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- Ahlström, Gerd, et al.
(author)
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Encounters in close care relations from the perspective of personal assistants working with persons with severe disablility.
- 2010
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In: Health & Social Care in the Community. - : Hindawi Limited. - 0966-0410 .- 1365-2524. ; 18:2, s. 180-188
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In Sweden adults with major and sustainable disabilities can be granted publicly financed support in the form of personal assistance after assessment and decision-making in accordance with government rules. The purpose of the present study was to explore more deeply the encounters in close care relations between personal assistants and disabled persons of working age, as well as the prerequisites for and obstacles to the success of such encounters, this from the perspective of the personal assistants. Thirty-two personal assistants (22- to 55-year old) who worked for 32 persons with serious neurological diseases living at home were interviewed. The transcribed unstructured interviews were qualitatively analysed using latent content analysis. The analyses resulted in five main themes: Perceptive awareness, Entering into the other's role, Mutuality, Handling the relationship and Personal difficulties facing the assistant. These themes illustrated that a prerequisite for the encounter's being meaningful is that the assistant should be able to observe and understand the unique needs of the disabled person. The assistant must furthermore be able to put herself/himself into the other person's position. It is also important that the personal chemistry between the assistant and the disabled person should be good. Being able to share feelings and interests with the functionally impaired person provides the assistant with positive emotional confirmation of a good relationship. A distressing dilemma the assistant faces is that of distinguishing between the working relationship and the personal friendship. In this borderline area are found experiences, feelings and events that the assistant may view as negative or even unacceptable. This study contributes to the understanding of the complexity underlying the daily community care of disabled persons with an extensive need for care and assistance.
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- Ahlström, Gerd, et al.
(author)
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Enjoying work or Burdened by it? : How personal Assistants Experience and Handle Stress at Work
- 2012
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In: Journal of Social Work in Disability & Rehabilitation. - : Routledge. - 1536-710X .- 1536-7118. ; 11:2, s. 112-127
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A personal assistant has to promote equality in living conditions for persons with severe disabilities. The aim of this study was to explore how personal assistants experience their work and what strategies they employ to alleviate work-related stress. Thirty personal assistants were interviewed and latent content analysis was performed. The findings regarding the experiences of work-related stress could be brought together under the theme of “difficulties of being in a subordinate position,” and those regarding management strategies could be brought together under the theme of “coming to terms with the work situation.” There is a need to empower personal assistants through training programs including tailored education, working communities, and coaching.
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- Ahlström, Gerd, et al.
(author)
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Family members' experiences of personal assistance given to a relative with disabilities
- 2011
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In: Health & Social Care in the Community. - : Hindawi Limited. - 0966-0410 .- 1365-2524. ; 19:6, s. 645-652
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Personal assistance is a type of home care common to many countries even though entitlement and legislative framework may vary from country to country. At present, there exists no knowledge about the family members' experiences of such assistance; therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate family members' experiences of personal assistance given to a relative of working age with a functional disability. Twenty-five family members who had a relative with a severe neurological disease in Sweden were interviewed about the significance of personal assistance, and the qualitative interviews were subjected to qualitative latent content analysis. The overall findings verify the close connection between the family members' experiences and their perception of the quality of the caring relationship between the personal assistant and the person with disability. The main finding was an appreciation of the personal assistance on the part of the family members. However, in situations where the encounter between the assistant and the relative with disability was perceived negatively, the family members experienced great anxiety. The shortcomings were the inability to maintain a private life with assistance and the limitation of choice because of the shortage of personal assistants. Beyond these general findings, this study found that personal assistance was experienced by the family members in terms of dignity and empowering care. This theme was generated from seven subthemes: Insight into private life, Security through the close relation, Social life through freedom of movement, Influence over the organisation of assistance, Self-determination and understanding, Friendship and mutual respect and Adaption to the dependency on assistance. The findings indicate that responsible officials, work leaders and assistants need constantly to improve the implementation of the law. In such efforts, the experiences of family members described in this study are a source of knowledge.
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- Arving, Cecilia, et al.
(author)
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Registered Nurses' Thoughts on Blended Learning in a Postgraduate Course in Cancer care : Content Analyses of Web Surveys and a Focus Group Interview
- 2014
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In: Journal of Cancer Education. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0885-8195 .- 1543-0154. ; 29:2, s. 278-283
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose of the research was to describe registered nurses' (RNs) (n = 53) thoughts on the blended learning format in a 'specialist nursing programme in cancer care'. The study was conducted in autumn 2007 and 2008. A content analysis of answers to open-ended questions in a web-based questionnaire and a focus group interview were carried out. The analysis revealed that the RNs appreciated blended learning. The web lectures facilitated learning and gave RNs access to the education at any time. However, according to the RNs, knowledge is gained through interaction between RNs and teachers, and this aspect needed to be improved. The RNs also thought that the content of the seminars on campus should focus on evidence-based nursing knowledge and practical skills, not just taught as stable facts and procedures. The result from the present study could help to improve the design and content of advanced nursing courses using a blended learning format.
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- Bjurling-Sjöberg, Petronella, et al.
(author)
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Prevalence and quality of clinical pathways in Swedish intensive care units : a national survey
- 2014
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In: Journal of Evaluation In Clinical Practice. - : Wiley. - 1356-1294 .- 1365-2753. ; 20:1, s. 48-57
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVESTo identify the prevalence of clinical pathways (CPs) in Swedish intensive care units (ICUs) and to explore the quality, content and evidence base of the documents.METHODSA descriptive and explorative survey of all Swedish ICUs (N84) and a review of submitted examples of CPs (n12) were conducted.RESULTSCPs were in use at 20% of the Swedish ICUs. There was a significant geographic variation but no relationship between the use of CPs and category of hospital, type of ICU, size of ICU or type of health record applied. In total, 56 CPs were reported within a range of scopes and extensions. The content of the ICUs' CPs, as well as the degree to which they were interprofessional, evidence based, and renewed varied.CONCLUSIONSProgress has been made in relation to CPs in recent years, but there is potential for further improvements. None of the ICUs had CPs that contained all key characteristics of a high-quality, interprofessional and evidence-based CP identified in the literature. Greater knowledge sharing and cooperation within the field would be beneficial, and further research is needed.
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- Björn, Catrine, et al.
(author)
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Goal-setting documents did not facilitate nurses’ work at an operating department – a descriptive qualitative study
- 2014
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Both effectiveness and good care is demanded of nurses in a complex environment. The aim of the study was to describe how nurse managers and nurses interpret and are guided by stated goals in their health-care organisation, their own influence over work and obstacles to carry out work in an operating department. A qualitative study, consisting of interviews with nurse managers and nurses, and a description of goal documents and the workplace, were conducted in an operating department in Sweden. The interviews were analysed with manifest content analysis. Work was guided by daily goals for the nurses: to meet the operating schedule and to ensure good-quality patient care. The organisational goals were little known and used. The nurse managers and nurses had limited influence over their work, changes in assignments and in the operating schedule, and unsuitable environmental premises created obstacles in their work. If organisational goals are to guide work there is a need for nurse managers to transform them into understandable, applicable goals and incorporate them into nurses’ daily work. Letting the nurses influence the operating schedule could be one way to overcome obstacles in work. The study also highlights the importance of a functional physical work environment.
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| 10. |
- Engström, Maria, et al.
(author)
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Caregivers' job satisfaction and empowerment before and after an intervention focused on caregiver empowerment
- 2010
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In: Journal of Nursing Management. - : Hindawi Limited. - 0966-0429 .- 1365-2834. ; 18:1, s. 14-23
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aims: To evaluate a training programme aimed at strengthening caregivers' self-esteem and empowering them, and also to study correlations between psychological empowerment and job satisfaction.Background: Structural and psychological empowerment have received increased attention in nursing management, yet few intervention studies on this topic, based on theoretical assumptions, have been conducted in elderly care.Method: Data on self-assessed psychological empowerment and job satisfaction were collected in an intervention (n = 14) and a comparison group (n = 32), before and after the intervention.Results: When compared over time in the respective groups, there were significant improvements in the intervention group regarding the factor criticism (job satisfaction scale). There were no statistically significant differences in the comparison group. Total empowerment and all factors of empowerment correlated positively with total job satisfaction. Six out of eight factors of job satisfaction correlated positively with total empowerment.Conclusions: Caregivers' perception of criticism can improve through an intervention aimed at strengthening their self-esteem and empowering them.Implications for nursing management: Intervention focused on psychological empowerment and especially caregivers' communication skills seems to be beneficial for caregivers. Recommendations are to increase the programme's length and scope and to include all staff at the unit. However, these recommendations need to be studied further.
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