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- Mattsson, Susanne, 1978-
(författare)
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Health-related Internet use and screening for emotional distress in people with cancer
- 2018
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate the preferences and incentives for using Internet-delivered support among people with cancer and to develop and test a generic questionnaire measuring health-related Internet use, the Health Online Support Questionnaire (HOSQ). Another aim was to examine the psychometric properties of the online-administered Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) regarding anxiety and depression in psychosocial screening among people with cancer, in comparisons with the longer instruments Montgomery Åsberg Depression Rating Scale – Self-report (MADRS-S) and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory – State (STAI-S).Study I was a correlational and descriptive study on the development and psychometric properties of the HOSQ. Study II was a cross-sectional and descriptive study on health related Internet use in patients with cancer. Study III was a cross-sectional and descriptive study examining preferences for psychological treatments. Study IV was a psychometric comparison study of two short instruments and two longer instruments measuring anxiety and depression.Findings from study I showed that the HOSQ might be a reliable and valid instrument for measuring the use of online support for people with health problems. Results ought to be replicated though in larger and other groups to confirm the results for different diagnoses. Findings from study II confirmed results from other studies showing that people with cancer turn to the Internet for informational support that enables them to influence their care and to stay in touch with friends and relatives. Demographical differences regarding the uptake of Internet-based support remains, which indicates a need for research on how to bridge this digital gap. In study III, we found that a large majority preferred psychological treatment face to face whereas Internet-based interventions were reported as the preferred choice by a minority. Findings from the content analysis suggest that Internet-based interventions have specific advantages that may facilitate help-seeking among some individuals and some disadvantages that may be perceived as barriers. Initiatives to increase treatment acceptability may benefit from addressing the advantages and disadvantages reported in this study. In study IV we found that the use of the short and ultrashort tools HADS and VAS identified anxiety and depression in patients with cancer with high accuracy in comparisons with the longer instruments.In conclusion, online screening with the HADS and VAS may be a suitable initial method to identify anxiety and depression in patients with cancer. There is still a large proportion of patients who lack the interest or eHealth literacy to use health-related support on the Internet. By learning more about the barriers, use and perception of eHealth and Internet-based interventions, adequate support may be offered.
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| 2. |
- Byrskog, Ulrika, 1970-
(författare)
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’Moving On’ and Transitional Bridges : Studies on migration, violence and wellbeing in encounters with Somali-born women and the maternity health care in Sweden
- 2015
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- During the latest decade Somali-born women with experiences of long-lasting war followed by migration have increasingly encountered Swedish maternity care, where antenatal care midwives are assigned to ask questions about exposure to violence. The overall aim in this thesis was to gain deeper understanding of Somali-born women’s wellbeing and needs during the parallel transitions of migration to Sweden and childbearing, focusing on maternity healthcare encounters and violence. Data were obtained from medical records (paper I), qualitative interviews with Somali-born women (II, III) and Swedish antenatal care midwives (IV). Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used. Compared to pregnancies of Swedish-born women, Somali-born women’s pregnancies demonstrated later booking and less visits to antenatal care, more maternal morbidity but less psychiatric treatment, less medical pain relief during delivery and more emergency caesarean sections and small-for-gestational-age infants (I). Political violence with broken societal structures before migration contributed to up-rootedness, limited healthcare and absent state-based support to women subjected to violence, which reinforced reliance on social networks, own endurance and faith in Somalia (II). After migration, sources of wellbeing were a pragmatic “moving-on” approach including faith and motherhood, combined with social coherence. Lawful rights for women were appreciated but could concurrently risk creating power tensions in partner relationships. Generally, the Somali-born women associated the midwife more with providing medical care than with overall wellbeing or concerns about violence, but new societal resources were parallel incorporated with known resources (III). Midwives strived for woman-centered approaches beyond ethnicity and culture in care encounters, with language, social gaps and divergent views on violence as potential barriers in violence inquiry. Somali-born women’s strength and contentment were highlighted, and ongoing violence seldom encountered according to the midwives experiences (IV). Pragmatism including “moving on” combined with support from family and social networks, indicate capability to cope with violence and migration-related stress. However, this must be balanced against potential unspoken needs at individual level in care encounters.With trustful relationships, optimized interaction and networking with local Somali communities and across professions, the antenatal midwife can have a “bridging-function” in balancing between dual societies and contribute to healthy transitions in the new society.
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| 3. |
- Nilsson, Åsa, 1967-
(författare)
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Towards a shared understanding : Exploring encounters in hospital care from the perspectives of nurses and patients
- 2017
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The overall aim of this licentiate thesis was to describe encounters in hospital care from the perspectives of nurses and patients. It focuses specifically on nurses’ views of shortcomings in patient-care encounters in one hospital (I) and the meanings of participation in hospital care as narrated by patients (II). Three focus group discussions with 15 registered nurses were conducted, and data were analyzed using thematic content analysis (I). Narrative interviews were conducted with 15 patients in hospital care, and the interviews were analyzed with a phenomenological hermeneutic interpretation (II). This licentiate thesis shows that a shared understanding is considered as central for both the nurses and the patients in the hospital-care encounter. The nurses demonstrate the need to understand, to create space, and also to be available for vulnerable patients. The patients describe the need to be understood and to understand their own situations. This thesis suggests that positive encounters in hospital care imply that nurses need to take responsibility for creating a mutual dialogue where the patient experiences himself or herself as a co-creator in a trustful context. When nurses acknowledge and confirm the vulnerability of their patients, it becomes possible to support them to participate in an active manner. A well-functioning team, as well as a coherent environment, is, in this thesis, understood as a precondition for positive hospitalcare encounters.
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