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- Ander, Malin, 1983-
(author)
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Cancer during adolescence : Psychological consequences and development of psychological treatment
- 2017
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The overall aim of the present thesis was to examine long-term psychological distress following cancer during adolescence and to develop a tailored psychological intervention to reduce cancer-related distress experienced by young survivors of adolescent cancer that was feasible and acceptable.Study I adopted a longitudinal design, assessing health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and symptoms of anxiety and depression among adolescents diagnosed with cancer from shortly after diagnosis (n=61) up to 10 years after diagnosis (n=28). Findings suggest that development of HRQOL and anxiety and depression is not linear and whilst the majority adjust well, a subgroup report long-term elevated distress. In Study II, experiences of cancer-related psychological distress were explored using unstructured interviews. Participants described cancer treatment as a mental challenge, felt marked and hindered by the cancer experience, and struggled with feelings of inadequacy and insecurity, existential issues, and difficulties handling emotions. Study III was a preliminary investigation of individualised cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), alongside the identification and conceptualisation of cancer-related concerns using cognitive-behavioural theory. Significant difficulties with recruitment were encountered. Participants reported cancer-related concerns conceptualised as social avoidance, fear and avoidance of emotions and bodily symptoms, imbalance in activity, and worry and rumination. In Study IV, the acceptability and feasibility of an internet-administered CBT based self-help intervention (ICBT) for young persons diagnosed with cancer during adolescence was examined using an uncontrolled design and embedded process evaluation. The study protocol for Study IV was included in this thesis along with preliminary findings demonstrating significant difficulties with recruitment.Overall, findings suggest that whilst the majority of survivors of adolescent cancer adjust well over time a subgroup report elevated levels of distress and a range of distressing cancer-related experiences. A number of cancer-related difficulties were identified in Study II and III, which may be used to inform the development of future psychological treatments for the population. Preliminary investigation of the psychological interventions examined within this thesis further highlights the need for future development work to enhance the feasibility and acceptability of psychological support for the population.
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| 2. |
- Borneskog, Catrin, 1963-
(author)
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Same, same but different : lesbian couples undergoing sperm donation
- 2013
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Introduction: The desire to have children and form a family is for many people central for life fulfilment and the desire does not differ by sexual orientation. Due a series of societal changes during the last decade, today we see a lesbian baby boom. Planned lesbian families are a relatively new group of patients and parents in reproductive health care, yet little is known about psychological wellbeing during the transition to parenthood in these families. Aim: The overall aim of this thesis was to fill a gap of knowledge about the psychological aspects of undergoing treatment with donated sperm, at the time of pregnancy and during early parenthood that affect lesbian couples forming a family. Method: This is a multicentre study comprising all 7 university clinics that perform gamete donation. The study includes lesbian couples undergoing treatment with donated sperm and heterosexual couples undergoing IVF treatment with their own gametes. Participants were recruited consecutively during 2005 and 2008. 165 lesbian couples and 151 heterosexual couples participated in the study. Participants responded questionnaires at three time points (T); time point 1 (T1) at the commencement of treatment, (T2) after the first round of treatment, around 2 month after T1 and (T3) 12-18 months after first treatment when a presumptive child had reached 1 year. Data was analysed with statistical methodology. Results: Lesbian couples reported an all over high satisfaction with relationship quality, good psychological wellbeing and low parenting stress. Heterosexual couples also reported good satisfaction with relationship quality, however somewhat lower than the lesbian couples. Parenting stress in the heterosexual couples was similar to the lesbian couples. A strong association was found between high relationship satisfaction and low parenting stress. Conclusions: Lesbian couples forming a family through sperm donation treatment are satisfied with their relationships, they report a good psychological health and experiences of low parenting stress.
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| 3. |
- Isaksson, Stina
(author)
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The child’s best interest : Perspectives of gamete recipients and donors
- 2015
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background: An increasing number of couples turn to treatment with oocyte or sperm donation, but there is limited knowledge regarding the consequences of these treatments in a program using identifiable donors. Aim: The overall aim was to study information-sharing among heterosexual couples following identity-release gamete donation. A further aim was to study donors’ attitudes towards future contact with donation offspring. Methods: The four studies were part of The Swedish Study on Gamete Donation; a prospective, longitudinal study of donors and recipients of donated oocytes and sperm. Study I and II had a quantitative approach with recipients of donated oocytes or sperm participating through questionnaires at start of treatment, two months after the first treatment and when their child was 1-4 years old. Study III was a qualitative interview study with 30 parents following sperm donation with school-aged children. Study IV had a quantitative approach with oocyte and sperm donors participating through questionnaires 5-8 years post-donation. Results: Study I revealed that the recipients of donated gametes in general were open about their treatment with the people around them and supported disclosure to offspring regarding his/her genetic origin. Study II reported that most of those who became parents following donor conception intended to share information about the donation with their offspring and some had already started the information-sharing process with their young child. Study III described information sharing with the offspring to be a process of several levels, revealing various amounts of information about the way of conception. The parent was seen to be the owner of the process and moving the process forward with different aspects and the reactions of the offspring serving as driving or impeding forces of the process. Study IV reported that a majority of the gamete donors seem to have a positive or neutral attitude towards a future meeting with a donation offspring. Conclusion: The present thesis suggests that there is a trend towards more openness among recipients of donated gametes in Sweden. It also points out that most recipients and donors within the Swedish gamete donation programme acknowledge the child’s right to his/her genetic origin and have the best interest of the child in mind.
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| 4. |
- Mårtensson, Gunilla
(author)
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The Insider and Outsider Perspective : Clinical importance of agreement between patients and nurses in cancer care concerning patients’ emotional distress, coping resources and quality of life
- 2009
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background: It is a well-known phenomenon that nurses and other oncology staff have a tendency to ascribe patients with cancer more problems and suffering than the patients themselves report. Aim: The overall aim of the present thesis was therefore to gain increased knowledge and understanding of dis/agreement between patients with cancer and nurses regarding their perception of patients’ situation and of the importance of patient-nurse dis/agreement in clinical practice. Methods: A prospective comparative design was used. Data were collected from a sample of 90 consecutively recruited patient-nurse pairs. Each pair consisted of a patient with cancer, newly admitted to a ward, and a nurse responsible for that patient’s care. Data were collected from the pairs with corresponding self-administrated questionnaires on two occasions: directly after the admission interview and on the patient’s third day on the ward. Results: At the group level, a distinct pattern was shown in which nurses ascribed the patients more emotional distress, less coping resources and a lower quality of life than the patients themselves reported. In short, the results revealed the following clinical importance of patient-nurse dis/agreement. With respect to how nurses act in relation to their perceptions of patients’ emotional distress, patient-nurse dis/agreement did not seem to be important; with few exceptions, nurses’ implemented care did not differ when it was directed at more as compared to less distressed patients. Further, nurses’ general tendency to overestimate cancer patients’ problems and suffering had no influence on patients’ satisfaction with received care and nurses’ satisfaction with provided care. However, patients cared for by nurses who underestimated their level of depression were less satisfied with those nurses’ care. In addition, the more frequently the nurse had implemented care characterized by a trusting relationship, the higher patients’ and nurses’ satisfaction with received/provided care. Conclusions: Initial patient-nurse dis/agreement concerning patients’ situation appears to be of little significance to nurses’ caring behaviour and to patients’ and nurses’ subsequent evaluation of received and provided care.
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| 5. |
- Olsson, Annakarin
(author)
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Daily life of persons with dementia and their spouses supported by a passive positioning alarm
- 2013
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The overall aim was to describe how persons with dementia (PwDs) reflect on being outdoors and to investigate the support provided by a passive positioning alarm (PPA) in making daily life safer for PwDs and their spouses.Repeated conversations were held with 11 PwDs living in their own homes regarding their reflections on being outdoors (Study I). Interview study with 14 spouses to a person with dementia (PwD) with their reflections on different kinds of information and communication technology (ICT) devices that were used or can be used in the daily care of PwDs (Study II). An ethnographic approach with participant observations and conversations with five couples, a PwD and his/her spouse, describing and exploring their use and experiences of using a PPA, over time, in daily life (Study III). An experimental single-case ABAB-design with three cases, a PwD and his spouse, investigating the effects of using tracking technology on independent outdoor activities and psychological well-being (Study IV).In summary, the results of the thesis show that being outdoors was described by the PwDs as a confirmation of their identity, the `Self´. The use of ICT in daily care of PwDs was described by the spouses as shifting between their own needs for safety and security and the perceived need for safety and security from the perspective of the PwD. The use of a PPA in daily life among PwDs living in their own homes can give a sense of freedom, support and strengthen the feeling of independence for both PwDs and their spouses as well as give a feeling of safety and security for them both. Use of the PPA may also increase PwDs’ independent outdoor activities and decrease spouses’ worries.
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