| 1. |
- Abdelmassih Waller, Peter, et al.
(author)
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The Extended Television : Using tangible computing to meet the needs of older persons at a nursing home
- 2008
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In: Gerontechnology. - : International Society for Gerontechnology (ISG). - 1569-1101 .- 1569-111X. ; 7:1, s. 36-47
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper presents a person-centred model and a tangible computing approach to better adapt television media to meet two important needs of older people: social inclusion in their immediate surroundings and better support for one’s own reflections. Method The research project was carried out as a part of the construction, planning and implementation of a new nursing home. The implemented infrastructure enabled television watching at three levels: the regular (broadcast programmes), the internal and the personal. The internal level consisted of an in-house broadcast television channel and two media centres placed in common areas. The personal level had individualised functions. The entire concept is referred to as ‘extended television’. This paper describes the early implementation phase of the internal television channel and the personal television photo album. It also examines the consequences of a person-centred model and a tangible computing approach. Participation in the use of the ‘extended television’ together with older people, relatives and care workers, semistructured dialogues with these people, and observations of the television usage were conducted. Furthermore, the care workers were invited to comment on the prototypes very early in the process. Results Both the internal channel and the personal television photo album were used by older residents and iteratively adapted. However, too many factors and routines varied to get statistically sound results. On the other hand, the research shows that the person-centred study design utilised provided positive results in a setting with constantly changing conditions. Discussion This design encourages further investigations regarding how new conceptual television design can enrich the everyday lives of older people. The results also indicate the plausibility of television photo albums providing new opportunities for reminiscence compared to traditional ones, and that the internal channel resulted in possibilities for social inclusion in the nursing home examined.
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| 2. |
- Bennet, Louise, et al.
(author)
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Clinical appearance of erythema migrans caused by Borrelia afzelii and Borrelia garinii : effect of the patient´s sex
- 2006
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In: Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift. - : SPRINGER WIEN. - 0043-5325 .- 1613-7671. ; 118:17-18, s. 531-537
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim: The aim in this survey was to study the clinical characteristics of infections caused by Borrelia genospecies in patients with erythema migrans where Borrelial origin was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. The aim was also to study factors influencing the clinical appearance of erythema migrans. Methods: The study was conducted in southern Sweden from May 2001 to December 2003 on patients 18 years and older attending with erythema migrans at outpatient clinics. All erythema migrans were verified by polymerase chain reaction, photographed and categorized into “annular” or “non-annular” lesions. A logistic regression model was used to analyze relations between the appearance of the erythema migrans (i.e., annular or non-annular) and factors that influenced its clinical appearances. Results: A total of 118 patients, 54 women (45.8%) and 64 men (54.2%), fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Of these patients, 74% were infected by B. afzelii, 26% by B. garinii ( p < 0.001). A total of 45% (38/85) of the erythema migrans were annular, 46% (39/85) were non-annular and 9.4% (8/85) were atypical. For men infected by B. afzelii the odds ratio of developing non-annular erythema migrans was 0.09 (95% CI: 0.03 - 0.33) in comparison with women with the same infection. Conclusions: In this prospective study of a large series of erythema migrans, where infecting genospecies were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction, the sex of patients infected with B. afzelii had a strong influence on the appearance of the rash. Patients infected by B. garinii more often had non-annular erythema migrans and a more virulent infection with more individuals presenting with fever, raised levels of C-reactive protein and seroreactivity in the convalescence sera.
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| 3. |
- Bennet, Louise, et al.
(author)
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Effect of Gender on Clinical and Epidemiologic Features of Lyme Borreliosis
- 2007
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In: Vector Borne and Zoonotic Diseases. - : Vector-borne and zoonotic diseases. - 1530-3667 .- 1557-7759. ; 7:1, s. 34-41
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim is to highlight the influence of patients’ gender on Lyme borreliosis and especially erythema migrans (EM), focusing on exposure to tick bites, epidemiology, and the clinical picture. All studies were conducted in the county of Blekinge, located in southeastern Sweden. A prospective study was conducted in 235 individuals (women, n=110; men, n=125) engaged in recreational or occupational activities focusing on exposure to tick bites. A retrospective epidemiological study evaluating 123,495 electronic patients´ records (women, n=61,712; men, n=61,783) and a prospective clinical study including 118 patients (women, n=54; men, n=64) 18 years or older seeking care for EM > 5 cm in diameter with genospecies verified by polymerase chain reaction were conducted. Results: Women 40 years or older had a 48% higher risk than men 40 years or older and 42% higher risk than women younger than 40 years of attracting tick bites (0.0188 versus 0.0127 and 0.0188 versus 0.0132 tick bites respectively per hour). Additionally they had a 96% higher risk than men younger than 40 years of attracting tick bites (0.0188 versus 0.0096). The annual incidence rate of EM in women was 506 and in men 423 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (p<0.001). Significant differences in incidence rates occurred in those 40 years or older. Odds ratios for males infected with Borrelia afzelii developing nonannular EM were 0.09 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.03 to 0.33) in comparison with females infected by Borrelia afzelii. Conclusions: Significant gender differences in the risk of contracting tick bites, incidence rates, and clinical picture of EM have been observed. Exposure to tick bites alone may not explain these observations and further studies need to be done to clarify the biologic, immunologic, and sociological mechanisms causing these differences.
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| 4. |
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Dementia, Design and Technology : Time to get involved.
- 2009
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Editorial collection (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The interest for the design of life environments for persons with dementia is growing stronger among architects, engineers, social scientists and those responsible for housing and health care planning. This development is connected to the enlarged group of people that become afflicted by this disease and to the fact that a safe environment is proved to be very important for their well-being as well as for their relatives and carers. Dementia is a progressive syndrome and the risk increases by age. Since there is no cure for this disease what we can do is to improve their life situation. It is often called the disease of the relatives because it deeply effects relations and daily life. It is also a disease that the individual has to live with. Most often the meaning of daily routines and the use of common technical applications and services changes dramatically. Efforts are made to design housing for persons with dementia and systems to support their carers. Technologies and a variety of aids is expected to help in developing efficiency of these services, supporting family carers and providing solutions for independent living and improved quality of life of persons with dementia. So far, persons with dementia have not been involved in most of the design processes. Their voice has been used by their informal or formal carers or dementia experts. As a consequence most solutions available are focusing mainly on safety and needs of the carers while other needs and possibilities are mainly neglected. Published result confirms that the lack of user involvement did not facilitate the use of common applications, nor assistive technologies. The aim of this book is to increase the understanding of subjective needs of people with dementia and the way this understanding can promote and improve their involvement in design processes. We will present examples of design and design interventions where people with dementia are involved and what is required from technology when the user has an illness causing dementia. Because of the fact that approaches to involve people with dementia in design as active users of technology are still quite novel, we will also discuss ethical issues and challenging experiences gathered in our studies. The authors represent on-going design and research in Scandinavia and United Kingdom.
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| 5. |
- Koinberg, Inga-Lill, et al.
(author)
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The usefulness of a multidisciplinary educational programme after breast cancer surgery : A prospective and comparative study
- 2006
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In: European Journal of Oncology Nursing. - London : Elsevier. - 1462-3889 .- 1532-2122. ; 10, s. 273-82
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of the study was to compare and evaluate a multidisciplinary educational programme with traditional follow-up visits to a physician after breast cancer surgery in terms of well-being, aspects of self-care and coping ability 1 year after diagnosis. A reduction in the intensity of follow-up after breast cancer surgery is recommended. New follow-up models are being debated and could be of interest. The study design was non-randomised and comparative. Ninety-six consecutively selected women with newly diagnosed breast cancer, classified as stage I or stage II, participated in either a multidisciplinary educational programme (n = 5 0), or traditional follow-up by a physician (n = 4 6). Three questionnaires were used: Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G), a study specific questionnaire regarding self-care aspects (SCA) and Sense of Coherence (SOC). With the exception of physical well-being at baseline there was no significant difference between the groups. The women in the multidisciplinary educational programme increased their physical and functional well-being (P < 0.0 1). The women in traditional follow-up by a physician increased their functional well-being while social/family well-being (P < 0.0 1) decreased over time. There was a statistically significant difference in SOC (P < 0.0 0 1) in the traditional follow-up by a physician between baseline (mean=74.4, SD=12.4) and the 1-year follow up (mean=67.7, SD=11.4). Thus, women in the traditional follow-up by a physician scored lower in the area of SOC 1 year after diagnosis. A multidisciplinary educational programme may be an alternative to traditional follow-up by a physician after breast cancer surgery, but more research is needed about the financial benefits and effectiveness of such a programme.
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| 6. |
- Lundh, Lars-Gunnar, et al.
(author)
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The role of personal standards in clinically significant perfectionism : a person-oriented approach to the study of patterns of perfectionism
- 2008
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In: Cognitive Therapy and Research. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0147-5916 .- 1573-2819. ; 32:3, s. 333-50
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Clinically significant perfectionism is defined as patterns of perfectionism which are over-represented in clinical samples and under-represented in non-clinical samples. The present study contrasted two hypotheses about what characterizes clinically significant perfectionism: the two-factor theory and perfectionism/acceptance theory. First, a person-oriented approach by means of cluster analysis was used to identify typical patterns of perfectionism. These clusters were then cross-tabulated with two clinical samples (patients with social phobia and patients with panic disorder) and a non-clinical sample. The results showed that patterns of clinically significant perfectionism combined high Concern over Mistakes (CM) and Doubts about Action (DA) with high Personal Standards (PS) (and to a lesser extent also high Organization)--which is consistent with perfectionism/acceptance theory, but at odds with the two factor theory. The results illustrate the value of a person-oriented methodological approach as a complement to the traditional variable-oriented approach.
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| 7. |
- Stjernberg, Louise, et al.
(author)
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Detecting ticks on light versus dark clothing
- 2005
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases. - : Taylor & Francis. - 0036-5548 .- 1651-1980. ; 37:5, s. 361-364
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- It is common belief that ticks are more visible and easier to detect on light clothing in comparison with dark clothing. We studied which of the clothing, light or dark, had the least attractive effect on Ixodes ricinus, thus minimizing exposure and thereby in theory help to prevent tick borne diseases in humans. Ten participants, exposed by walking in tick endemic areas, wore alternately light and dark clothing before every new exposure. Nymphal and adult ticks on the clothing were collected and counted. Totally, 886 nymphal ticks were collected. The overall mean in found ticks between the both groups differed significantly, with 20.8 more ticks per person on light clothing. All participants had more ticks on light clothing in all periods of exposure. Dark clothing seems to attract fewer ticks.
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| 8. |
- Stjernberg, Louise, et al.
(author)
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Tick prevention in a population living in a highly endemic area
- 2005
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In: Scandinavian Journal of Public Health. - : Sage. - 1403-4948 .- 1651-1905. ; 33:6, s. 432-8
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aims: To describe environmental and personal tick preventive measures and their predictors, taken by a population living in a highly tick-endemic area. Methods: Due to the recent confirmation of human tick-borne encephalitis cases, vaccination against tick borne encephalitis was offered to the population living in the endemic area through the use of leaflets and media campaigns. At the time for the initial dose, information and enrollment to this cohort study was carried out. Participants´ characteristics, frequency of tick-bites and preventive measures were included in questionnaires. Logistic analysis was used to determine behavioural differences in activities taken in order to prevent tick-bites. Conclusion: In total, 70% of the permanent residents had themselves vaccinated before the next tick-season. Of the studied participants 356/517 (69%) regularly took preventive measures in their environment and/or personally. Women in particular, and those previously treated for a tick-borne disease took significantly more preventive measures. When analysing all variables together, spending less time in tick-endemic area and being tick-bitten the latest tick-season significantly increased the probability of taking preventive measures. After being tick-bitten, men were more inclined to start taking preventive measures than women. Awareness of the risks caused by living in a high endemic area to ticks influenced the participant’s daily life through preventive activities. Public health action should be considered thus encouraging out-of-door activities for the population, without anxiety for risks for contracting tick-borne disease after being tick-bitten.
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| 9. |
- Östlund, Britt
(author)
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Har aeldre mennesker brug for design?
- 2008
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In: Gerontologi: aldring og aeldre - forskning og udvikling. - : Dansk Gerontologisk Selskab. - 1604-8644. ; 24:4, s. 16-17
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Journal article (pop. science, debate, etc.)
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| 10. |
- Östlund, Britt
(author)
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The revival of research circles : Meeting the Needs of Modern Aging and the Third Age
- 2008
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In: Educational gerontology. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0360-1277 .- 1521-0472. ; 34:4, s. 255-266
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper provides evidence that it is worthwhile to reconsider the traditional research circle method as a means of involving people in the third age in fulfilling their needs to participate in learning activities and make their voices heard. The findings are based on three cases of research circles consistently driven by the interests of the older participants and which increased their capacity to deepen their life experiences, create a political agenda for necessary change and become more attached to local history.
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