| 1. |
- Andersson, Gunnel, 1958-
(författare)
-
Urinary incontinence : prevalence, treatment seeking behaviour, experiences, and perceptions among persons with and without urinary leakage
- 2009
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The overall aim of this thesis is to describe urinary incontinence (UI) from a population perspective and to describe experiences and perceptions of UI from an individual perspective. This includes assessing the prevalence of urinary incontinence as well as describing treatment seeking and experiences of living with UI. A secondary aim was to describe the perception of UI among cultures other than the Swedish mainstream, exemplified in this case by Syrian women living in Sweden. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used, including questionnaires and interviews. Studies I and II were quantitative studies based on a population-based study. Together with a postal survey on general health and living conditions “Life & Health”, a questionnaire on urinary incontinence was sent out to 15 360 randomly-selected residents aged 18-79 in Orebro County, Sweden. In Study I, UI was found to affect 19%. The majority of the respondents experienced minor problems, and only 18% of those reporting UI wanted treatment. However, there was also a group who reported severe problems, but despite this 42% of them did not want treatment. Study II investigated why people with UI refrain from seeking care and treatment. It was found that the desire for treatment was regulated by the frequency of UI, being restricted from participating in various activities, the degree of inconvenience, and the type of UI. Studies III and IV were both qualitative interview studies, describing older women’s experiences of living with UI (Study III) and Syrian women’s perceptions of UI (Study IV). There were similarities between the results of these two studies; the women described UI as a normal and expected problem, and they knew that the district nurse could prescribe incontinence protections and that treatments existed. In both studies, the women expressed difficulties in making contact with the health care service, while the women who did not speak Swedish (Study IV) also had difficulties due to different communication problems. In conclusion, it is important that health care resources are optimized to identify and meet the needs of those who experience major problems with UI, and that there is awareness of the communication difficulties that can be present in meeting with people who speak other languages. However it is also important not to medicalize those who experience minor problems and who have the desire to manage on their own.
|
|
| 2. |
- Carlsson, Ing-Marie, 1961-, et al.
(författare)
-
Maintaining power : women's experiences from labour onset before admittance to maternity ward
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Midwifery. - Oxon, United Kingdom : Elsevier. - 0266-6138 .- 1532-3099. ; 28:1, s. 86-92
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: in Sweden pregnant women are encouraged to remain at home until the active phase of labour. Recommendation is based on evidence, that women who seek care and are admitted in the latent phase of labour are subjected to more obstetric interventions and suffer more complications than women who remain at home until the active phase of labour. The aim of this study was to obtain a deeper understanding of how women, who remain at home until the active phase of labour, experience the period from labour onset until admission to labour ward.Method: interviews were conducted with 19 women after they had given birth to their first child. A Constructivist Grounded theory method was used.Findings: ‘Maintaining power’ was identified as the core category, explaining the women's experience of having enough power, when the labour started. Four related categories: ‘to share the experience with another’, ‘to listen to the rhythm of the body’, ‘to distract oneself’ and ‘to be encased in a glass vessel’, explained how the women coped and thereby maintained power.Conclusions: the first time mothers in this study, who managed to stay at home during the latent phase of labour, had a sense of power that was expressed as a driving force towards the birth, a bodily and mental strength and the right to decide over their own bodies. This implies that women who maintain power have the ability to make choices during the birth process. The professionals need to be sensitive, supportive and respectful to women's own preferences in the health-care encounter, to promote the existing power throughout the birthing process.
|
|
| 3. |
- Ternestedt, Britt-Marie, et al.
(författare)
-
Ett vårdvetenskapligt perspektiv på forskning i livets slutskede – erfarenheter från Sverige
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Omsorg. - Oslo : Rådet for omsorg for alvorlig syke og døende, Norske kreftforening. - 0800-7489. ; :4, s. 19-22
-
Forskningsöversikt (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Denna artikel belyser kortfattat utvecklingen av vårdvetenskaplig forskning om vård i livets slutskede i Sverige från 1970-talet fram till idag. Den visar en ökning av forskningen när det gäller den döende personens, närståendes och personalens perspektiv. Vidare beskrivs exempel på forskning som bedrivs vid Enheten för forskning om vård i livets slutskede vid Ersta Sköndal högskola; en forskningsmiljö som kunnat formaliseras till innehåll och struktur med hjälp av en donation. Exempel ges på projekt med beskrivande och intervenerande designer. Områden som behöver studeras ytterligare är individers/familjens situation i samband med döende och död, döende personer med demenssjukdom och döende och död ur ett mångkulturellt perspektiv och ur ett genusperspektiv. Större mångvetenskapliga forskningsprojekt behövs. En stor utmaning är också att överbrygga gapet mellan forskning och klinisk verksamhet.
|
|
| 4. |
|
|
| 5. |
- Wallerstedt, Birgitta, 1952-, et al.
(författare)
-
Identification and documentation of persons being in palliative phase regardless of age, diagnosis and place of care, and their use of sitting service at the end of life
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences. - Hoboken, USA : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0283-9318 .- 1471-6712. ; 26:3, s. 561-568
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Older persons and persons with diseases other than cancer are often discriminated against when applying for palliative care despite growing numbers of both older persons and individuals with chronic diseases. An intention for palliative care in Sweden is that all persons in the final stage of life, irrespective of age, domicile, diagnosis, and care place shall have access to palliative care on equal terms. One way to support these persons in final stage of life and their relatives is to offer sitting service.Aims: To describe individuals who were identified and documented as being in a palliative phase in a Swedish municipality, with respect to demographics, use of a sitting service, continuity of care in the last month of life and the place of death. A second aim was to describe and compare the groups who received/did not receive sitting services related to the aforementioned variables.Method: Retrospective data from nursing records and palliative care identification forms were analyzed with descriptive and analytic statistical methods.Findings: Among individuals deceased during 2007, 51% were identified and documented as being in palliative phase. The majority was older people (mean 83 years) with a noncancer diagnosis (58%). Twenty-eight individuals (16%) had received a sitting service between 8 and 249 hours (one extreme value = 2211). It is indicated that sitting service significantly increased the possibility of dying at home (p = 0.00004), but did not affect how often the place of care changed during the last month of life.Limitation: A small sample from a Swedish context must be considered.Conclusion: These results can be related to an awareness in the municipality that led to adopting the concept of palliative care as not only for those with a cancer diagnosis.
|
|
| 6. |
- Andersson, Gunnel, 1958-, et al.
(författare)
-
Accepting and adjusting : Older women's experiences of living with urinary incontinence
- 2008
-
Ingår i: Urologic Nursing. - 1053-816X. ; 28:2, s. 115-121
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In-depth interviews were performed with 11 Swedish women who contacted a district nurse to obtain sanitary protection. Three key constituents (themes) emerged: "learning to live with it despite difficulties," "other illnesses are more important," and "reluctance to seek care." The essence of the phenomenon of living with urinary incontinence (Ul) was expressed as "a situation to accept and adjust to."
|
|
| 7. |
- Andersson, Gunnel, 1958-, et al.
(författare)
-
Perceptions of urinary incontinence among syrian Christian women living in Sweden
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Journal of Transcultural Nursing. - : SAGE Publications. - 1043-6596 .- 1552-7832. ; 20:3, s. 296-303
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The purpose of this study was to describe the perception of urinary incontinence (UI) among Syrian women living in Sweden. DESIGN: A qualitative, descriptive design with focus group discussions (FGDs) was used and analyzed with content analysis. Fourteen Syrian women were interviewed in three FGDs. FINDINGS: Three categories emerged, "Thoughts on UI," "Managing UI," and "Communication With the Health Care System." Among the interviewees, UI was a common, and expected, problem, which could be managed. However, some expressed shame and embarrassment. Some talked about communication problems with health care. DISCUSSION: and Implications for Practice: The health care system should be adjusted to the women's needs, with awareness of the communication difficulties, which could result in misunderstanding and neglected treatments.
|
|
| 8. |
- Andersson, Gunnel, 1958-, et al.
(författare)
-
Urinary incontinence - why refraining from treatment? : a population based study
- 2005
-
Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Urology and Nephrology. - London : Taylor & Francis. - 0036-5599 .- 1651-2065. ; 39:4, s. 301-307
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To investigate why persons with urinary incontinence (UI) refrain from seeking care and treatment.MATERIAL AND METHODS: A population-based study was undertaken in which a public health survey and a specific UI questionnaire were sent to 15 360 randomly selected residents (age 18-79 years) of Orebro County, Sweden. For all persons reporting UI, the expressed wish for treatment or no treatment was analyzed in relation to relevant variables from both inquiry forms using binary logistic regression analysis.RESULTS: The response rate was 64.5%. UI was reported by 2194 persons, 1724 of whom comprised the study population. A statistically significant association was found between the degree of UI and a desire for treatment. Persons who did not experience daily leakage and those who did not perceive the leakage as troublesome or having an affect on their daily life mostly stated that they did not desire treatment. Socioeconomic or other health-related factors were not associated with desiring or not desiring treatment for UI.CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that it is the perceived severity of UI that determines whether afflicted persons desire treatment or not. Other factors, relating to seeking healthcare in general, were not found to be of importance. Interventions to identify those in need of treatment for UI should primarily be directed towards those with severe symptoms.
|
|
| 9. |
- Blomberg, Karin, et al.
(författare)
-
Closeness and distance : a way of handling difficult situations in daily care
- 2007
-
Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Nursing. - : Wiley. - 0962-1067 .- 1365-2702. ; 16:2, s. 244-254
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims and objectives. The aim of this study was to describe how care team members caring for patients with advanced cancer describe how they handle difficult situations in daily care. In this paper 'difficult situations' refers to those situations team members themselves describe as difficult. Background. Serious illness and impending death involve great changes in a person's life. The care of patients with advanced cancer is complex and many different factors influence each care situation. This places demands on the way care team members handle problems and difficulties in daily care. Design. Qualitative descriptive study. Methods. The study is based on 16 focus group discussions with care team members who were caring for patients with advanced cancer at three different care units in two Swedish cities. The focus group discussions included 77 participants. The procedure for data analysis was inspired by the phenomenological method. Findings. The results show that care team members handled difficult situations by balancing between being close and distancing themselves. In most situations their choice of strategy seemed spontaneous rather than being a conscious decision, although it was sometimes described as a more conscious approach. Variations of closeness and distance that were identified were Identity, Meaning, Limit-setting and touching, Prioritization, the Team and the Organization. These could also be seen as tools that could facilitate or impede the use of closeness and distance. Conclusions. The results show that care team members have a need to reflect over daily care and to become aware of what governs different care actions. Relevance to clinical practice. If the experienced difficult situation is not handled in a way that is beneficial to the care team member, patient and relatives, it is assumed that this can result in stress, burnout and, above all, non-optimal care.
|
|
| 10. |
- Carlander (Goliath), Ida, 1968-, et al.
(författare)
-
Being Me and Being Us in a Family Living Close to Death at Home
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Qualitative Health Research. - : Sage Publications Inc. - 1049-7323 .- 1552-7557. ; 21:5, s. 683-695
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We used interpretive description to describe how everyday life close to death was experienced and dealt with in families with one member who had a life-threatening illness. We performed 28 individual, couple, and group interviews with five families. We found two patterns, namely, “being me in a family living close to death” and “being us in a family living close to death.” “Being me” meant that every individual in the family had to deal with the impending death, regardless of whether or not he or she was the person with the life-threatening illness. This was linked to ways of promoting the individual’s self-image, or “me-ness.” This pattern was present at the same time as the pattern of “being us,” or in other words, being a family, and dealing with impending death and a new “we-ness” as a group. “Striving for the optimal way of living close to death” was the core theme.
|
|
| 11. |
- Carlander (Goliath), Ida, 1968-, et al.
(författare)
-
Four aspects of self-image close to death at home
- 2011
-
Ingår i: International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being. - : CoAction Publishing. - 1748-2623 .- 1748-2631. ; 6:2
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Living close to death means an inevitable confrontation with one’s own existential limitation. In this article, we argue that everyday life close to death embodies an identity work in progress. We used a narrative approach and a holistic-content reading to analyze 12 interviews conducted with three persons close to death. By illuminating the unique stories and identifying patterns among the participants’ narratives, we found four themes exemplifying important aspects of the identity work related to everyday life close to death. Two of the themes, named ‘‘Inside and outside of me’’ and ‘‘Searching for togetherness,’’ represented the core of the self-image and were framed by the other themes, ‘‘My place in space’’ and ‘‘My death and my time.’’ Our findings elucidate the way the individual stories moved between the past, the present, and the future. This study challenges the idea that everyday life close to impending death primarily means limitations. The findings show that the search for meaning, new knowledge, and community can form a part of a conscious and ongoing identity work close to death.
|
|
| 12. |
- Carlander (Goliath), Ida, 1968-
(författare)
-
Me-ness and we-ness in a modified everyday life close to death at home
- 2011
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The overarching aim of this thesis was to describe how family members experienced everyday life with life-threatening illness close to death, with focus on self-image and identity. The thesis comprises four papers, each with a specific aim to illuminate various aspects of the phenomenon under study. The study population consisted of 29 participants; ten family caregivers and five families, including five patients with life threatening illness and their family members. Data were based on retrospective single interviews (paper I), prospective individual, couple and group interviews with the families over six to eighteen month (papers II-III). Interpretive description approach (papers I, II, IV), narrative method (paper III) and secondary analysis (paper IV) were used to analyze data. The findings show how living close to death influences everyday life at home, at several levels (papers I-IV). From the perspective of the dying person, narrations of daily situations was described by four themes related to identity and everyday life; inside and outside of me, searching for togetherness, my place in space and my death and my time. The changing body, pain, fatigue, decreased physical capacity and changed appearance, appeared to influence the dying person’s need for altered knowledge and community, and as a result the patterns of interaction within the families changed. The strive for knowledge and community took place at home, an arena for identity work and the conscious search for meaning, knowledge and community; it was limited by time and inevitable death (paper III). For the family member, life close to death can mean sharing life with a changing person in a changing relationship (paper II). It may mean that everyday life needs to be modified in order for it to work (papers I-IV). New patterns of dependence and an asymmetrical relationship affect all involved (papers III-IV). Daily life close to death is about finding the space to promote the individual self-image, me-ness, at the same time as finding new ways of being a family; we-ness (paper II). Regardless of being the ill person or not, the family members we interviewed had to face impending death, which challenged earlier ways of living together (papers I-IV). From the perspective of the relatives, the everyday life of caring for the dying family member was characterized by challenged ideals, stretched limits and interdependency (paper I). Situations that challenged the caregivers’ self-image were connected to intimacy, decreasing personal space and experiences such as “forbidden thoughts”. The findings suggest that the bodily changes were of importance for the self-image, and that the former approach to the own body was important in the process of experiencing the body. The person living close to death was in transition to something new; being dead in the near future. One way of handling the struggles of everyday life was to seek togetherness, strive to find other persons with similar experiences while sharing thoughts and feelings. Togetherness was sought within the family, in the health care system and on the internet; a sense of togetherness was also sought with those who had already died. The other family members were also in transition as the future meant living on without the ill family member and changing their status to for example being a widow or being motherless. Identity work close to death denotes creating an access ramp into something new; a transition into the unknown. From a clinical perspective, this study emphasizes the significance of creating a climate that allows caregivers to express thoughts and feelings.
|
|
| 13. |
- Carlander (Goliath), Ida, 1968-, et al.
(författare)
-
The modified self: family caregivers experiences of caring for a dying family member at home
- 2011
-
Ingår i: JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NURSING. - : WILEY-BLACKWELL, COMMERCE PLACE, 350 MAIN ST, MALDEN 02148, MA USA. - 0962-1067 .- 1365-2702. ; 20:7-8, s. 1097-1105
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim. The aim of this study was to explore situations in daily life that challenge caregivers self-image when caring for a dying family member at home. Background. Caregiving affects the health and daily lives of family caregivers. Patterns of challenging situations may provide insight into the home caregiving experience, thus contributing to our understanding of the influence it has on the caregivers self-image. Design. Qualitative descriptive study. Methods. Ten family caregivers who cared for a dying family member at home with support from an advanced home care team were interviewed 6-12 months after the death of the family member. The interviews were analysed with interpretive description. Result. Three patterns characterised the experiences of caregivers daily lives in caring for a dying family member at home: challenged ideals, stretched limits and interdependency. These patterns formed the core theme, the modified self. Situations that challenged the caregivers self-image were connected to experiences such as forbidden thoughts, intimacy and decreasing personal space. Conclusions. The caregivers met challenging situations in their daily lives that created a modified image of self. It is important to recognise the impact of caring for a dying family member at home. Relevance to clinical practice. This study argues for supporting family caregivers to maximise their potential to handle the demanding everyday life with a dying family member at home. This study contributes to understanding situations in the home that may challenge caregivers self-image and points out the importance of talking about caregiving experiences. From a clinical perspective, this study emphasises the significance of creating a climate, which allows family caregivers to express thoughts and feelings. Sharing experiences such as forbidden thoughts can be one way of handling the profoundly changed every day life.
|
|
| 14. |
- Ek, Kristina
(författare)
-
Att leva med mycket svår kronisk obstruktiv lungsjukdom : ett liv i slowmotion
- 2010
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The overall aim of this thesis was to describe how people with very severe obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) experienced their every day lives and created meaning, with focus on end-of-life. A second aim was to describe how death and dying can be viewed from the perspective of relatives to people with COPD. In study I, eight patients were interviewed about how COPD affected their everyday lives. A phenomenological method was used. In study II, four people with COPD who lived alone were interviewed over time, to illuminate how the illness influenced their everyday life and their existential thoughts about life and death. In study III, four couples of whom one partner in each couple had COPD were interviewed several times to illuminate the affect the illness had on the spousal relationship, their self-expressed needs, and their existential thoughts, from the perspective of two people living together. A phenomenological-hermeneutic method was used for the analyses in studies IIand III. Study IV aimed at studying patients’ last six months of life with focuson dying and death, and in this study content analysis was used.The studies (I-IV) revealed that suffering from very severe COPD can be a daily struggle to survive as well as to maintain the self-image. The studies also explicate experiences of a shrinking life space, and questions of meaning were being challenged (I). Study II showed that living alone provided feelings of independency. However the bodily losses reminded the patients’ about death and raised fears about death of being painful, as they did not want to face death alone. For the couples in study III living with COPD meant living in a changed pace with uncertainty, changed intimate relationship and finding new ways of living together. Study IV outlined the trajectory of illness to be irregular and characterized by periods of sudden deterioration, making it difficult to plan for the future. Death was experienced as an unexpected experience and was described by all as peaceful. The results in this thesis have outlined important insight into the existential challenges of living with COPD as experienced by the ill persons themselves and their next of relatives.
|
|
| 15. |
|
|
| 16. |
|
|
| 17. |
- Ek, Kristina, et al.
(författare)
-
Shifting life rhythms : couples' stories about living together when one spouse has advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Journal of Palliative Care. - : Centre de Recherche * Institut Universitaire de Geriatrie de Montreal. - 0825-8597 .- 2369-5293. ; 27:3, s. 189-197
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim: This study examines couples' experiences of living together when one partner has advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Method: Repeated qulitative interviews with four couples over eight-month period, where one spouse in each couple suffered from advanced COPD. The final dataset comprised 19 interviews. A phenomenological-hermeneutical method was used to interpret the interview text.Findings: One main theme, "living with the disease and one's spouse in a new and changeable life rhythm", emerged from three subthemes: "living with uncertainty", "living in a changed intimate relationship" and "finding new ways of living together". A mutual sense of comanionship between the spouses facilitated their changes of reshaping their relationship and adapting it to the new life rhythm required by everyday life with the disease.Conclusion: The healthy spouse had major responsibility for the health of their sick spouse. Awareness of the couple's own conceptions and knowledge of health and illness is central to person-focused care, as is awareness of what values are important to them when restructing their everyday life.
|
|
| 18. |
|
|
| 19. |
- Ek, Kristina, et al.
(författare)
-
Struggling to retain living space : patients' stories about living with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Journal of Advanced Nursing. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0309-2402 .- 1365-2648. ; 67:7, s. 1480-1490
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim: This paper is a report of a study of the experience of living with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and long-term oxygen therapy when living alone.Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease affects an increasing number of people. Breathlessness, fatigue and dejection are common symptoms during the last years of life.Method: Repeated qualitative interviews with four participants were conducted over an 8-month period in 2008. The data comprised 17 interviews, 15 telephone conversations and various field notes. A phenomenological hermeneutical method was used to interpret the text.Findings: The analysis resulted in two main themes and five sub-themes. The first main theme, Being subordinated to the sick body, implies that the body, assistive devices and entrusting oneself to the hands of others can both extend and restrict the living space. The second main theme, Protecting significant values of identity, encompasses both the struggle to maintain self-image and the awareness of one's own death.Conclusion: Living alone with advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a challenging and complex phenomenon. The everyday life was characterized by a struggle to keep autonomy during a time of increasing dependency and need for help. A person-centred nursing care, built upon peoples' own experiences, may be one way to promote identity and dignity in patients even when they are close to death.
|
|
| 20. |
|
|
| 21. |
- Ek, Kristina, et al.
(författare)
-
“The unpredictable death” : The last year of life for patients with advanced COPD: Relatives’ stories
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Palliative & Supportive Care. - : Cambridge University Press. - 1478-9515 .- 1478-9523. ; 13:5, s. 1213-1222
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: The end stage of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is described as prolonged, and the symptom burden for patients with COPD is often high. It progresses slowly over several years and can be punctuated by abrupt exacerbations that sometimes end in sudden death or a recovery of longer or shorter duration. This makes it difficult to identify the critical junctures in order to prognosticate the progress and time of death. Patients with COPD often express a fear that the dying process is going to be difficult. There is a fear that the dyspnea will worsen and lead to death by suffocation. The present article aimed to retrospectively describe the final year of life for patients with advanced COPD with a focus on death and dying from the perspective of relatives.Method: Interviews were conducted with the relatives of deceased family members who had advanced COPD. In total, 13 interviews were conducted and analyzed by means of content analysis.Result: All relatives described the patients as having had a peaceful death that did not correspond with the worry expressed earlier by both the patients and themselves. During the final week of life, two different patterns in the progress of the illness trajectory emerged: a temporary improvement where death was unexpected and a continued deterioration where death was inevitable.Significance of Results: The patients and their relatives lived with uncertainty up until the time of death. Little support for psychosocial and existential needs was available. It is essential for the nurse to create relationships with patients and relatives that enable them to talk about dying and death on their own terms.
|
|
| 22. |
- Håkanson, Cecilia, et al.
(författare)
-
Being in the Patient Position : Experiences of Health Care Among People With Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- 2010
-
Ingår i: Qualitative Health Research. - Thousand Oaks, USA : Sage Publications. - 1049-7323 .- 1552-7557. ; 20:8, s. 1116-1127
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The purpose of this study was to gain in-depth understanding of what it is like for a person with irritable bowel syndrome to be in the patient position in encounters with health care providers. We conducted qualitative interviews with nine individuals. Our analysis, guided by interpretive description, revealed experiences of unsupportive and supportive encounters. Unsupportive encounters were shaped by humiliation, insignificance, and abandonment. Not feeling believed and acknowledged as persons made the participants lose trust in their own experience, which enhanced their unfamiliar mood of being in the world. Supportive encounters were less prominent. These were characterized by openness and acknowledgment of the patient’s lifeworld. Feeling significant and being listened to promoted feelings of being in a partnered, cocreating relationship. It is reasonable to assume that care originating in the patient’s lifeworld would support the patients to use their strength to manage illness and regain familiarity in everyday life.
|
|
| 23. |
- Håkanson, Cecilia, 1968-, et al.
(författare)
-
Learning about oneself through others : experiences of a group-based patient education programme about irritable bowel syndrome
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences. - Hoboken, USA : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0283-9318 .- 1471-6712. ; 26:4, s. 738-746
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: People with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) often experience severe illness-related troubles in their everyday lives. Many persons also perceive their disease-related knowledge to be insufficient, and they feel dissatisfied with their inability to improve well-being. Previous research about patient education and IBS has emphasized biomedical outcomes of symptoms, health-promoting behaviours, coping and health-related quality of life, rather than people's experiences.Aim: To explore people's experiences of participating in a multidisciplinary group-based patient education programme about IBS and of the influence of this programme on everyday life with illness. Methods: Focus group interviews were performed with 31 persons after their participation in the patient education programme. Interpretive description guided the inductive analysis of data. The study was approved by the local research ethics committee.Findings: The analysis revealed four patterns; being part of a safe community, learning about oneself through others, understanding and controlling the body and illness as a whole, and being outside of the community. The pattern of learning about oneself through others can be described as a reciprocal activity of learning by listening to, telling and observing others. Being among similar others had created feelings among most of the focus group participants of being part of a safe community where taboo subjects related to IBS-symptoms could be outspoken. Understanding the body and illness as a whole had enhanced their ability to interpret bodily signals and to handle trouble some situations with greater self-confidence, and this regained their access to the social everyday world.Conclusion: The combination of reciprocal sharing of experiences and the provision of professional scientific knowledge during the patient education programme together contributed to a growing readiness to improve well-being in everyday life, for most of the participating individuals. This was based on new understandings of the body and illness as a whole and of new abilities to make knowledge-based decisions about what strategies to use in overcoming illness-related troubles.
|
|
| 24. |
- Håkanson, Cecilia, et al.
(författare)
-
Learning to live with irritabel bowel syndrome : the influence of a group-based patient education programme on peoples' ability to manage illness in everyday life
- 2011
-
Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences. - Wiley : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0283-9318 .- 1471-6712. ; 25:3, s. 491-498
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Living with chronic irritable bowel syndrome sets limitations in peoples’ everyday lives. This is due to bad health and the difficulty to find strategies that will manage their problem. In encounters with health care providers, these people feel that they are not getting the appropriate support to manage their illness-related troubles, and they perceive themselves to be insufficiently informed about the disease.Aim: To evaluate the influence of a group-based patient education programme about irritable bowel syndrome, on people’s ability to manage their illness in everyday life.Methods: The study used an evaluative research design. Fifty-one individuals with irritable bowel syndrome completed the ways of coping questionnaire, and the irritable bowel syndrome severity scoring system, before and after participating in a multidisciplinary group-based patient education programme.Results: In the participants’ self assessments, statistical significances (p > 0.05) were found for the mean frequency of efforts used on the coping strategies distancing and escape-avoidance. Distancing was used more often after the education programme, while escape-avoidance, was used more seldom. The proportional use of the strategy self-controlling (relative score) was enhanced after the education programme. The participants’ overall severity of symptoms was significantly reduced after the education programme. The individuals with a clinically noteworthy improvement in symptom severity (decrease ≤ 50) had greater changes in relative score values than those that showed a lesser improvement in symptom severity.Conclusion: Coping patterns were changed and symptoms were scored significantly less severe among the participants who participated in the education programme. Controlled studies following individuals over a longer period are suggested to establish the validity and sustainability of these changes, and qualitative interview studies would provide additional understanding about the significance of the separate parts of the education programme, and about the meaning of the programme to peoples’ everyday lives as a whole.
|
|
| 25. |
- Håkanson, Cecilia, et al.
(författare)
-
Struggling with an unfamiliar and unreliable body : the experience of irritable bowel syndrome
- 2009
-
Ingår i: Journal of Nursing and Healthcare of Chronic Illness. - Oxford : Blackwell Publishing. - 1752-9816 .- 1752-9824. ; 1:1, s. 29-38
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aim. To describe the phenomenon living with irritable bowel syndrome from a life-world perspective.Background. Ten to twenty per cent of the adult population in the world is known to live with irritable bowel syndrome. The life-world experience of people with irritable bowel syndrome has been paid little attention. A deeper understanding about the phenomenon living with irritable bowel syndrome is of interest for the future development of care.Design and methods. The study was performed using a phenomenological method. Data was collected by in-depth, open interviews performed in 2006, with nine persons between 25–55 years, diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome. The interviews were analysed according to the method of Giorgi.Results. Six interrelated key constituents have been identified: Having an altered self-image, feeling ashamed, distrusting the body, feeling tired, blaming oneself, and finding solutions. A structure has been formulated, describing that living with irritable bowel syndrome means struggling with an unfamiliar and unreliable body. Tiredness, distrust, and feelings of shame towards the body bring about limitations in everyday life. At the same time, living with irritable bowel syndrome means having a strong will to exceed the limitations and become familiar with one self.Conclusion. This study suggests that living with irritable bowel syndrome means to struggle with an unfamiliar and unreliable body that brings about changes of self-image and limitations in every day life. Feelings of distrust, shame and embarrassment towards troublesome symptoms, are important contributions to the limitations experienced.Relevance to clinical practice. Nurses have a major role to play in the care for people with irritable bowel syndrome. A caring perspective, in which the life-world is central, is an important approach to care for these persons. Using the dialogue as a forum where patients can share their unique life-world experiences lets nurses gather knowledge that is essential in helping patients identify and acknowledge new and positive understandings of the lived body.
|
|
| 26. |
- Sahlberg-Blom, Eva, et al.
(författare)
-
"Am I going to die now?" : Prognostication of survival time by members of the care team
- 2001
-
Ingår i: Omega. - 0030-2228 .- 1541-3764. ; 42:3, s. 219-235
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To get a real chance to make autonomous decisions in the final phase of their life, people who are soon going to die have a right to be informed concerning available knowledge about their prognosis and condition. The aim of this study is to describe how different members of the care team make prognostications about patients survival time, and what motivates their prognostications. Doctors and registered nurses made prognostications to a greater extent, and were also somewhat more successful, than practical nurses and social workers. Different professions seem to differ in some respects concerning the criteria included in their motivations and the knowledge upon which they base their motivations.
|
|
| 27. |
|
|
| 28. |
- Sahlberg-Blom, Eva, et al.
(författare)
-
Assistant nurses’ descriptions of signs of dying among older people in nursing homes
- 2013
-
Ingår i: Vård i Norden. - : SAGE Publications. - 0107-4083 .- 1890-4238. ; 33:3, s. 20-24
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: In Sweden, assistant nurses are the group of professionals who have a great deal of contact with older, dying persons in nursing homes. They have substantial experience in this area. It is therefore important that their voices are heard about their experience of how they identify that an older person is dying.Aim: The purpose was to describe assistant nurses’ experiences of signs of dying among older people in nursing homes.Method: A qualitative manifest content analysis was used. Four interviews were performed with eight experienced assistant nurses, individually or in groups, from two nursing homes.Findings: The result is characterized by the assistant nurses’ descriptions of both subtle and manifest signs that an older person is dying. The analysis led to two categories: “the older person expresses insight” and “the older person’s body changes”. The first of these mainly involved observations of psychosocial changes, while the second mainly contained observations of bodily changes.Conclusion: The clinical experiences as the assistant nurses achieve give valuable incitements for creating good palliative care. The assistant nurses must be seen as a significant part of the care team. They should be offered continuous education and support regarding palliative care in order to develop their skills and practical knowledge.
|
|
| 29. |
- Sahlberg Blom, Eva
(författare)
-
Autonomi, beroende, livskvalitet : Livets sista månad för 56 cancerpatienter
- 2001
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The main purpose of the present study was to obtain an in-depth understanding of what the final phase of life was like for a group of gravely ill and dying cancer patients, with focus on autonomy, dependency and quality of life. The specific aims were to: 1) describe the patients' autonomy and how the attitudes of relatives and staff promoted/hindered patient participation in decision-making, 2) describe how the patients assessed their quality of life in two care cultures, 3) describe how members of the care team prognosticated the patients' remaining survival time, and 4) investigate continuity of care site in two different care cultures during the patients' final month of life. The theoretical framework consisted of Weisman's concept of an appropriate death, and an ethical perspective based on a dialogical ethic and truthfulness.The study comprised 56 consecutively selected adult cancer patients. Data was collected via retrospective interviews with relatives, quality of life assessments by the patients, prognoses/motivations from members in the care team, and register data on the utilisation of forms of care. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used. Four categories respecting autonomy were found; the dying patients exercised their autonomy as self-determiners, co-determiners, delegators and nonparticipators. The co-determiners and delegators practised "shared autonomy" in interaction with relatives and staff, and a dialogue characterised by truthfulness was typical of the interplay. In the assessment of quality of life, half of the patients assessed themselves as satisfied/somewhat satisfied with their situation. The "cognitive-" and "emotional functioning" differed least from that of a normal population, while "physical-", "role functioning" and "global health status/quality of life" differed most. The prognosticated and the actual remaining survival time were in agreement for 19/51 patients (± 0.5 months). Some resistance to prognosticating emerged. The members of the care team used different forms of knowledge to motivate their prognostication. Continuity in terms of care site was fairly high for the majority of dying patients. To a great extent, organisational and structural factors determined the choice of care form.
|
|
| 30. |
- Sahlberg-Blom, Eva, et al.
(författare)
-
Is good 'quality of life' possible at the end of life? : An explorative study of the experiences of a group of cancer patients in two different care cultures
- 2001
-
Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Nursing. - : Wiley. - 0962-1067 .- 1365-2702. ; 10:4, s. 550-562
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The purpose of this paper was to explore how a group of gravely ill patients, cared for in different care cultures, assessed their quality of life during their last month of life.* The study material comprised quality of life assessments from 47 cancer patients, completed during their last month of life. Two quality of life questionnaires, the EORTC QLQ-C30 and a psychosocial well-being questionnaire, were used. The data were treated in accordance with instructions for the respective questionnaires, and the results are presented primarily as means, mostly at the group level. Assessments from patients in two different care cultures, care-orientated and cure-orientated, were compared.* The results show that despite having an assessed lower quality of life in many dimensions than people in general, several patients experienced happiness and satisfaction during their last month of life.* 'Cognitive functioning' and 'emotional functioning' were the dimensions that differed least from those of the general population, and 'physical functioning', 'role functioning' and 'global health status/quality of life' differed the most. 'Fatigue' showed the highest mean for the symptom scales/items.* There was a tendency for those cared for in the cure-orientated care culture to report more symptoms than those in the care-orientated care culture. An exception to this was 'pain', which was reported more often by those in the care-orientated care culture.* The implications of the results are discussed from different angles. The significance of knowledge concerning how patients experience their quality of life is also discussed with respect to the care and the planning of care for dying patients.
|
|
| 31. |
- Sahlberg-Blom, Eva, et al.
(författare)
-
Patient participation in decision making at the end of life as seen by a close relative
- 2000
-
Ingår i: Nursing Ethics. - : SAGE Publications. - 0969-7330 .- 1477-0989. ; 7:4, s. 296-313
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of the present study was to describe variations in patientparticipation in decisions about care planningduring the final phase of life for a group of gravely ill patients, and how the different actors’manner of acting promotes or impedes patientparticipation. Thirty-seven qualitative research interviewswere conducted with relatives of the patients.The patients’ participation in the decisionscould be categorized into four variations: self-determination,co-determination, delegation and nonparticipation.The manner in which patients, relatives andcaregivers acted differed in the respective variations; thisseemed either to promote or to impede the patients’opportunities of participating in the decisionmaking. The possibility for participation seems to be context dependent and affected by many factors suchas the dying patient’s personality, thesocial network, the availability of different forms of care,cultural values, and the extent to which nursesand other caregivers of the different formsof care can and want to support the wishes of the patients andrelatives in the decision-making process.
|
|
| 32. |
|
|
| 33. |
- Sahlberg-Blom, Eva, et al.
(författare)
-
The last month of life : continuity, care site and place of death
- 1998
-
Ingår i: Palliative Medicine. - : SAGE Publications. - 0269-2163 .- 1477-030X. ; 12:4, s. 287-296
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A hospice ward was opened in 1991 at the Örebro MedicalCentre Hospital (ÖMCH) in Sweden. Shortly afterwards, aresearch project was started, which aimed to describe differentaspects of the final period of life of a group of cancer patients.This exploratory study is part of this project and aims to assesscontinuity in the site of care for a group of severely ill cancerpatients during the final stages of their lives, and their placeof death within different cultures of care.This prospective study involved 56 adults with cancer who hadbeen admitted to six specialized departments at ÖMCH. Demographicand diagnostic data, documentation of when the patients changedfrom one care form to another, as well as place of death wereobtained. The analysis of continuity in terms of care site involvedcare-oriented cultures (hospice ward, hospital-based home care,primary care-based home care and nursing home) and cure-orientedcultures (acute hospital wards).Considered as a group, the patients spent one-third of theirtime at home during their final month of life, with or withoutformal caregivers. For individual patients, however, there weregreat variations with regard to continuity of care site andcare form. A pattern was found for the type of cancer the patientshad and where they were during their final month. Ten patientsdied in their own homes, and of the 46 who died in an institution,approximately the same number died in a care-oriented cultureas in a cure-oriented culture.
|
|
| 34. |
- Tishelman, C, et al.
(författare)
-
Complexity in caring for patients with advanced cancer
- 2004
-
Ingår i: Journal of Advanced Nursing. - : Wiley. - 0309-2402 .- 1365-2648. ; 45:4, s. 420-429
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background. The gap between nursing research and practice is readily acknowledged in literature, with a variety of strategies suggested for reducing this gap. It is necessary not only to address problems of research implementation in practice, but also to find strategies that strengthen the influence of practitioners on research agendas through more collaborative relationships in order to have an impact on care of patients. A multi-centre research project was therefore initiated by two universities and three health care facilities, aiming to improve quality of care for patients with advanced cancer through a knowledge-exchange programme between nurse researchers, practitioners and students. Aim. The aim of this article is to explore how clinical staff reason about care provision for patients with advanced cancer, through analysis of 20 focus group discussions conducted with staff in three different health care facilities in two Swedish cities. An initial analysis based on grounded theory was complemented with consideration of the interactive process in the focus group discussions, and carried out by a team consisting of senior nurse researchers, clinical experts and nursing instructors. Findings. The findings of the focus group discussions emphasize the complexity of caregiving for patients with advanced cancer. The tension between caregiving ideals and limits imposed by the realities of caregiving in today's health system were striking. Practitioners discussed the organization of care, different constellations of relationships between patients, family members and professionals, and theoretical and experiential knowledge as equally important aspects in dealing with all concrete situations in daily practice. The importance of reflective practice, use of self and ethical reasoning also permeated the focus group discussions. Conclusions. These findings highlight an integrated need both to influence organizational structures and working relationships, along with increasing knowledge, if sustainable change is to be effected.
|
|
| 35. |
- Tishelman, Carol, et al.
(författare)
-
Using undergraduate nursing students as mediators in a knowledge transfer programme for care for patients with advanced cancer
- 2008
-
Ingår i: European Journal of Cancer Care. - : Hindawi Limited. - 0961-5423 .- 1365-2354. ; 17:3, s. 253-260
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Nursing today faces numerous challenges. Societal changes lead to reorganization of health care, changing workloads with sicker patients in hospital and home care, and limited economic resources. The increasing and changing nature of knowledge needed for expert care provision challenges nurses to continually update their competencies. These are issues demanding proactive and dynamic changes in the way nurses conceive their mandates and practice. The aim of the action-research project presented here was to foster improved quality of care for patients with advanced cancer through collaborative endeavours integrating cancer nursing clinical practice, research and education in a knowledge exchange programme. The programme was based on input about caregiving needs from multi-professional staff caring for patients with advanced cancer in a variety of healthcare settings. Undergraduate baccalaureate nursing students were then engaged in literature studies to help address these needs. Results of the studies were communicated back to the involved clinicians in a variety of ways. In this paper, we discuss what we have experienced as opportunities and obstacles in conducting the project, based on our reflections and external evaluations. This is linked to a broader discussion of ways of integrating cancer nursing research, education and practice.
|
|
| 36. |
|
|
| 37. |
- Wätterbjörk, Inger, 1955-
(författare)
-
Couples' experiences of an extended information visit about prenatal screening : decision making and satisfaction
- 2014
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The overall aim of this thesis was to describe pregnant women's and partners' views and experiences on early prenatal screening with the combined test, with special focus on the two-step information model.Interviews were performed with 15 couples who had taken part in the extended information visit about prenatal screening, describing their perceptions of the information model (I) and ten couples or women of those, for a follow-up interview exploring their decision-making process (II). Seven couples, who had not taken part in the extended information visit, were interviewed describing their views and experiences about prenatal screening (III). A questionnaire was answered by 295 women and by 223 partners about their satisfaction about the decision whether or not to participate in the combined test, and their assessment of whether or not this choice had been difficult (IV).The results showed that different opinions were expressed about the offer of the extended information visit. The separate visit was welcomed by most couples (I). The decision-making process regarding whether to take part in the test or not was described by most couples as a fairly straightforward decision, while for others it was a more complex process that required a great deal of consideration (II). An apprehension of the test, by some of those who had refrained the extended information visit, was that it was an expression of society's involvement in decisions that belong to the expectant parents (III). Ninety-three percent of both women and partners considered the decision about participating in the combined tests as uncomplicated, and well over 90%, of both women and partners were satisfied with their decision (IV).The conclusions in this thesis, are that the decision whether or not to participate in the combined test is multidimensional and influenced by different views. The two-step information model helped the pregnant woman and the partner to make a decision in a fairly straightforward process or a more complex process with mixed feelings.
|
|
| 38. |
- Wätterbjörk, Inger, 1955-, et al.
(författare)
-
Decision-making about prenatal screening : are pregnant women and partners satisfied with their decision?
- 2013
-
Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Objective The combined test for Down syndrome is offered to pregnant women. Qualitative studies have shown that the decision, whether or not to accept the test,is a rational one for most couples, although for some it may be difficult. Little is known about the couples’ satisfaction with the decision afterwards; the aim of this study was to extend that knowledgeMethod Pregnant women and their partners were invited to fill out a questionnaire at approximately pregnancy week 20. The questionnaire, which covered aspects of their decision on prenatal testing, was based on the Decision Regret Scale, with additional questionsResults The response rate was 77% (295/359 women and 223/315 partners). The decision whether or not to participate in the combined test was seen as mutual by 95% of the women and 96% of the partners, and was perceived as uncomplicated by 93% of both women and partners. The decision was considered as difficult/very difficult by 6%. With a range of 93% – 99% women and partners were satisfied with their decision afterwards, but 1%–7% were notConclusion The majority of the participants were satisfied wither their decision. However, a small minority were not, which is important to recognize.
|
|
| 39. |
- Wätterbjörk, Inger, 1955-, et al.
(författare)
-
Decision-making process of prenatal screening described by pregnant women and their partners
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Health Expectations. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 1369-6513 .- 1369-7625. ; 18:5, s. 1582-1592
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Pregnant women are often faced with having to decide about prenatal screening for Down’s syndrome. However,the decision to participate in or refrain from prenatal screening can be seen as an important decision not only for the pregnant woman but also for both the partners.Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the couples’ processes of decision making about prenatal screening.Methods: A total of 37 semi-structured interviews conducted at two time points were analysed using the interpretive description.Setting: The study was carried out in Maternal health-care centres,Örebro County Council, Sweden.Participants: Fifteen couples of different ages and with different experiences of pregnancy and childbirth were interviewed.Results: Three different patterns of decision making were identified. For the couples in The open and communicative decision-making process’, the process was straightforward and rational, and the couples discussed the decision with each other. ‘The closed and personal decision-making process’ showed an immediate and non-communicative decision making where the couples decided each for themselves. The couples showing ‘The searching and communicative decision-making process’ followed an arduous road in deciding whether to participate or not in prenatal screening and how to cope with the result.Conclusions: The decision-making process was for some couples a fairly straightforward decision, while for others it was a more complex process that required a great deal of consideration.
|
|
| 40. |
|
|
| 41. |
|
|
| 42. |
- Wätterbjörk, Inger, 1955-, et al.
(författare)
-
Pregnant women's and their partners' perception of an information model on prenatal screening
- 2012
-
Ingår i: Prenatal Diagnosis. - Malden, USA : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0197-3851 .- 1097-0223. ; 32:5, s. 461-466
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: Extended verbal information on prenatal screening was given when combined ultrasound and biochemistry screening test was offered at Örebro County Council, Sweden, in 2008. The aim of this study was to describe pregnant women's and her partners' perceptions of this information model.Method: The interviews were semi-structured, and altogether, 26 interviews were performed with pregnant women and partners. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the data.Results: The result consists of two main categories, ‘form and content’ and ‘managing the information’, to describe the couples' perceptions of the information given. Nine categories describe the information model in: voluntariness, a separate visit, a special midwife, the content, missing information, ethical considerations, a visit on equal terms, communication within the couple, communication with other people, and emotional management.Conclusion: The information model helps expecting parents to focus on prenatal screening. Only information about prenatal screening and diagnosis was not enough for everybody; some couples want this to be an opportunity to discuss with a professional the pros and cons of prenatal screening as well as ethical considerations. The information visit gives the partner a chance to be involved and an opportunity for the couple to discuss the subject.
|
|
| 43. |
- Wätterbjörk, Inger, 1955-, et al.
(författare)
-
Reasons for declining extended information visit on prenatal screening among pregnant women and their partners
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Prenatal Diagnosis. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0197-3851 .- 1097-0223. ; 35:12, s. 1232-1237
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: A two-step model on information on prenatal screening consists of brief information at the first visit at the Maternal Health Care Centre and an offer of extended information at a separate visit. There is a lack of knowledge why some pregnant women and their partners refrain from the extended information visit. The aim of this study was to explore their reasonsMethod: Eight qualitative interviews were analysed using Interpretive Description.Results: In the first theme “From an individual view”, the interviewees saw the invitation from their own points of view. They refrained because they did not want to receive any more information or had taken an individual position against chromosomal testing. In the theme, “From a societal view”, the interviewees perceived the offer as part of a societal view on prenatal screening that they could not support.Conclusion: The findings shows that these interviewees' reasons of declining an extended information visit are multidimensional and influenced by different views, from both an individual perspective and a more societal one. Health care professionals should be aware that some persons could have a different view on health care services and could be reluctant to accept offered services.
|
|
| 44. |
|
|
| 45. |
|
|
| 46. |
|
|
| 47. |
|
|
| 48. |
- Wätterbjörk, Inger, 1955-, et al.
(författare)
-
Views on prenatal screening among pregnant women and partners declining an extended information
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: A County Council in Sweden has implemented a two-step information model about prenatal screening. In addition to the regular brief information delivered by the midwife at the first routine visit at the maternal health care centre, the two-step model includes an offer of extended information at a separate visit. However, a substantial number of the couples decline and there is a lack of knowledge about their reasons. The aim of this study was to describe views about prenatal screening among couples who had not taken part in an extended information visit, to increase understanding of the perspectives of prenatal screening in this group.Method: Qualitative interviews were performed with seven couples not participating in an extended information visit about prenatal screening. Data were analysed using Interpretive Description. Results: The results showed two themes. In the theme “From an individual view”, with the subthemes Declining further information and, Position taken against prenatal screening, the couples saw the invitation and prenatal screening from their own points of view. They refrained because they did not want to receive any more information. In the other theme, “From a societal view”, with the subthemes Society has a hidden agenda and, The health care service’s responsibilities, the couples perceived the offer as part of a societal view on prenatal screening, that they could not support.Conclusion: The findings in this group of couples shows that couples’ perceptions of prenatal screening are multidimensional and influenced by different views, from both an individual perspective and a more societal one.Practice Implications: Health care professionals should be aware that some persons could be reluctant to accept health care service, and that the challenge is to meet all individuals, without violating their autonomy. Person-centred care could assist with an approach to meeting the person as an individual.
|
|
