| 1. |
- Alt Murphy, Margit, 1970, et al.
(författare)
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An upper body garment with integrated sensors for people with neurological disorders – early development and evaluation
- 2019
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Ingår i: BMC Biomedical Engineering. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2524-4426. ; 1:3
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: To develop a novel wearable garment with integrated sensors for continuous monitoring of physiological and movement related variables to evaluate progression, tailor treatments and improve diagnosis in epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and stroke. Methods: An iterative development process and evaluation of an upper body garment with integrated sensors included: identification of user needs, specification of technical and garment requirements, garment development and production as well as evaluation of garment design, functionality and usability. The project is a multidisciplinary collaboration with experts from medical, engineering, textile, and material science within the wearITmed consortium. The work was organized in regular meetings, task groups and hands-on workshops. User needs were identified using results from a mixed-methods systematic review, a focus group study and expert groups. Usability was evaluated in 19 individuals (13 controls, 6 patients with Parkinson’s disease) using semi-structured interviews and qualitative content analysis. Results: A prototype designed to monitor movements and heart rate was developed. The garment was well accepted by the users regarding design and comfort, although the users were cautious about the technology and suggested improvements. All electronic components passed a washability test. The most robust data was obtained from accelerometer and gyroscope sensors while the electrodes for heart rate registration were sensitive to motion. artefacts. The algorithm development within the wearITmed consortium has shown promising results. Conclusions: The prototype was accepted by the users. Technical improvements are needed, but preliminary data indicate that the garment has potential to be used as a tool for diagnosis and treatment selection and could provide added value for monitoring seizures in epilepsy, fluctuations in PD and activity levels in stroke. Future work aims to improve the prototype further, develop algorithms, and evaluate the functionality and usability in targeted patient groups. The potential of incorporating blood pressure and heart-rate variability monitoring will also be explored.
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| 2. |
- Berg, Linda, 1961, et al.
(författare)
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Characterisation of Cancer Support and Rehabilitation Programmes: A Swedish Multiple Case Study
- 2014
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Ingår i: The open nursing journal. - : Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.. - 1874-4346. ; 8, s. 1-7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cancer support and rehabilitation are suggested to be an integral part of cancer care strategies. This study focuses on comparativeness of cancer support and rehabilitation programmes. The aim of this study was to analyse available cancer support and rehabilitation programmes in Sweden presented as complementary to cancer rehabilitation at cancer clinics. A multiple case study design was chosen in order to inquire the small number of existing supportive and rehabilitative cancer programmes. Based on the structures, processes and outcomes of the nine included programmes, three types of cancer support and rehabilitation programmes were identified: multimodal rehabilitation, comprehensive cancer support and art therapy. Cancer support and rehabilitation programmes offer a variety of activities and therapies which are highly valuable and relevant for people with cancer. The typology of cancer support and rehabilitation programmes and comparability between programmes need further inquiry.
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| 3. |
- Eilertsen, M. E. B., et al.
(författare)
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Impact of Social Support on Bereaved Siblings' Anxiety: A Nationwide Follow-Up
- 2013
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Ingår i: Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing. - : SAGE Publications. - 1043-4542 .- 1532-8457. ; 30:6, s. 301-310
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose:To assess adolescent and young adult siblings' perception of social support prior to and following the loss of their brother or sister to cancer, 2 to 9 years earlier, and their anxiety at follow-up. Method: In 2009, 174 (73%) bereaved siblings (12-25 years) participated in a nationwide, long-term follow-up study in Sweden using an anonymous study-specific questionnaire. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to measure self-assessed anxiety. Results: Siblings had a higher risk of anxiety if they perceived their need for social support was unsatisfied during their brother or sisters' last month before death, relative risk (RR) = 3.6 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.8-7.3); time after death, RR = 2.9 (95% CI = 1.5-5.6); and at follow-up, RR = 3.8 (95% CI = 2.0-7.2). Furthermore, a higher risk for anxiety was shown for siblings if they did not perceive that their parents and neighbors cared for them after their brother or sisters' death, RR = 2.7 (95% CI = 1.3-5.5), RR = 5.4 (95% CI = 1.3-21.9), respectively. Conclusion: Bereaved siblings had a greater probability to report self-assessed anxiety if they perceived that their need for social support was not satisfied prior to and following death. Information from both nurses and other health care professionals to families about the impact of social support may contribute to lessen the siblings' risk of anxiety.
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| 4. |
- Elden, Helen, 1959, et al.
(författare)
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Demanding and challenging: Men's experiences of living with a pregnant woman with pelvic girdle pain: An interview study
- 2014
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Ingår i: Clinical Nursing Studies. - : Sciedu Press. - 2324-7940 .- 2324-7959. ; 2:4, s. 17-29
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) is a universally disabling condition affecting approximately 50% of pregnant women. Qualitative research describes how PGP leads to struggle in women’s daily lives, makes them question and doubt their roles and identities as professionals and mothers, and test their (marital) relationships. The purpose of this study was to describe men’s experiences of living with a pregnant woman with PGP. Methods: Participants were men whose pregnant partners participated in a project containing both qualitative and quantitative studies in 2009 to 2011. Interviews were conducted in person (n=18) or by telephone (n=8), lasting approximately 20-50 minutes. Sixteen men were interviewed during their wive’s pregnancies (M age = 30 years), eight men were re-interviewed within 12 months postpartum and two men were interviewed only postpartum (26 interviews). Results: Three major categories emerged: having no knowledge of PGP, a period of emotional and physical strain, and merging. Pregnancy in a woman with PGP caused men to alter focus from themselves to their partners and family. They expressed worry, powerlessness, inadequacy, and a need for support. They had to adapt and cope, both demanding and challenging. However, they stressed that relationships with their older children improved, and that they and their partners had succeeded in becoming a team. Conclusions: The findings indicated a need for greater focus from midwives and other health care providers on the psychological impact of PGP on the man/partner. This is important, not only for men but for their respective women as well, whereby men influence their partner’s health.
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| 5. |
- Elden, Helen, 1959, et al.
(författare)
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Feeling old in a young body: Women’s experiences of living with severe consequences of an obstetric anal sphincter rupture: An interview study.
- 2014
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Ingår i: Clinical Nursing Studies. - : Sciedu Press. - 2324-7940 .- 2324-7959. ; 3:1, s. 20-28
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The incidence of obstetric anal sphincter rupture (OASR) is increasing. It may cause anal incontinence and dyspareunia, leading to reduced quality of life and wellbeing. Qualitative studies are lacking. The aim was to describe experiences of living with ongoing severe consequences of an OASR 8 weeks after childbirth. Method: Twenty women with ongoing severe consequences of an OASR 8 weeks after delivery were interviewed using qualitative content analysis. Results: The experience of complications of an OASR is described in the overall theme ”Feeling old in a young body” and four categories: The body as injured; isolation; inability to function sexually, and anxiety for the future. Participants described how the consequences of OASR totally occupied their lives, making them feel old in a young body. They told of repercussions for their physical, psychological, sexual and social lives; how it affected their roles of mothers and partners, making them fear future childbirths. Diet, use of medicines, coal filters in incontinence pads, timing of toilet visits, use of the environment and mobile phones to conceal flatus and/or feces were strategies participants described. Conclusions: This study can contribute to increased understanding of how women can be affected by an OASR, and may enable healthcare personnel and authorities to meet their needs and organize care so that adequate support is available. It would also be beneficial if the women’s physical strategies were integrated into the information provided by health caregivers involved in follow-up. However, more research in this area is warranted.
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| 6. |
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| 7. |
- Hanan, El Malla, et al.
(författare)
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Adherence to medication : A nation-wide study from the Children's Cancer Hospital, Egypt
- 2013
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Ingår i: World journal of psychiatry. - : Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.. - 2220-3206. ; 22, s. 62-62
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AIM: To investigate adherence to medical regimen and predictors for non-adherence among children with cancer in Egypt.METHODS: We administered two study specific questionnaires to 304 parents of children diagnosed with cancer at the Children's Cancer Hospital in Cairo, Egypt, one before the first chemotherapy treatment and the other before the third. The questionnaires were translated to colloquial Egyptian Arabic, and due, to the high illiteracy level in Egypt an interviewer read the questions in Arabic to each parent and registered the answers. Both questionnaires consisted of almost 90 questions each. In addition, a Case Report Form was filled in from the child's medical journal. The study period consisted of 7 mo (February until September 2008) and we had a participation rate of 97%. Descriptive statistics are presented and Fisher's exact test was used to check for possible differences between the adherent and non-adherent groups. A P-value below 0.05 was considered significant. Software used was SAS version 9.3 for Windows (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, United States).RESULTS: Two hundred and eighty-one (90%) parents answered the second questionnaire, regarding their child's adherence behaviour. Approximately two thirds of the children admitted to their third chemotherapy treatment had received medical recommendations upon discharge from the first or second chemotherapy treatment (181/281, 64%). Sixty-eight percent (123/181) of the parents who were given medical recommendations reported that their child did not follow the recommendations. Two main predictors were found for non-adherence: child resistance (111/123, 90%) and inadequate information (100/123, 81%). In the adherent group, 20% of the parents (n = 12/58) reported trust in their child's doctor while 14 percent 8/58 reported trust in the other health-care professionals. Corresponding numbers for the non-adherent group are 8/123 (7%) for both their child's doctor and other health-care professionals. Almost all of the parents expressed a lack of optimism towards the treatment (116/121, 96%), yet they reported an intention to continue with the treatment for two main reasons, for the sake of their child's life (70%) (P = 0.005) and worry that their child would die if they discontinued the treatment (81%) (P < 0.0001).CONCLUSION: Non-adherence to medical regimen is common among children diagnosed with cancer in Egypt, the main reasons being child resistance and inadequate information.
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| 8. |
- Hanan, El Malla, et al.
(författare)
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Cancer disclosure-account from a pediatric oncology ward in Egypt
- 2017
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Ingår i: Psycho-Oncology. - Chichester : Wiley. - 1057-9249 .- 1099-1611. ; 26:5, s. 679-685
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Informing the child about his/her diagnosis and treatment plan is essential; research has shown that it is related to the patient's quality of life and adherence to medication.METHODS: For 7 months during 2008 (February to September), 2 study-specific questionnaires were constructed and administered to 304 parents of children diagnosed with cancer at the Children's Cancer Hospital Egypt.RESULTS: Among the 313 eligible parents of children diagnosed with cancer, 304 (97%) answered the first questionnaire and 281 (92%) answered the second questionnaire. We found that nearly three-quarters (72%) of the parents had their child's cancer diagnosis communicated by the physician. Among the 72%, the rate of the children present with the parent or parents during the disease disclosure conversation was 39% (n = 85/219). The majority of the children were in the age group 5-18 years (55%).CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that cancer disclosure at the Children's Cancer Hospital is to a certain degree common; yet even when disclosure does take place, it is mainly in the absence of the child. Moreover, the information provided during the conversation may not be fully comprehended by the parent or the child because of the physician's misleading use of terms when disclosing the disease. Therefore, better practice should be developed for disease disclosure, and proper communication should be established between the patients and the provider; patient autonomy should also have an influence in the clinical practice.
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| 9. |
- Hua, Håkan, et al.
(författare)
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The impact of different background noises : effects on cognitive performance and perceived disturbance in employees with aided hearing impairment and normal hearing
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of the American Academy of Audiology. - : American Academy of Audiology. - 1050-0545 .- 2157-3107. ; 25:9, s. 859-868
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Health care professionals frequently meet employees with hearing impairment (HI) who experience difficulties at work. There are indications that the majority of these difficulties might be related to the presence of background noise. Moreover, research has also shown that high-level noise has a more detrimental effect on cognitive performance and self-rated disturbance in individuals with HI than low-level noise.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of different types of background noise on cognitive performance and perceived disturbance (PD) in employees with aided HI and normal hearing.Research Design: A mixed factorial design was conducted to examine the effect of noise in four experimental conditions.Study Sample: A total of 40 participants (21 men and 19 women) were recruited to take part in the study. The study sample consisted of employees with HI (n = 20) and normal hearing (n = 20). The group with HI had a mild-moderate sensorineural HI, and they were all frequent hearing-aid users.Intervention: The current study was conducted by using four general work-related tasks (mental arithmetic, orthographic decoding, phonological decoding, and serial recall) in four different background conditions: (1) quiet, (2) office noise at 56 dBA, (3) daycare noise at 73.5 dBA, and (4) traffic noise at 72.5 dBA. Reaction time and the proportion of correct answers in the working tasks were used as outcome measures of cognitive performance. The Borg CR-10 scale was used to assess PD.Data Collection and Analysis: Data collection occurred on two separate sessions, completed within 4 wk of each other. All tasks and experimental conditions were used in a counterbalanced order. Two-way analysis of variance with repeated measures was performed to analyze the results. To examine interaction effects, pairwise t-tests were used. Pearson correlation coefficients between reaction time and proportion of correct answers, and cognitive performance and PD were also calculated to examine the possible correlation between the different variables.Results: No significant between-group or within-group differences in cognitive performance were observed across the four background conditions. Ratings of PD showed that both groups rated PD according to noise level, where higher noise level generated a higher PD. The present findings also demonstrated that the group with HI was more disturbed by higher than lower levels of noise (i.e., traffic and daycare setting compared with office setting). This pattern was observed consistently throughout four working tasks where the group with HI reported a significantly greater PD in the daycare and traffic settings compared with office noise.Conclusions: The present results demonstrate that background noise does not impair cognitive performance in nonauditory tasks in employees with HI and normal hearing, but that PD is affected to a greater extent in employees with HI during higher levels of background noise exposure. In addition, this study also supports previous studies regarding the detrimental effects that high-level noise has on employees with HI. Therefore, we emphasize the need of both self-rated and cognitive measurements in hearing care and occupational health services for both employees with normal hearing and HI.
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| 10. |
- Jakobsson, Sofie, 1968, et al.
(författare)
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Performance of the Swedish version of the Revised Piper Fatigue Scale.
- 2013
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Ingår i: European Journal of Oncology Nursing. - : Elsevier BV. - 1462-3889 .- 1532-2122. ; 17:6, s. 808-13
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PURPOSE: The Revised Piper Fatigue scale is one of the most widely used instruments internationally to assess cancer-related fatigue. The aim of the present study was to evaluate selected psychometric properties of a Swedish version of the RPFS (SPFS).METHODS: An earlier translation of the SPFS was further evaluated and developed. The new version was mailed to 300 patients undergoing curative radiotherapy. The internal validity was assessed using Principal Axis Factor Analysis with oblimin rotation and multitrait analysis. External validity was examined in relation to the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20 (MFI-20) and in known-groups analyses.RESULTS: Totally 196 patients (response rate = 65%) returned evaluable questionnaires. Principal axis factoring analysis yielded three factors (74% of the variance) rather than four as in the original RPFS. Multitrait analyses confirmed the adequacy of scaling assumptions. Known-groups analyses failed to support the discriminative validity. Concurrent validity was satisfactory.CONCLUSION: The new Swedish version of the RPFS showed good acceptability, reliability and convergent and- discriminant item-scale validity. Our results converge with other international versions of the RPFS in failing to support the four-dimension conceptual model of the instrument. Hence, RPFS suitability for use in international comparisons may be limited which also may have implications for cross-cultural validity of the newly released 12-item version of the RPFS. Further research on the Swedish version should address reasons for high missing rates for certain items in the subscale of affective meaning, further evaluation of the discriminative validity and assessment of its sensitivity in detecting changes over time.
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