| 1. |
- Hammarström, Anne, et al.
(författare)
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Low-Educated Women with Chronic Pain Were Less Often Selected to Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation Programs
- 2014
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 9:5
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: There is a lack of research about a potential education-related bias in assessment of patients with chronic pain. The aim of this study was to analyze whether low-educated men and women with chronic pain were less often selected to multidisciplinary rehabilitation than those with high education. Methods: The population consisted of consecutive patients (n = 595 women, 266 men) referred during a three-year period from mainly primary health care centers for a multidisciplinary team assessment at a pain rehabilitation clinic at a university hospital in Northern Sweden. Patient data were collected from the Swedish Quality Registry for Pain Rehabilitation National Pain Register. The outcome variable was being selected by the multidisciplinary team assessment to a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program. The independent variables were: sex, age, born outside Sweden, education, pain severity as well as the hospital, anxiety and depression scale (HADS). Results: Low-educated women were less often selected to multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs than high-educated women (OR 0.55, CI 0.30-0.98), even after control for age, being born outside Sweden, pain intensity and HADS. No significant findings were found when comparing the results between high-and low-educated men. Conclusion: Our findings can be interpreted as possible discrimination against low-educated women with chronic pain in hospital referrals to pain rehabilitation. There is a need for more gender-theoretical research emphasizing the importance of taking several power dimensions into account when analyzing possible bias in health care.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Wiklund, Maria, 1962-, et al.
(författare)
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Subjective health complaints in older adolescents are related to perceived stress, anxiety and gender : a cross-sectional school study in Northern Sweden
- 2012
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Ingår i: BMC Public Health. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2458. ; 12:993
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: Adolescent subjective health has become a public health concern in Sweden and worldwide. The purpose of this study is to investigate perceived stress and subjective health complaints among older adolescents.Methods: Data were derived from a school-based survey with a sample consisting of 16–18 year olds (n=1027), boys and girls, in high school grades 1 and 2, from different educational programs in three public high schools within a university municipality in northern Sweden. Perceived stress, self-rated health, subjective health complaints, anxiety, and depression, were measured with a questionnaire including a set of instruments.Results: A large proportion of both girls and boys reported health complaints and perceived stress. There was a clear gender difference; girls reported two to three-fold higher proportions of subjective health complaints such as headache, tiredness and sleeping difficulties, musculoskeletal pain, as well as sadness and anxiety. Pressure and demands correlated strongly with psychosomatic symptoms (r=0.71) and anxiety (r=0.71).Conclusions: The results indicate that subjective health complaints are prevalent during adolescence, especially in girls, and furthermore that perceived stress and demands may be important explanatory factors. Future studies should pay attention to the balance between gender-related demands, perceived control and social support, particularly in the school environment, in order to prevent negative strain and stress-related ill-health. The gender gap in adolescent health needs to be further explored.
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| 4. |
- Alex, Lena, et al.
(författare)
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Beyond a Dichotomous View of the Concepts of 'Sex' and 'Gender' Focus Group Discussions among Gender Researchers at a Medical Faculty
- 2012
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public library of science. - 1932-6203. ; 7:11, s. e50275-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: The concepts of 'sex' and 'gender' are both of vital importance in medicine and health sciences. However, the meaning of these concepts has seldom been discussed in the medical literature. The aim of this study was to explore what the concepts of 'sex' and 'gender' meant for gender researchers based in a medical faculty. Methods: Sixteen researchers took part in focus group discussions. The analysis was performed in several steps. The participating researchers read the text and discussed ideas for analysis in national and international workshops. The data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. The authors performed independent preliminary analyses, which were further developed and intensively discussed between the authors. Results: The analysis of meanings of the concepts of 'sex' and 'gender' for gender researchers based in a medical faculty resulted in three categories; "Sex as more than biology", with the subcategories 'sex' is not simply biological, 'sex' as classification, and 'sex' as fluid and changeable; "Gender as a multiplicity of power-related constructions", with the subcategories: 'gender' as constructions, 'gender' power dimensions, and 'gender' as doing femininities and masculinities; "'Sex and gender as interwoven", with the subcategories: 'sex' and 'gender' as inseparable and embodying 'sex' and 'gender'. Conclusions: Gender researchers within medicine pointed out the importance of looking beyond a dichotomous view of the concepts of 'sex' and 'gender'. The perception of the concepts was that 'sex' and 'gender' were intertwined. Further research is needed to explore how 'sex' and 'gender' interact.
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| 5. |
- Christianson, Monica, et al.
(författare)
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Sex and gender traps and springboards : a focus group study among gender researchers in medicine and health sciences
- 2012
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Ingår i: Health Care for Women International. - : Taylor & Francis Group. - 0739-9332 .- 1096-4665. ; 33:8, s. 739-755
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We explored the difficulties that gender researchers encounter in their research and the strategies they use for solving these problems. Sixteen Swedish researchers, all women, took part in focus group discussions; the data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The problems reported fell into four main categories: the ambiguity of the concepts of sex and gender; traps associated with dichotomization; difficulties with communication; and issues around publication. Categories of suggested problem-solving strategies were adaptation, pragmatism, addressing the complexities, and definition of terms. Here the specific views of gender researchers in medicine and health sciences-"medical insiders"-bring new challenges into focus.
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| 6. |
- Fjellman-Wiklund, Anncristine, et al.
(författare)
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Take charge : Patients' experiences during participation in a rehabilitation programme for burnout
- 2010
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Ingår i: Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. - : Medical Journals Sweden AB. - 1650-1977 .- 1651-2081. ; 42:5, s. 475-481
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of patients with burnout during a rehabilitation programme.Patients and methods: Eighteen patients with burnout were interviewed at the end of a one-year rehabilitation programme. The programme consisted of 2 groups, one with a focus on cognitively-oriented behavioural rehabilitation and Qigong and 1 with a focus on Qigong alone. The interviews were analysed using the grounded theory method.Results: One core category, Take Charge, and 6 categories emerged. The core category represents a beneficial recovery process that helped the patients to take control of their lives. The common starting point for the process is presented in the 3 categories of Good encounters, Affirmation and Group cohesiveness. The categories were basic conditions for continuing development during rehabilitation. In the categories Get to know myself, How can I be the one I want to be? and Choice of track, the more group-specific tools are included, through which the patients adopted a new way of behaving.Conclusion: Patients in both groups experienced group participation as being beneficial for recovery and regaining control of their lives, although in somewhat different way. An experience of affirmation and support from health professionals and group participants is of importance for behavioural change
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| 7. |
- Halvarsson, Sara, et al.
(författare)
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From authority to coach : parents' experiences of streching as a home programme for childrern with cerebral palsy
- 2010
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Ingår i: Advances in Physiotherapy. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1403-8196 .- 1651-1948. ; 12:4, s. 208-216
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Stretching is a common treatment for children with cerebral palsy, carried out by parents together with their children in the home. The aim of the present study was to explore parents’ experiences of carrying out stretching as a home programme. In order to capture the informants’ own perceptions and experiences, a qualitative method, the Grounded Theory, was chosen. Fifteen semi-structured interviews with parents, using open-ended questions, were analysed. One core category, “From authority to coach”, and two categories, “Prerequisites for parenting during stretching” and “Child and parent interaction”, emerged. The parents described a gradual development of their own role in the home stretching programme, from that of an authority, when the child was young, to that of a coach when the child grew older. With this gradual development came an increased level of participation from the child, enabling stretching to be carried out regularly. According to the parents, stretching could not be carried out without the child's active participation. Along with the process, the parents perceived increasing stress through added pressure and demands. Mobility, time, coping strategies for stress and support from professionals, in particular physiotherapists, were important prerequisites for parents to help their child best with stretching exercises. Read More: http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/14038196.2010.528023
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| 8. |
- Hammarström, Anne, et al.
(författare)
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Central gender theoretical concepts in health research : the state of the art
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 0143-005X .- 1470-2738. ; 68:2, s. 185-190
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Despite increasing awareness of the importance of gender perspectives in health science, there is conceptual confusion regarding the meaning and the use of central gender theoretical concepts. We argue that it is essential to clarify how central concepts are used within gender theory and how to apply them to health research. We identify six gender theoretical concepts as central and interlinked-but problematic and ambiguous in health science: sex, gender, intersectionality, embodiment, gender equity and gender equality. Our recommendations are that: the concepts sex and gender can benefit from a gender relational theoretical approach (ie, a focus on social processes and structures) but with additional attention to the interrelations between sex and gender; intersectionality should go beyond additive analyses to study complex intersections between the major factors which potentially influence health and ensure that gendered power relations and social context are included; we need to be aware of the various meanings given to embodiment, which achieve an integration of gender and health and attend to different levels of analyses to varying degrees; and appreciate that gender equality concerns absence of discrimination between women and men while gender equity focuses on women's and men's health needs, whether similar or different. We conclude that there is a constant need to justify and clarify our use of these concepts in order to advance gender theoretical development. Our analysis is an invitation for dialogue but also a call to make more effective use of the knowledge base which has already developed among gender theorists in health sciences in the manner proposed in this paper.
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| 9. |
- Hammarström, Anne, et al.
(författare)
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Experiences of barriers and facilitators to weight-loss in a diet intervention : a qualitative study of women in Northern Sweden
- 2014
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Ingår i: BMC Women's Health. - : BioMed Central. - 1472-6874. ; 14, s. 59-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: There is a lack of research about the experiences of participating in weight-reducing interventions. The aim of this study was to explore barriers and facilitators to weight-loss experienced by participants in a diet intervention for middle-aged to older women in the general population in Northern Sweden.METHOD: In the intervention the women were randomised to eat either a Palaeolithic-type diet or a diet according to Nordic Nutrition recommendations for 24 months. A strategic selection was made of women from the two intervention groups as well as from the drop-outs in relation to social class, civil status and age. Thematic structured interviews were performed with twelve women and analysed with qualitative content analyses.RESULTS: The results showed that the women in the dietary intervention experienced two main barriers - struggling with self (related to difficulties in changing food habits, health problems, lack of self-control and insecurity) and struggling with implementing the diet (related to social relations and project-related difficulties) - and two main facilitators- striving for self-determination (related to having clear goals) and receiving support (from family/friends as well as from the project) - for weight-loss. There was a greater emphasis on barriers than on facilitators.CONCLUSION: It is important to also include drop-outs from diet interventions in order to fully understand barriers to weight-loss. A gender-relational approach can bring new insights into understanding experiences of barriers to weight-loss.
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| 10. |
- Hariz, Gun-Marie, et al.
(författare)
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Patients' perceptions of life shift after deep brain stimulation for primary dystonia : a qualitative study
- 2011
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Ingår i: Movement Disorders. - : Wiley. - 0885-3185 .- 1531-8257. ; 26:11, s. 2101-2106
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Studies of deep brain stimulation for dystonia have shown significant motor improvement. However, patients' perceptions of surgery and its effects have been less studied. We aimed to explore perceptions of changes in life in patients with primary dystonia after deep brain stimulation. Thirteen patients underwent thematic interviews 8-60 months after pallidal deep brain stimulation. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed with grounded theory. Patients described a profound impact of dystonia on daily life. After surgery, physical changes with a more upright posture and fewer spasms translated into an easier, more satisfying life with greater confidence. Notwithstanding this positive outcome, the transition from a limited life before surgery to opportunities for a better life exhibited obstacles: The "new life" after deep brain stimulation was stressful, including concern about being dependent on the stimulator as well as having to deal with interfering side effects from deep brain stimulation. The whole coping process meant that patients had to quickly shift focus from struggling to adapt to a slowly progressive disorder to adjustment to a life with possibilities, but also with new challenges. In this demanding transition process, patients wished to be offered better professional guidance and support. Even though deep brain stimulation provides people with primary dystonia with a potential for better mobility and more confidence, patients experienced new challenges and expressed the need for support and counseling after surgery. Grounded theory is a useful method to highlight patients' own experience and contributes to a deeper understanding of the impact of deep brain stimulation on patients with dystonia.
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| 11. |
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| 12. |
- Holm, Sara
(författare)
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Children and Adolescents with Pain in Primary care : Biopsychosocial determinants and behavioral medicine treatment in a physical therapy framework
- 2014
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Pain during childhood and adolescents is prevalent and longstanding pain can have severe consequences for children, their families and in the long run for the society. Persisting pain influences many aspects of life and pain-related disability is often associated with impairment, decreased health-related quality of life, school functioning, participation in social life, emotional well-being, and with increased healthcare utilization. The overall aim was to explore, with cross-sectional design, pain conditions, to identify biopsychosocial determinants and their association with pain-related disability, and to study the feasibility of applying a behavioral medicine treatment for adolescents experiencing musculoskeletal pain using randomized controlled design and multimethod approach. Samples of children and adolescents and their parents seeking primary care physical therapy for a pain condition, and a sample of treating physical therapists were included.The results showed that some children had profiles of biopsychosocial determinants that could increase the risk for long-term pain-related disability. Many had long pain duration and multiple pain locations. Girls reported higher levels of catastrophizing compared to boys, who in turn used more behavioral distraction generally regarded as a positive coping strategy.Behavioral medicine treatment, based on a biopsychosocial approach, targeting adolescents with pain was shown to be feasible for use in primary care, with promising outcomes. Tailoring of the treatment was suboptimal but the effect of behavioral medicine treatment in pain-related disability exceeded the effect of the control treatment. The satisfaction with treatment content and results were high for both the control- and experimental condition, significantly higher for the experimental condition as rated by participants. Learning and delivering the behavioral medicine intervention was perceived challenging but rewarding by the treating physical therapists. The biopsychosocial approach in tailoring the treatment, and dialogs with parents were identified as key aspects in the behavioral medicine treatment program.In conclusion, in children seeking primary care for pain, the factors associated with pain-related disability were complex and interrelated. The findings highlight the importance for primary care health care providers to apply a biopsychosocial approach in assessment and treatment, for improvement of activities and participation, and thereby helping children and adolescents regain health.
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| 13. |
- Häggqvist, Beatrice, et al.
(författare)
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"The balancing act". Licensed practical nurse experiences of falls and fall prevention : a qualitative study
- 2012
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Ingår i: BMC Geriatrics. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2318. ; 12, s. 62-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Falls are common in old age and may have serious consequences. There are many strategies to predict and prevent falls from occurring in long-term care and hospitals. The aim of this study was to describe licensed practical nurse experiences of predicting and preventing further falls when working with patients who had experienced a fall-related fracture. Licensed practical nurses are the main caretakers that work most closely with the patients.Methods: A qualitative study of focus groups interviews and field observations was done. 15 licensed practical nurses from a rehabilitation ward and an acute ward in a hospital in northern Sweden were interviewed. Content was analyzed using qualitative content analysis.Results: The result of the licensed practical nurse thoughts and experiences about risk of falling and fall prevention work is represented in one theme, "the balancing act". The theme includes three categories: "the right to decide", "the constant watch", and "the ongoing negotiation" as well as nine subcategories. The analysis showed similarities and differences between rehabilitation and acute wards. At both wards it was a core strategy in the licensed practical nurse work to always be ready and to pay attention to patients' appearance and behavior. At the rehabilitation ward, it was an explicit working task to judge the patients' risk of falling and to be active to prevent falls. At the acute ward, the words "risk of falling" were not used and fall prevention were not discussed; instead the licensed practical nurses used for example "dizzy and pale". The results also indicated differences in components that facilitate workplace learning and knowledge transfer.Conclusions: Differences between the wards are most probably rooted in organizational differences. When it is expected by the leadership, licensed practical nurses can express patient risk of falling, share their observations with others, and take actions to prevent falls. The climate and the structure of the ward are essential if licensed practical nurses are to be encouraged to routinely consider risk of falling and implement risk reduction strategies.
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| 14. |
- Mulligan, Hilda, et al.
(författare)
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Promoting physical activity for people with neurological disability : perspectives and experiences of physiotherapists
- 2011
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Ingår i: Physiotherapy Theory and Practice. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0959-3985 .- 1532-5040. ; 27:6, s. 399-410
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Both New Zealand and Sweden have health and disability policies that promote recreational exercise within society for people with disability. Despite these policies, levels of physical activity by people with disability in these countries are low. Physiotherapists are equipped to assist people with disabling conditions into physical activity. This qualitative study explored the perspectives and experiences of physiotherapists in New Zealand and Sweden toward promoting physically active recreation for adults with chronic neurological conditions. Nine physiotherapists who worked with adults with neurological disability in a range of long-term rehabilitation and community (home) health services were interviewed and the data analysed for themes. The physiotherapists described innovative and resourceful expertise to assist patients to be physically active. However, they perceived a lack of support for their work from within the health system and a lack of knowledge of disability issues within the recreational arena, both of which they perceived hindered their promotion of physical activity for people with neurological disability. Physiotherapists feel unable to fully support health and disability policies for the promotion of physically active recreation for people with neurological conditions, because of perceived constraints from within the recreational arena and their own health systems. If these constraints were addressed, then physiotherapists could be better agents to promote physical activity for people with neurological conditions.
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| 15. |
- Nordin, Catharina, et al.
(författare)
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Being in an exchange process : experiences of patient participation in multimodal pain rehabilitation
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. - : Medical Journals Sweden AB. - 1650-1977 .- 1651-2081. ; 45:6, s. 580-586
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To explore primary healthcare patients' experiences of patients participation in multimodal pain rehabilitation.Patients and methods: A total of 17 patients who had completed multimodal rehabilitation for persistent pain were interviewed. The interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis.Results: One theme, Being in an exchange process, and 4 categories emerged. The theme depicted patient participation as a continuous exchange of emotions, thoughts and knowledge. The category Fruitful encounters represented the basic prerequisites for patient participation through dialogue and platforms to meet. Patients' emotional and cognitive resources and restrictions, as well as knowledge gaps, were conditions influencing patient participation in the category Inequality in co-operation. Mutual trust and respect were crucial conditions in patient's personal relationships with the health professionals, forming the category Confidence-inspiring alliance. In the category Competent health professionals, the health professionals' expertise, empathy and personal qualities, were emphasized to favour patient participation.Conclusion: Patient participation can be understood as complex and individualized. A confidence-inspiring alliance enables a trusting relationship to be formed between patients and health professionals. Patients emphasized that health professionals need to play an active role in building common ground in the interaction. Understanding each patient's needs in the participation process may favour patient participation.
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| 16. |
- Nordin, Catharina, et al.
(författare)
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In search of recognition - Patients' experiences of patient participation prior to multimodal pain rehabilitation
- 2014
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Ingår i: European Journal of Physiotherapy. - : Taylor & Francis Group. - 2167-9169 .- 2167-9177. ; 16:1, s. 49-57
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to explore primary healthcare patients' experiences of patient participation prior to multimodal pain rehabilitation. Data was collected from interviews with 17 patients, aged 23-59 years, after completing multimodal rehabilitation. Data was analysed using qualitative content analysis. The theme, In search of recognition, depicted patient participation prior to the multimodal pain rehabilitation as a lack of recognition in the healthcare system. A demand for medical help and the healthcare professionals' preferential right to interpret the patients' condition formed the category Need for medical affirmation. In the category Emotional and cognitive alienation, patients emphasized distress when being unconfirmed. This entailed an emotional and cognitive distance between the patients and the healthcare professionals. Situational factors, together with patients' emotional and cognitive prerequisites and patients' strategies to be included in dialogue represented the category Need to communicate, which influenced the opportunities to participate. For healthcare professionals, it is important to understand that patients in multimodal pain rehabilitation may have experiences of a clinician-centred behaviour in the past. Patients may have been unconfirmed and their point of view disregarded. For the future, greater effort for dialogue and patients' involvement in decision-making and rehabilitation planning is needed. © 2014 Informa Healthcare.
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| 17. |
- Nordström, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Drama as a pedagogical tool for practicing death notification-experiences from Swedish medical students
- 2011
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Ingår i: BMC Medical Education. - London : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1472-6920. ; 11, s. 74-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: One of the toughest tasks in any profession is the deliverance of death notification. Marathon Death is an exercise conducted during the fourth year of medical school in northern Sweden to prepare students for this responsibility. The exercise is designed to enable students to gain insight into the emotional and formal procedure of delivering death notifications. The exercise is inspired by Augusto Boal's work around Forum Theatre and is analyzed using video playback. The aim of the study was to explore reflections, attitudes and ideas toward training in delivering death notifications among medical students who participate in the Marathon Death exercise based on forum play. Methods: After participation in the Marathon Death exercise, students completed semi-structured interviews. The transcribed interviews were analyzed using the principles of qualitative content analysis including a deductive content analysis approach with a structured matrix based on Bloom's taxonomy domains. Results: The Marathon Death exercise was perceived as emotionally loaded, realistic and valuable for the future professional role as a physician. The deliverance of a death notification to the next of kin that a loved one has died was perceived as difficult. The exercise conjured emotions such as positive expectations and sheer anxiety. Students perceived participation in the exercise as an important learning experience, discovering that they had the capacity to manage such a difficult situation. The feedback from the video playback of the exercise and the feedback from fellow students and teachers enhanced the learning experience. Conclusions: The exercise, Marathon Death, based on forum play with video playback is a useful pedagogical tool that enables students to practice delivering death notification. The ability to practice under realistic conditions contributes to reinforce students in preparation for their future professional role.
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| 18. |
- Nordström, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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The effect of a role-playing exercise on clerkshipstudents’ views of death notification : the Swedish experience
- 2011
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Ingår i: International Journal of Medical Education. - : International Journal of Medical Education. - 2042-6372. ; 2, s. 24-29
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine clerkship students' perspective towards delivering death notifications. An additional purpose of the study was to identify the learning needs of students following a role play exercise in delivering death notifications. Methods Participants in this study were fourth-year medical students (N=86) ranging in age from 22-43 years with a mean age of 27.1 years. There were 28 women and 58 men. Questionnaires, consisting of open-ended questions and a visual analogue scale (VAS), were administered before and after the "Marathon Death" role play exercise. Results Six categories emerged from the analysis of the questionnaire: communication, emotions, self-development, exercise-related, learning opportunities and tools and strategies. Results from the visual analogue scale showed that the majority of students (60%) needed to practice how to deliver difficult messages in death notifications. After taking part in the role-playing activity with video playback, where the students had an opportunity to view, discuss and reenact scenarios, seventy-six out of 78 (97.4%) stated that they had received training in communication skills. The responding students rated the exercise as highly relevant, scoring it a mean of 91 on a VAS scale of 0 to 100 mm. Conclusions Students are not competent in the communication skills required for delivering death notifications. A majority of students expressed a need for training in communication skills. The "Marathon Death" role play exercise provides initial training and emotional support for delivering a death notification. However, further empirical studies are required about the effect of the exercise on delivering the notification of death.
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| 19. |
- Norlund, Sofia, et al.
(författare)
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Personal Resources and Support When Regaining the Ability to Work : An Interview Study with Exhaustion Disorder Patients
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of occupational rehabilitation. - : Springer. - 1053-0487 .- 1573-3688. ; 23:2, s. 270-279
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose The aim of the study was to explore experiences and thoughts in the process of returning to work in employed patients with Exhaustion Disorder. Methods Twelve patients with Exhaustion Disorder (burnout) who had been referred to a Stress Rehabilitation Clinic were interviewed. All patients were employed but a majority was on full or part-time sick leave. Grounded Theory was used as the qualitative method. Results A core category, regaining the ability to work, was developed. Alongside, two categories, internal resources and the external support system, were experienced as being important to the process. The internal resources were expressed through three key features (sub-categories), perceived validation, insights and adaptive coping abilities. The external support system was diverse and described by the sub-categories practical/structural and/or emotional support. Four external support actors were identified; the workplace, health care, the Social Insurance Agency, and the union. The supervisor was described as the most important external actor. Conclusions Internal and external resources are intertwined in the process of regaining the ability to work. The internal resources and external support can directly increase the probability to regain the ability to work. Moreover, these resources can affect each other and thus indirectly have an effect on the process.
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| 20. |
- Olofsson, Lena, et al.
(författare)
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From loss towards restoration : Experiences from anterior cruciate ligament injury
- 2010
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Ingår i: Advances in Physiotherapy. - : Informa UK Limited. - 1403-8196 .- 1651-1948. ; 12:1, s. 50-57
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The objective of this study was to illuminate anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)-reconstructed athletes’ experience of their injury, rehabilitation and recovery. Seven persons, aged 19–57 years, were interviewed on one occasion in autumn 2004, between 10 and 31 months after the ACL reconstruction. They were selected to reach a maximum variation sample according to gender, age, activity level, time between injury and ACL reconstruction and time between surgery and the interview. The analyses were carried out using the Grounded Theory method of constant comparison. One core category “From loss towards restored belief in one's ability” and three categories emerged. The core category represents the process starting when the informants were injured. The process contained phases that interacted with each other but more importantly were drawn out over a long period, especially the mental recovery. The informants used different procedures to manage situations that arose and strived towards restored belief in their ability. This study illuminates the complexity of the recovery process. The patients’ belief in their own ability took a long time to restore. It is important for physiotherapists to understand what patients with ACL injuries need while waiting for surgery. The process of rehabilitation can further equip people with the means to manage problems that can arise and help to strengthen their belief in their ability, as well as helping them with physical training.
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| 21. |
- Stenberg, Gunilla, 1968-
(författare)
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Genusperspektiv på rehabilitering för patienter med rygg- och nackbesvär i primärvård
- 2012
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Introduction Gender as a social and cultural construction has an impact on physiotherapist and patient beliefs, understanding, and behaviour and could affect physiotherapy encounters. Gender studies in early rehabilitation are scarce. The aim of this thesis was to study gender during different parts of the rehabilitation process for primary health care patients with neck and back pain. Method The analyses are based on data from three different samples. One sample is composed of physiotherapists and two samples consist of patients consulting primary health care providers because of neck and back pain. All data were gathered from primary health care provided in Västerbotten County. Baseline data on 73 physiotherapists and 586 of their patients with neck and back pain were collected by questionnaire during three consecutive days in 2006. Patient data included affected pain site and treatment procedures used by the physiotherapist (Study I). Differences in treatment procedures used by female and male physiotherapists and differences in use for female or male patients were analysed using Chi square-test, Fisher’s exact tests, Mann-Whitney U tests and logistic regressions with cluster analysis. Thematised interviews with 12 patients were made before the patient’s first appointment with a physiotherapist or doctor and repeated after three months. Data were analysed according to grounded theory (Study II) and qualitative content analysis (Study III). A comprehensive questionnaire was answered at the first appointment when patients sought a physiotherapist in primary health care. The questionnaires included questions about pain intensity, self-rated health, function, psychological stress reactions, domestic work, work environment, self-efficacy and kinesiophobia. Response patterns were linked to the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF) and analysed using principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares projections to latent structures (PLS). Result Patients were given the same treatment procedures irrespective of gender. The treatment procedures most often used were training of joint motion (48%), training of muscle functions and strength training (31%), massage (31%), physical treatment (28%), information about health/ill health (24%), and acupuncture (18%). Female and male physiotherapists used the same treatment procedures with a few exceptions. Female physiotherapists used treatment for mental functions and acupuncture more often than male physiotherapists. The women gave their patients a unique mixture of treatment procedures more frequently (43%) compared to their male colleagues (25%). Male physiotherapists used more training of joint motion. "To be confirmed" emerged as the core category when analysing interviews that considered expectations or experiences. Five categories were extracted: "To be taken seriously", "To get an explanation", "To be individually assessed and treated", "To be invited to participate", and "To be taken care of in a trustworthy environment". These were factors leading to confirmation. Two ideal types were identified: "confident" and "ambiguous". The "confident" did not doubt their right to health care and blamed their work for causing the pain. They related to a positive identity of strong or hard working. The "ambiguous" were afraid of being regarded as old, whining women and not being taken seriously. They were ashamed of having neck or back pain and blamed themselves; they thought they were not fit enough. The ideal types were not completely defined by gender, but more men were among the "confident" ideal type and more women were among the "ambiguous" type. Patients reacted differently to feelings of being confirmed or not, and this depended on whether they were the "confident" or "ambiguous" ideal type. The "confident" were satisfied and reacted with reorientation when they felt confirmed, even if they were not totally cured. When not confirmed, the "confident" reacted with anger, frustration, and feelings of shame or remained proud and blamed the health care personnel for being incompetent. The "ambiguous" also were satisfied and felt reoriented when they were confirmed. They then moved from being an "ambiguous" type to a more "confident" type. When the "ambiguous" were not confirmed in healthcare, they became dissatisfied and unhappy. They doubted the assessment, felt forlorn, and felt increased shame. Not being confirmed was experienced more negatively by women than by men irrespective of ideal type. Interesting information was found about how patients view their body in relation to pain during analysis of expectations and experiences in study II interviews. This led to Study III. In study III, "Fear of hurting the fragile body" emerged as an interview theme. Five categories supported or undermined beliefs about pain and physical activity: "The mechanical body", "Messages about activity", "Earlier experiences of pain and activity", "To be a good citizen", and "Support to be active". Patients thought their pain was due to tissue damage and viewed their bodies in a mechanical way. Clear messages from health care personnel about activity led to less fear of physical activity. Vague and contradictory messages led to more fear. Gender-stereotyped messages were given to patients. "The take it carefully" was such a message, and was more often to women when women were thought to be weak and in need of training. Another message was "Pain goes with heavy work". This message was more often given to men when men were thought to be strong and not in need of training. Earlier experiences of pain and activity could have been positive or negative. If positive, the experiences led to less fear of engaging in physical activity. A wish to be a good citizen, such as being a good parent, led to patients being more engaged in child care and playing more than they thought was good for their pain. Women, more than men, expressed avoidance of sick leave because they did not want to be a burden to society or to their work colleagues. Patients were anxious about how to do the "correct" exercises to avoid further injury. Practical support and a follow up to adjust the training program were important to reduce the fear of engaging in physical activity and to maintain motivation. One hundred and eighteen patients (84 women and 34 men) completed the questionnaire. PCA of all questions identified five significant components. The model explained 37% of the variance. The predictive power was 17%. PC1 explained 17% of the variance and the predictive power was 0.13%. PC1 was mainly explained by questions classified in ICF as Activity and Participation. These included questions about physical function and self-efficacy (classified as Content of Thought). Questions about support (classified as Environmental Factors) and stress reactions (classified as Body Function (Emotional Functions)) mainly explained PC2. PC3 was mainly explained by reported pain and symptoms from muscles (classified as Body Functions) and domestic work and leisure time activities (classified as Activity and Participation). There were differences in t-scores between women and men in PC2 (p=0.045) and PC3 (p=0.003). Variables that discriminated between women and men were questions about stress reactions and support at work in PC2, and questions about pain intensity and domestic work in PC3. Conclusion As a physiotherapist working with neck and back pain rehabilitation patients, it is important to be aware of both one’s own and the patient’s preconceptions about women and men. It is also important to be aware of the impact of gender on the professional role when choosing treatment procedures in order to ensure that choices will be based on evidence of effectiveness and not from stereotypes. Awareness of the patient’s individual needs and subsequent adaptation of treatments is also important. Some patients display a negative self-assessment and shame. They need more support to be able to reorient. Unless these patients are confirmed, they are at risk of prolonged disability. Gender stereotypes can hinder rehabilitation of neck and back pain if women are seen as weak and in need of protection and men are seen as strong and not in need of preventive muscle training. When assessing neck and back pain patients with questionnaires, gender has less significance than when asking questions about physical function and self-efficacy. Questions about emotions of stress reactions, support at work, and pain intensity contribute to gender differences for women. Questions on the level of domestic work contribute to gender differences for men.
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| 22. |
- Stenberg, Gunilla, et al.
(författare)
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"Getting confirmation" : gender in expectations and experiences of healthcare for neck or back patients
- 2012
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Ingår i: Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. - : Medical Journals Sweden AB. - 1650-1977 .- 1651-2081. ; 44:2, s. 163-171
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: The aim of this study was to explore, from a gender perspective, patients' expectations prior to seeking healthcare for neck or back pain, and their subsequent experiences of the care and rehabilitation they received. Methods: Thematized interviews with 12 patients, 7 women and 5 men, using open-ended questions, were analysed according to grounded theory. Each patient was interviewed before their first appointment with a physiotherapist or general practitioner and 3 months later. Results: Analysis resulted in 5 categories: "To be taken seriously", "Getting an explanation", "To be invited to participate", "To be assessed and treated individually", and "To be taken care of in a trustworthy environment", which were linked by a core category "Getting confirmation". Two ideal types were identified: the "Confident" type, characterized by self-confidence and pride, and the "Ambiguous" type, characterized by disparagement and shame. The categories were partly perceived in different ways from the two ideal types. The ideal types were not defined by sex; however, more men were found to be of the "Confident" type and more women of the "Ambiguous" type. Conclusion: Gender appears to affect expectations and experiences, in addition to how patients view and express their problems. Healthcare professionals should take this into account in consultations.
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| 23. |
- Stenberg, Gunilla, 1968-, et al.
(författare)
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'I am afraid to make the damage worse' : fear of engaging in physical activity among patients with neck or back pain : a gender perspective
- 2014
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Ingår i: Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0283-9318 .- 1471-6712. ; 28:1, s. 146-154
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Rationale: Neck and back pain are major public health problems in Western societies and cause considerable disability and health service use. Swedish women report more severe neck and back pain compared with Swedish men. Most studies on the aetiology of gender differences in pain deal with biological mechanisms, and less with the role of psychological and sociocultural factors. 'Pain beliefsis a sociocultural factor and can be expressed in different ways among women and men. It is important to know what pain beliefs are held by neck and back pain patients, especially when medical guidelines recommend that back pain patients stay physically active.Aim: Exploring pain beliefs in relation to physical activity among neck and back pain patients consulting primary health care.Method: Twelve patients (seven women, five men) consulting primary health care for an initial episode of neck or back pain were interviewed before their first appointment with a physiotherapist or general practitioner and 3 months later. The interviews covered patient experiences of neck or back pain, consequences, strategies and treatment experiences. The interviews were analysed with qualitative content analysis from a gender perspective.Result: One theme 'Fear of hurting the fragile body' was expressed by all neck or back pain patients. Five categories were identified 'The mechanical body', 'Messages about activity', 'Earlier experiences of pain and activity', 'To be a good citizen' and 'Support to be active' supported or undermined beliefs about pain and physical activity. Gender expressions occurred in the categories 'Messages about activity', 'To be a good citizen' and 'Support to be active'.Conclusions: Neck or back pain patients in the study saw the body as fragile and were afraid of hurting it. Notions of gender had an impact on the given advice about activity and on how patients perceived the message about staying active.
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| 24. |
- Stenberg, Gunilla, et al.
(författare)
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Patterns of reported problems in women and men with back and neck pain : similarities and differences
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. - : Medical Journals Sweden AB. - 1650-1977 .- 1651-2081. ; 46:7, s. 668-675
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objective: To examine similarities and differences in problem areas reported by women and men who seek physiotherapy for back or neck pain. Methods: Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to analyse questionnaire data including demographics, pain, domestic work, stress, health status, physical disability, psychosocial and physical workload, kinesiophobia and self-efficacy. Most of the questions were recruited from a number of scales, e.g. EuroQol (EQ-5D), Neck Disability Index (NDI), Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (ODQ), Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, and Functional-Efficacy-Scale. Results: A total of 118 patients (84 women, 34 men) completed the questionnaire. Men and women scored similarly on physical disability, functional self-efficacy and kinesiophobia, but women scored higher on stress reactions and pain intensity. PCA showed that questions about physical disability and functional self-efficacy comprised the first component and explained most of the variance in this patient group. Questions about stress and social support at work constituted the second component. Questions about domestic workload and pain comprised the third component. Gender differences were found in the second and third components. Conclusion: In general, women and men answered questions similarly, but there were differences: more women reported stress, pain and low support at work and more men reported a lower domestic workload.
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| 25. |
- Sturesson, Marine, et al.
(författare)
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Work ability as obscure, complex and unique : Views of Swedish occupational therapists and physicians
- 2013
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Ingår i: Work. - AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS : IOS PRESS. - 1051-9815 .- 1875-9270. ; 45:1, s. 117-128
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The concept of work ability is not clearly defined although it has a central place in vocational rehabilitation. Several health professions are involved in assessing work ability, physicians and occupational therapists are two of these. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to explore occupational therapist and physician views about work ability and experiences in assessing work ability. PARTICIPANTS: Fourteen physicians and 23 occupational therapists participated in seven focus group discussions that were audio taped and transcribed verbatim. METHODS: Qualitative content analysis was used. Each author performed an individual preliminary analysis. These analyses were later discussed and refined in the research team and a workshop. The final categorization resulted in one theme, four categories and 13 sub-categories. RESULTS: The overall theme expressed work ability as an obscure, complex and unique concept. The four categories illustrate the affecting factors and confirm the complex structure of work ability: the person, the context of life, the work, and the society. Physicians expressed greater difficulty in assessing work ability than occupational therapists did, because they have fewer instruments to access this concept. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of work ability requires team cooperation with several different professionals. Cooperation could increase accuracy in issuing sickness certification and strengthens the ability of identifying individual requirements for rehabilitation.
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