lena
(författare)
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Living with haemodialysis close to death - patients' and close relatives' experiences
- 2013
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The overall aim of this thesis is to generate understanding and knowledge a bout the experiences of patients living with haemodialysis, and their close relati ves, near the end of life. In studies I and II we conducted a series of 31 qualitative interviews over a period of 12 months with 8 severely ill patients (aged 66–87) treated with haemodialysis. For study I the text of the interviews was analysed using phenomenological hermeneutics to describe and to el ucidate the meanings of being severely ill living with haemodialysis when nearing end of life. For study II the text was analysed using qualitative content analysis to describe inner thoughts and feelings relating to death and dying of these patients. For studies III and IV, we conducted 14 retrospective qualitative interviews with close relatives of deceased patients treated with haemodialysis about th eir experiences during end of the patient’s life. For paper III the interview text was analysed usi ng phenomenological hermeneu tics to describe and elucidate the meanings of being a close relative at the end of life of a severely ill family member treated with maintenance haemodialysis. For paper IV the text was analysed using qualitative content analysis to describe end of life for the patients from the perspective of their close relatives. The findings of study I suggest that being severely i ll and living with haemodialysis near the end of life means living with suffering from a deteriorating body, a high symptom burden, and dependence on advanced medical technology, simultaneously with r econciliation and well-being. The meanings of living with illness and dialysis are intertwined with the meanings of being old. Study II shows that thoughts and feelings about deat h and dying are significant and complex for those living with haemodialysis as they approach the end of life. Patients experience a multifaceted presence of death. Their awareness of approaching death may include their repressing of thoughts of death, not as denial, but to allow them to focus on living as fully as possible the time they have left. Study III shows that close relatives strive to maintain balance and well-being for themselves and for the patient, which we interpreted as their striving to regain balance, and inner equilibrium in their changed and challenged rhythm of life. Study IV shows that after gradual deterioration and increasing care needs, older patients in haemodialysis care with co-morbidities follow three different main paths at the end of life: uncertain anticipation of death; awaiting death after dialysis withdrawal; and sudden but not unexpected death. The ends of their lives are marked by complex symptoms and existential issues related to haemodialysis treatment and withdrawal, and their uncertainty of what to expect at the end of life suggests the need for increased continuity and coordination of whole person care. Both patients and their close relatives are often alone with their existential thoughts. In their complex lifeworlds, intertwined meanings of living with illness and maintenance of life with haemodialysis treatment near the end of life show that patients live in a borderland of living-dying that is shared by the close relative. Patients and close relatives focus on living when death is close but uncertain, with severe illness and the maintenance of life through advanced technology. Integrating the philosophy of palliative care (with a focus on symptom relief, team work, communication, relationships, and support of family members) into dialysis care, may support health care professionals in haemodialysis units and other re nal contexts, to improve the care of severely ill patients, both earlier in their illness and as they approach the end of their lives.
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- Kneck, Åsa, 1973-
(författare)
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Learning to live with diabetes : as experiencing an expanding life world
- 2011
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Introduction: Chronic illness, such as diabetes, results in a transition process involving a variety of changes in both bodily function and conditions for living, and requiring broad knowledge and understanding in order to meet new demands. The outcomes of a healthy transition are described as well-being and mastery, in contrast to vulnerability and dependency. Little is known about how time for experience contributes to the transition of living with a chronic illness. Aim: The overall aim of the thesis was to illuminate the transition of living with diabetes during the first three years after diagnosis, in order to reach an understanding of how better to create more person-centred care.Design: The study has a life world phenomenological approach with a longitudinal, descriptive and interpretive design. Thirteen participants were interviewed within two months after diagnosis and again after three years. A selected sample approach was used. For study I a qualitative inductive content analysis was used and for study II a phenomenological-hermeneutic method.Findings: In study I four themes were found; ‘taken over by a new reality,’ ‘the body plays a role in life’, ‘different ways of learning’ and ‘the health care service as a necessary partner’ and in study II one overall theme; Experience for understanding the individual meaning of freedom and control in living with diabetes and two themes ´Solving the life-puzzle – a delicate balance to create the desired life´ and ´The need for being in control of your own health´.Discussion: For a healthy transition when living with diabetes, the ability to interact with others in order to share their experiences was crucial and contributed towards participants understanding themselves and their life world. In order to be able to interact, participants had to understand their body as a subject, interlaced with the self and the life, the lived body. Being able to listen to the body and interpret body cues and circumstantial information also contributed to a healthy transition. When the body with diabetes was objectified, a struggle ensued where incompatible needs were experienced and contradictory information created insecurity. The person then preferred not to interact with others but to be dependent on advice and information from the health care service.Conclusion: This study showed that duration of illness was not of importance for the understanding of living with diabetes. Three years after being diagnosed, living with diabetes meant an experience both of overall balance in one’s existence and of a daily struggle. Health care personnel are open to the unique experience of the person living with diabetes as well as to where the person is in the transition. Patient education in a group setting, with the goal of sharing experiences in a learning process, will be meaningful only if the person has the ability to interact with others.
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- Zakrisson, Ann-Britt, 1955-
(författare)
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Management of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary health care : a study of a nurse-led multidisciplinary programme of pulmonary rehabilitation
- 2011
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The aim of this thesis was to modify and evaluate effects, as well as todescribe experiences of a nurse-led multidisciplinary programme of pulmonaryrehabilitation in primary health care for patients with chronicobstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and their next of kin.Interviews were performed with 12 COPD nurses about their experiencesof patient education (I). Forty-nine patients participated in the interventiongroup and 54 in the control group in a quasi-experimentalstudy which investigated the effects of the programme on functional capacity,quality of life and exacerbation frequency during one year (II).Interviews were performed related to the experiences of 20 patients whohad participated in the six-week programme (III) and the experiences of20 next of kin to the patients that had participated (IV).The results showed that COPD nurses fluctuated between security andinsecurity in patient education and were in need of support, time, structureand collaboration to develop their patient education (I). In Study IIthere were no differences between the groups with regard to functionalcapacity and quality of life, but the number of exacerbations decreased inthe intervention group and increased in the control group (II). The patientsin study III had allowed themselves to live at their own pace followingthe programme but a constant fear was present in spite of the programme(III). Next of kin in Study IV had a life that remained overshadowedby illness but there were positive outcomes of the programme aslong as two years afterwards. The next of kin also had constant fear,however (IV).In conclusion, the six week programme brought about results in changingeveryday life. Nevertheless, all lived in the shadow of fear and uncertaintyin spite of the programme. More research is needed to address therequirements of COPD nurses, patients and next of kin.
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