| 1. |
- Lantz, Emelie, et al.
(författare)
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Experiences and actions of part-time firefighters’ family members : a critical incident study
- 2024
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Ingår i: BMJ Open. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 2044-6055. ; 14
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences and actions of part-time firefighters’ family members in rural areas in Sweden.Design The study had an inductive descriptive design and used the critical incident technique.Setting Rural areas, primarily served by a part-time fire station, across Sweden.Participants The study included 25 participants (21 females and 4 males) with experiences of being a family member of a part-time firefighter. Family members who themselves served as firefighters were excluded.Results Being a part-time firefighter’s family member was described into three main areas of experiences: ‘affecting everyday life’, ‘dealing with uncertainty’ and ‘being in this together’. Actions taken were divided into two main areas: ‘pursuing adaptations’ and ‘alleviating difficulties’.Conclusions Family members of part-time firefighters faced increased responsibility at home, managing personal inconvenience and frustration. They offered emotional support for the firefighter, however, expressing a need for guidance on handling firefighters’ emotions and mental health after call-outs. Despite their crucial role, they often felt unrecognised by the fire and rescue service. Nonetheless, they took pride in their firefighter’s contribution to the community and noted positive impacts on the family.
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| 2. |
- Lantz, Emelie
(författare)
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Non-career firefighters in rural areas - Exploring aspects contributing to retention
- 2022
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The overarching aim of this licentiate thesis is to increase knowledge about the implications of working as a non-career firefighter in order to understand how challenges and commitment affect retention. Retention of non-career firefighters (for example volunteer or part-time firefighters) is a well-known, multifaceted challenge in several countries. These non-career firefighters account for the majority of Fire and Rescue Services staff, but it is a challenge to recruit and retain them. Non-career firefighters often serve in rural areas and are an important component of local community safety. Several factors have been suggested as underlying causes contributing to the complexity of retention challenges, mainly related to demographic changes. A fall in numbers of non-career firefighters may lead to fewer people having to undertake a higher workload to sustain local access to essential services. Due to the difficulties attracting and retaining non-career firefighters, it is vital to gain a better understanding of the factors contributing to sustainable retention. There is a volume of research about volunteer firefighters, but few studies cover the context of other types of non-career firefighters’ employment, such as part-time firefighters, in relation to retention. In Sweden, non-career firefighters mainly work as paid part-time firefighters in contrast to the internationally more common form of serving as volunteer firefighters. The service delivered by these firefighters is essential. Therefore, it is important to gain more knowledge of the firefighters’ experiences to be able to minimise barriers, strengthen commitment and work towards ensuring long-term retention. This thesis provides additional knowledge about the current challenges. Part-time firefighters share challenges similar to other non-career firefighters, such as the balance between principal employment, the service as a firefighter and family life. Further, the working environment affects firefighters` experiences of the job and has an impact on motivation and commitment. A lack of appropriate facilities, old equipment and a culture without feedback and support can lower commitment. The thesis results show that different employment types of non-career firefighters also share reasons to stay committed to the service. The papers appended show that cohesive groups are essential and contribute to continued commitment in the service, regardless of, for example, being a volunteer or a part-time firefighter. Another important factor contributing to commitment is the feeling of personal development. In other words, expanding a self-awareness and new perspectives in life.
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| 3. |
- Lantz, Emelie, et al.
(författare)
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Recruitment, retention and resignation among Non-Career Firefighters
- 2020
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Ingår i: International Journal of Emergency Services. - 2047-0894. ; 10:1, s. 26-39
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of literature about recruitment, retention and resignation among non-career firefighters. Design/methodology/approach: A systematic review was conducted to identify factors associated with the recruitment, retention and resignation of non-career firefighters. The authors divided the results into three topics and four levels for further analysis. Findings: 27 articles are included in the review. Most research addresses retention at an organizational level and indicates a link between job satisfaction and factors such as supervisor support, recognition and close relationships within the workgroup. Further, a recurring reason that contributes to resignations seems to be family related (e.g. partner disapproval). Research limitations/implications: There is a lack of European and Asian research into non-career firefighters. The included research papers generally have low response rates and the sample is often mostly male and Caucasians from a limited area. Practical implications: The identified factors offer deeper understanding and can help practitioners in their pursuit of the sustainable retention of non-career firefighters. Originality/value: Because securing adequate numbers of non-career firefighters is important, there is a need to synthesize current evidence to identify and further understand which factors contribute to retention. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first systematic review to synthesize such evidence about non-career firefighters.
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| 4. |
- Lantz, Emelie, et al.
(författare)
-
Recruitment, retention and resignation among Non-Career Firefighters
- 2020
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Ingår i: International Journal of Emergency Services. - : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 2047-0894 .- 2047-0908. ; 10:1, s. 26-39
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of literature about recruitment, retention andresignation among non-career firefighters.Design/methodology/approach – A systematic review was conducted to identify factors associated withthe recruitment, retention and resignation of non-career firefighters. The authors divided the results into threetopics and four levels for further analysis.Findings – 27 articles are included in the review. Most research addresses retention at an organizational leveland indicates a link between job satisfaction and factors such as supervisor support, recognition and closerelationships within the workgroup. Further, a recurring reason that contributes to resignations seems to befamily related (e.g. partner disapproval).Research limitations/implications – There is a lack of European and Asian research into non-careerfirefighters. The included research papers generally have low response rates and the sample is often mostlymale and Caucasians from a limited area.Practical implications – The identified factors offer deeper understanding and can help practitioners intheir pursuit of the sustainable retention of non-career firefighters.Originality/value – Because securing adequate numbers of non-career firefighters is important, there is aneed to synthesize current evidence to identify and further understand which factors contribute to retention. Tothe authors’ knowledge, this is the first systematic review to synthesize such evidence about non-careerfirefighters.
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| 5. |
- Lantz, Emelie, et al.
(författare)
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Serving the community while balancing multiple responsibilities : experiences of working as a paid part-time firefighter
- 2023
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Ingår i: International Journal of Emergency Services. - : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 2047-0894 .- 2047-0908. ; :1, s. 17-38
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PurposeThe purpose of this study was to describe experiences of working as a paid part-time firefighter (PTF) in Swedish rural areas.Design/methodology/approachAn inductive explorative design was used, based on interviews with 18 paid PTFs in Sweden. Data were analyzed using qualitative latent content analysis.FindingsThree themes emerged from the interviews and describe paid PTFs’ experiences. The findings provide insights into how firefighters share a strong commitment, how support plays a crucial role, and how training and call-outs contribute to their experiences. Paid PTFs’ experiences are nuanced, ranging from personal limitations and challenges to satisfaction and the contrast with ordinary life.Practical implicationsThe implications for fire and rescue service organizations are that they can encourage firefighters’ commitment and pride, as well as the commitment and support of their families and main employers. Further, highlighting the importance of support and facilitating flexibility when on call is crucial. Finally, acknowledging and promoting personal development and facilitating an inclusive culture are important factors for both motivation and satisfaction.Originality/valuePaid PTFs are under-represented in the literature, despite the reliance on them in Sweden, and this study begins to address the knowledge gap. To improve retention, it is vital to understand paid PTFs work situation: what motivates them, what barriers they face, and how those challenges influence their experiences.
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| 6. |
- Lantz, Emelie, et al.
(författare)
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Serving the community while balancing multiple responsibilities – experiences of working as a paid part-time firefighter
- 2023
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Ingår i: International Journal of Emergency Services. - 2047-0894. ; 12:1, s. 17-28
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe experiences of working as a paid part-time firefighter (PTF) in Swedish rural areas. Design/methodology/approach: An inductive explorative design was used, based on interviews with 18 paid PTFs in Sweden. Data were analyzed using qualitative latent content analysis. Findings: Three themes emerged from the interviews and describe paid PTFs’ experiences. The findings provide insights into how firefighters share a strong commitment, how support plays a crucial role, and how training and call-outs contribute to their experiences. Paid PTFs’ experiences are nuanced, ranging from personal limitations and challenges to satisfaction and the contrast with ordinary life. Practical implications: The implications for fire and rescue service organizations are that they can encourage firefighters’ commitment and pride, as well as the commitment and support of their families and main employers. Further, highlighting the importance of support and facilitating flexibility when on call is crucial. Finally, acknowledging and promoting personal development and facilitating an inclusive culture are important factors for both motivation and satisfaction. Originality/value: Paid PTFs are under-represented in the literature, despite the reliance on them in Sweden, and this study begins to address the knowledge gap. To improve retention, it is vital to understand paid PTFs work situation: what motivates them, what barriers they face, and how those challenges influence their experiences.
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| 7. |
- Lantz, Emelie
(författare)
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Sharing is Caring : Early response for community safety in rural areas with a focus on exploring part-time firefighters’ work situation and family support
- 2024
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Purpose: The overall purpose of this thesis was to explore and describe early response for community safety in rural areas with a focus on parttime firefighters’ work situation and family support.Methods: The thesis used an inductive approach with an exploratory and descriptive design, including qualitative and quantitative research methods. Each study’s design was selected to align with its specific purpose. The five studies collectively contributed to fulfilling the overall purpose of the thesis. Descriptive and comparative statistics were employed to describe response times in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in relation to population density for volunteer first responders, fire and rescue services, and emergency medical services (I). A literature review was conducted to synthesize literature regarding non-career firefighters, with a focus on recruitment, retention and resignation (II). The Delphi technique was applied to identify pivotal factors that influence the ability of main employers to have employees who are part-time firefighters in rural areas in Sweden (III). Interviews were conducted and analysed using latent qualitative content analysis to describe the experiences of part-time firefighters in rural areas in Sweden (IV). Interviews were conducted and analysed with the Critical Incident Technique to describe the experiences and actions of part-time firefighters’ family members in rural areas in Sweden (V).Findings: The fire and rescue services had a significant impact on reducing response times in non-urban settings compared to the emergency medical services (I). Culture, recognition and supportive leadership in the fire and rescue services played a crucial role in job satisfaction and retention among non-career firefighters (II). Main employers to part-time firefighters wanted to contribute to preserve a fire and rescue service in the community by encouraging employees to also work as part-time firefighters (III). Part-time firefighters shared a strong commitment and motivation but balanced the service with other responsibilities in life (IV). Family members of part-time firefighters faced challenges and dealt with uncertainties but adapted their daily lives to fit with the part-time firefighters’ work situation (V). The findings revealed that various dimensions and interrelated subsystems have an impact on part-time firefighters’ work situation and support, enabling early response for community safety in rural areas. These interrelated subsystems, driven by individual efforts, support part-time firefighters serving on-call in rural areas, demonstrating a shared commitment that involves responsibility as well as the dedication of time and resources.Conclusion: The shared commitment found among part-time firefighters, their main employers, and their family members underscores their importance in supporting part-time firefighters’ work situation. This commitment and support are essential for retaining part-time firefighters, which enhances early response efforts and ensures community safety in rural areas. Consequently, “sharing is caring” is of pivotal importance.
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| 8. |
- Lopez-Fernandez, Margarita, et al.
(författare)
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Metatranscriptomes Reveal That All Three Domains of Life Are Active but Are Dominated by Bacteria in the Fennoscandian Crystalline Granitic Continental Deep Biosphere
- 2018
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Ingår i: mBio. - : American Society of Microbiology. - 2161-2129 .- 2150-7511. ; 9:6
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The continental subsurface is suggested to contain a significant part of the earth's total biomass. However, due to the difficulty of sampling, the deep subsurface is still one of the least understood ecosystems. Therefore, microorganisms inhabiting this environment might profoundly influence the global nutrient and energy cycles. In this study, in situ fixed RNA transcripts from two deep continental groundwaters from the Aspo Hard Rock Laboratory (a Baltic Sea-influenced water with a residence time of <20 years, defined as "modern marine," and an "old saline" groundwater with a residence time of thousands of years) were subjected to metatranscriptome sequencing. Although small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene and mRNA transcripts aligned to all three domains of life, supporting activity within these community subsets, the data also suggested that the groundwaters were dominated by bacteria. Many of the SSU rRNA transcripts grouped within newly described candidate phyla or could not be mapped to known branches on the tree of life, suggesting that a large portion of the active biota in the deep biosphere remains unexplored. Despite the extremely oligotrophic conditions, mRNA transcripts revealed a diverse range of metabolic strategies that were carried out by multiple taxa in the modern marine water that is fed by organic carbon from the surface. In contrast, the carbon dioxide- and hydrogen-fed old saline water with a residence time of thousands of years predominantly showed the potential to carry out translation. This suggested these cells were active, but waiting until an energy source episodically becomes available. IMPORTANCE A newly designed sampling apparatus was used to fix RNA under in situ conditions in the deep continental biosphere and benchmarks a strategy for deep biosphere metatranscriptomic sequencing. This apparatus enabled the identification of active community members and the processes they carry out in this extremely oligotrophic environment. This work presents for the first time evidence of eukaryotic, archaeal, and bacterial activity in two deep subsurface crystalline rock groundwaters from the Aspo Hard Rock Laboratory with different depths and geochemical characteristics. The findings highlight differences between organic carbonfed shallow communities and carbon dioxide- and hydrogen-fed old saline waters. In addition, the data reveal a large portion of uncharacterized microorganisms, as well as the important role of candidate phyla in the deep biosphere, but also the disparity in microbial diversity when using standard microbial 165 rRNA gene amplification versus the large unknown portion of the community identified with unbiased metatranscriptomes.
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| 9. |
- Moberg, Christina, et al.
(författare)
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De unga gör helt rätt när de stämmer staten
- 2022
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Ingår i: Aftonbladet. - 1103-9000.
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Tidskriftsartikel (populärvet., debatt m.m.)abstract
- 1 620 forskare och lärare i forskarvärlden: Vi ställer oss bakom Auroras klimatkrav
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| 10. |
- Nilsson, Bengt, 1982-, et al.
(författare)
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Identifying pivotal factors that influence the ability of main employers in rural Sweden to have employees who are part-time firefighters : a modified Delphi study
- 2024
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Ingår i: International Journal of Emergency Management. - : InderScience Publishers. - 1471-4825 .- 1741-5071. ; 18:4, s. 365-379
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The main employers of part-time firefighters are important partners for the fire and rescue services (FRSs) in rural areas of Sweden. The purpose of this study was to identify the pivotal factors that influence the ability of main employers in rural Sweden to have employees who are part-time firefighters. A modified version of the Delphi technique was used, where opinions from a group of main employers were collected to find consensus. The Delphi technique is characterised by a number of rounds in which questionnaires are used until consensus is reached. This study identified 20 pivotal factors among the main employers. On one hand, employing part-time firefighters brought a sense of safety at the workplace but, on the other hand, there was a lack of appreciation and dialogue from the FRSss.
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