Becoming the kind of doctor that you want to be. A qualitative study about participation in Balint group work.

Objective: Although wide-spread and appreciated, the benefit of Balint group work has been difficult to determine. Qualitative studies provide new angles for research. The aim of this study is to explore how participants in a Balint group for at least 1.

NEGOTIATING HEALTH: patients' and guardians' perspective on "failed" patient-professional interactions in the context of the Swedish health care system.

Background: Sweden has a largely tax-funded health care system that aims at providing equal access for everyone. However, the individual's perception and experience of the health care system remains a relevant topic for researchers. The aim of this study is to learn the patient's perspective on how patients and professionals negotiate in the social context of the Swedish health care system.

Partners of nulliparous women with severe fear of childbirth: A longitudinal study of psychological well-being.

Background: Little is known about the psychological status of partners of women with severe fear of childbirth (FOC). In this longitudinal study from Helsinki University Central Hospital, we investigated FOC, depression, and posttraumatic stress in the partners of women with severe FOC, and possible effects of group psychoeducation and mode of birth.

Methods: During pregnancy, 250 partners of nulliparous women with severe FOC participated, 93 in the intervention group and 157 in the control group.

Severe fear of childbirth indicates high perinatal costs for Swedish women giving birth to their first child.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to calculate costs associated with severe fear of childbirth (FOC) during pregnancy and peripartum by comparing two groups of women expecting their first child and attending an ordinary antenatal program; one with low FOC and one with severe FOC.

Material And Methods: In a prospective case-control cohort study one group with low FOC [Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ) sum score ≤60, n = 107] and one with severe FOC (W-DEQ ≥85, n = 43) were followed up till 3 months postpartum and included in the analysis. Medical records were assessed and medical parameters were mapped.

Emotional, physical, and sexual abuse and the association with symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress in a multi-ethnic pregnant population in southern Sweden.

Objectives: This study aims to describe the prevalence of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse and analyze associations with symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress (PTS) in pregnancy, by ethnic background.

Study Design: This is a cross-sectional study of the Swedish data from the Bidens cohort study. Ethnicity was categorized as native and non-native Swedish-speakers.

Pregnant women's preference for cesarean section and subsequent mode of birth - a six-country cohort study.

Introduction: The rate of cesarean section (CS) for non-medical reasons has risen and it is a concern for health care. Women's preferences may vary across countries for psychosocial or obstetric reasons.

Methods: A prospective cohort study of 6549 women in routine antenatal care giving birth in Belgium, Iceland, Denmark, Estonia, Norway or Sweden.

Treatment of nulliparous women with severe fear of childbirth via the Internet: a feasibility study.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to test the feasibility of Internet interventions among nulliparous women suffering from severe fear of childbirth (FOC) by means of an Internet-delivered therapist-supported self-help program based on cognitive behavioral therapy (ICBT).

Design: Prospective, longitudinal cohort study.

Setting: A feasibility study of an ICBT program for the treatment of severe FOC in pregnant women.

Fear of childbirth and risk of cesarean delivery: a cohort study in six European countries.

Background: Few studies have examined the mode of birth among women with fear of childbirth, and the results are conflicting. The objective of this study was to assess the association between fear of childbirth and cesarean delivery in North European women.

Methods: A longitudinal cohort study was conducted among 6,422 pregnant women from Belgium, Iceland, Denmark, Estonia, Norway, and Sweden.

Validation of the Swedish version of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) in women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder.

Introduction: The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) has been validated for use in many countries. It has been used for clinical and research purposes in Sweden, but the reliability and validity of the Swedish version have never been tested.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Swedish version of the FSFI.

Group psychoeducation with relaxation for severe fear of childbirth improves maternal adjustment and childbirth experience--a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Previous studies on the treatment of women with fear of childbirth have focused on the delivery mode. Women with fear of childbirth often suffer from anxiety and/or depression, and treatment therefore also needs to target postnatal psychological well-being and the early mother-infant relationship.

Methods: Three hundred and seventy-one nulliparous women out of 4575 scored ≥100 in prospective screening (Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire, W-DEQ-A), indicating severe fear of childbirth.

A randomized controlled trial of a psycho-education intervention by midwives in reducing childbirth fear in pregnant women.

Background: Childbirth fear is associated with increased obstetric interventions and poor emotional and psychological health for women. The purpose of this study is to test an antenatal psycho-education intervention by midwives in reducing women's childbirth fear.

Methods: Women (n = 1,410) attending three hospitals in South East Queensland, Australia, were recruited into the BELIEF trial.

Prevalence and associated factors of fear of childbirth in six European countries.

Objectives: This study set out to compare the prevalence, content and associated factors of fear of childbirth in six European countries.

Method: A cross-sectional study of 6870 pregnant women attending routine antenatal care in Belgium, Iceland, Denmark, Estonia, Norway and Sweden (Bidens).

Main Outcome Measure: Severe fear of childbirth, defined as a Wijma Delivery Expectancy Questionnaire score of ≥85.

The association between labour variables and primiparous women's experience of childbirth; a prospective cohort study.

Background: Studies have suggested several risk factors for a negative birth experience among primiparas. Factors that are mentioned frequently include labour dystocia, operative intervention such as acute caesarean section or vacuum extraction, or the infant being transferred to neonatal care. Another important factor mentioned is lack of support from the midwife.

A history of abuse and operative delivery--results from a European multi-country cohort study.

Objective: The main aim of this study was to assess whether a history of abuse, reported during pregnancy, was associated with an operative delivery. Secondly, we assessed if the association varied according to the type of abuse and if the reported abuse had been experienced as a child or an adult.

Design: The Bidens study, a cohort study in six European countries (Belgium, Iceland, Denmark, Estonia, Norway, and Sweden) recruited 6724 pregnant women attending routine antenatal care.

Women's perceptions of emotional support following childbirth: a qualitative investigation.

Objective: to describe perceptions of participating in a study testing the effectiveness of a perinatal emotional support intervention (Promoting Resilience in Mothers Emotions; PRIME) by women identified as experiencing emotional distress after birth.

Design: qualitative descriptive approach. Semi-structured telephone interviews with 33 women recruited as part of a larger RCT to test the efficacy of a counselling intervention (PRIME).

Mental health status in pregnancy among native and non-native Swedish-speaking women: a Bidens study.

Objectives: To describe mental health status in native and non-native Swedish-speaking pregnant women and explore risk factors of depression and posttraumatic stress (PTS) symptoms.

Design And Setting: A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted at midwife-based antenatal clinics in Southern Sweden.

Sample: A non-selected group of women in mid-pregnancy.

Experience of support among mothers with and without post-traumatic stress symptoms following emergency caesarean section.

Objectives: The aim was to describe women with and without symptoms of post-traumatic stress (PTSS) following emergency caesarean section (EmCS), and how they perceived the support received in connection with the birth of their child.

Study Design: In this qualitative study 42 women with post-traumatic stress syndrome and 42 women without symptoms were interviewed by telephone six months after childbirth. Their responses were analysed using content analysis.

Childhood abuse and fear of childbirth--a population-based study.

Background: Childhood abuse affects adult health. The objective of this study was to examine the association between a self-reported history of childhood abuse and fear of childbirth.

Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional study was conducted of 2,365 pregnant women at five obstetrical departments in Norway.

Women's fear of childbirth and preference for cesarean section--a cross-sectional study at various stages of pregnancy in Sweden.

Objective: To investigate Swedish women's level of antenatal fear of childbirth at various gestational ages, and factors associated with intense fear and with preference for cesarean section.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

Setting: All antenatal clinics in four geographical areas.

Sexuality after delivery with episiotomy: a long-term follow-up.

Aim: To investigate the quality of women's sex life 12-18 months after first, episiotomy-assisted childbirth and risk factors for long-term dyspareunia after childbirth.

Methods: Two hundred and six women who gave birth vaginally at the Karolinska University Hospital between September 1997 and February 1998 and from June 1998 to January 1999 received postal questionnaires at 12-18 months postpartum. Obstetrical, psychological and sexological data, concerning 110 primiparae who underwent episiotomy and 153 age-matched women who did not, were compared.