Translation and initial cross-cultural adaptation of the tool for support-gradual return-to-work for persons with chronic musculoskeletal pain to the Swedish setting.

Background: A well-defined and clear procedure is a key factor supporting return-to-work and enhancing collaboration and understanding between employers and employees. The adaptation of the Tool for Support-Gradual Return to Work, TS-GRTW, addresses relevant cultural aspects valuable for wider adoption.

Objective: develop a Swedish version, the GRTWswe, for implementation and integration into the Swedish labor market's RTW process.

Stakeholders' experience of collaboration in the context of interdisciplinary rehabilitation for patients with chronic pain aiming at return to work.

Background And Purpose: Chronic pain is a major reason for sick leave worldwide. Interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation programs (IPRPs), workplace interventions, and stakeholder collaboration may support patients in their return to work (RTW). Few studies have examined stakeholders' experiences of important components in the RTW rehabilitation process for patients with chronic pain, especially in the context of IPRP.

Qualitative Evidence from Studies of Interventions Aimed at Return to Work and Staying at Work for Persons with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain.

Chronic musculoskeletal pain is a significant burden for employees, employers, and society. However, more knowledge is needed about which interventions reduce sick leave. Interventions were defined as the act or an instance of intervening, provided by different stakeholders.

Factors of importance for return to work, experienced by patients with chronic pain that have completed a multimodal rehabilitation program - a focus group study.

Background And Purpose: To reduce the individual, societal, and economic burden of the high sick leave rates due to chronic pain, it is essential to find effective strategies for increasing return to work (RTW). Although multimodal rehabilitation programs (MMRPs) may have positive effects on RTW, the results are inconsistent. This study explores the factors that contribute to decreasing sick leave and increasing RTW in patients with chronic pain who completed a MMRP.

Clinical Relevance and Psychometric Properties of the Swedish Version of the Cultural Competence Assessment Instrument.

Based on the increasing diversity of Swedish society, health professionals, like occupational therapists, find it challenging to provide culturally competent services to international clients. Consequently, cultural competence among professionals needs to be measured and improved using psychometrically tested instruments. This study examines the clinical relevance, construct validity, and reliability of the Swedish version of the Cultural Competence Assessment Instrument among Swedish occupational therapists.

Persistent Symptoms in People With Celiac Disease Despite Gluten-Free Diet: A Concern?

Studies show that people with celiac disease have reduced well-being and have persistent symptoms, mainly related to the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to analyze how persons in a celiac disease member association report their symptoms, health, and life satisfaction. A questionnaire, with both open and closed questions, was distributed to all members (n = 726) of a celiac association in the southeast of Sweden.

Are patient education and self-care advantageous for patients with head and neck cancer? A feasibility study.

Aim: This study evaluates whether patient education and individually self-care reduces pain and improves QoL, mood and sleep during and after radiotherapy treatment for patients with head and neck cancer.

Design: A longitudinal, two-armed feasibility study design was performed.

Methods: Sixty-four participants with curative intent were included in the study.

Quality of life during early radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer and pain.

Background: Patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) have a potentially severe diagnosis and often suffer from tumor-related pain as well as from adverse side effects of treatment such as radiotherapy (RT). Knowledge about quality of life (QoL) during early RT in this group is limited and should be assessed in relation to diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to identify potential factors that may influence QoL in patients with HNC during the early stages of RT (no later than two weeks of ongoing RT).

Initial evaluation of psychometric properties of a structured work task application for the Assessment of Work Performance in a constructed environment.

Purpose: The Swedish Social Insurance Administration has developed a new assessment tool for sickness insurance. This study is a part of the initial evaluation of the application, called the Assessment of Work Performance, Structured Activities, and focuses on evaluation of the psychometric properties of social validity, content validity, and utility.

Materials And Methods: This was a qualitative study using semi-structured telephone interviews with occupational therapists.

Self-reported nonrestorative sleep in fibromyalgia - relationship to impairments of body functions, personal function factors, and quality of life.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was: 1) to determine variables that might characterize good or bad sleep; and 2) to describe the relationship between sleep, impairment of body functions, personal function factors, and quality of life based on quality of sleep in women with fibromyalgia (FM).

Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study included 224 consecutive patients diagnosed at a specialist center. These patients were mailed a questionnaire concerning sleep, body functions, personal factors, and health-related quality of life.

Everyday doings in a nursing home - described by residents and staff.

Objective: For many groups of elderly people it is important to be active, which can be hindered by disabilities that come with age. Research has progressed in this area but mostly concerns the elderly living at home. The aim of this study was to examine how residents and staff at a nursing home described the residents' everyday doings.

Experiences of pain: a longitudinal, qualitative study of patients with head and neck cancer recently treated with radiotherapy.

It is not unusual for patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) to suffer from both tumor- and treatment-related pain that is difficult to alleviate despite individualized pain management. The aim of this qualitative study was to describe how HNC patients experience pain and how pain influences those who are treated with radiotherapy (RT). Qualitative semistructured interviews were performed 1 and 6 months after patients completed RT.

How relatives of patients with head and neck cancer experience pain, disease progression and treatment: a qualitative interview study.

Purpose: This study of relatives to patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) treated with radiotherapy describes how the relatives experienced the patient's situation, especially with respect to pain, and how the relatives themselves experienced the situation.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews of 21 relatives to HNC patients who suffered from pain were conducted, and a qualitative content analysis was performed.

Results: The relatives experienced that the patients suffered from physical, psychological, and social pain.

Subgroups based on thermal and pressure pain thresholds in women with chronic whiplash display differences in clinical presentation - an explorative study.

Purpose: To investigate the presence of subgroups in chronic whiplash-associated disorders (WAD) based on pain thresholds for pressure (PPT), cold (CPT), and heat (HPT) and to compare these subgroups with respect to symptomatology, disability, and health aspects.

Methods: Two groups of female subjects - patients with chronic WAD (n = 28) and healthy controls (CON; n = 29) - were investigated. Quantitative sensory testing (QST) for thermal thresholds and algometry for PPT at four sites in the body (over the trapezius and tibialis anterior bilaterally) were determined.

Validity testing of the quality of life scale, Swedish version: focus group interviews of women with fibromyalgia.

Focus group interviews were used to examine validity of the Quality of Life Scale, Swedish version (QOLS-S) for use with women with fibromyalgia. Five interviews with 18 women with fibromyalgia were completed. The opening question was "What does quality of life mean to you?" Later, participants were asked to respond to questions about the specific domains and items in the QOLS-S.

Euro-Education: Employability for all (EEE4all). Design and implementation of an international course for future health-care professionals.

Background: Employment is a priority in the European Union, and it is essential to address the needs of individuals disadvantaged at the labour market on grounds such as ethnicity, age, gender or disability, to increase the opportunities for these groups to gain employment. The Council of the European Union recognize the important role of national organisations in increasing gender equality and the need to integrate a gender perspective in all policies. Gender equality perspectives should also, according to the EU Plan of Action and Gender Equality be integrated in education.

Occupational therapists' perceptions of gender - a focus group study.

Background/aim: Women and men are shaped over the courses of their lives by culture, society and human interaction according to the gender system. Cultural influences on individuals' social roles and environment are described in occupational therapy literature, but not specifically from a gender perspective. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how a sample of occupational therapists perceives the 'gender' concept.

Polyneuropathy, with and without neurogenic pain, and its impact on daily life activities--a descriptive study.

Purpose: Few studies on disabilities relate to neurogenic chronic pain conditions and how pain influences the patient's ability to maintain life roles. Polyneuropathy is a condition with muscle weakness, sensory impairment and sometimes additional pain of neurogenic origin. The aim was to investigate disability reported in daily activities and quality of life in patients with polyneuropathy, with and without neurogenic pain.

Young women with fibromyalgia in the United States and Sweden: perceived difficulties during the first year after diagnosis.

Purpose: The major symptoms of fibromyalgia (FM)--pain, tiredness, disrupted sleep, and muscle weakness--severely impact everyday activities, including the paid work role of women who have had FM for a long time. There are no prospective studies on young and newly diagnosed women with FM. The aim of the present study was to describe and compare difficulties young and newly diagnosed women in Sweden and the United States experienced during their first year after diagnosis.

Validity and reliability testing of the Quality of Life Scale, Swedish version in women with fibromyalgia -- statistical analyses.

One consequence of constant widespread pain is a low quality of life. The purpose of the study was to examine whether the Quality of Life Scale, Swedish version (QOLS-S), regarded as a generic quality-of-life instrument, is a reliable and valid instrument for use in women with fibromyalgia (FM). Women with FM (n = 113) contributed data on the QOLS-S and other standardized instrument at three points in time.

Factors of importance for work disability in women with fibromyalgia: an interview study.

Objective: Fibromyalgia symptoms such as continuous pain, tiredness, hyperalgesia, and allodynia limit gainful employment. The present study examines which factors influence the decision to remain in a work role for women with fibromyalgia. This information is important for the individual and for public finances.