The content of nurse unit managers' work: a descriptive study using daily activity diaries.

Background: NUMs' job description in Icelandic hospitals has been revised and now also includes managerial and financial responsibilities.

Aim: To describe the actual work activities of nurse unit managers (NUMs) in surgical and internal medicine services as self-documented and reflected in their job description.

Design: Prospective exploratory study.

The psychometric testing of the Nursing Teamwork Survey in Iceland.

The purpose of this study was to test the psychometric properties of the Nursing Teamwork Survey-Icelandic (NTS-Icelandic), which was translated from US English to Icelandic. The Nursing Teamwork Survey, with 33 items, measures overall teamwork and five factors of teamwork: trust, team orientation, backup, shared mental models, and team leadership. The psychometric testing of the NTS-Icelandic was carried out on data from a pilot study and a national study.

Translation and psychometric testing of the Icelandic version of the MISSCARE Survey.

Background: Missed nursing care, required standard care that is not provided, is a relatively new concept in nursing, and prior to this study, it had not been discussed in Iceland.

Aim: To successfully translate the MISSCARE Survey from US English to Icelandic.

Method: The translation and psychometric testing of the MISSCARE Survey-Icelandic was completed in six steps: (1) forward translation, (2) revision of the translation, (3) back-translation, (4) revision of the back-translation, (5) pilot-testing, (6) data collection and psychometric testing.

Irritable bowel syndrome: physicians' awareness and patients' experience.

Aim: To study if and how physicians use the irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) diagnostic criteria and to assess treatment strategies in IBS patients.

Methods: A questionnaire was sent to 191 physicians regarding IBS criteria, diagnostic methods and treatment. Furthermore, 94 patients who were diagnosed with IBS underwent telephone interview.

Natural history of irritable bowel syndrome in women and dysmenorrhea: a 10-year follow-up study.

Background. Studies have shown that women are more likely to have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and more women seek healthcare because of IBS than men. Aim.

Natural history of functional gastrointestinal disorders: comparison of two longitudinal population-based studies.

Background: Functional gastrointestinal disorders are common but information on their natural history is limited.

Aims: To document the natural history of functional gastrointestinal disorders in a population based study and to compare with the Olmsted County study.

Method: A questionnaire was mailed to the same age- and gender-stratified random sample of the Icelandic population aged 18-75 in 1996 and 2006.

Natural history of heartburn: a 10-year population-based study.

Aim: To study the natural history and prevalence of heartburn at a 10-year interval, and to study the effect of heartburn on various symptoms and activities.

Methods: A population-based postal study was carried out. Questionnaires were mailed to the same age- and gender-stratified random sample of the Icelandic population (aged 18-75 years) in 1996 and again in 2006.

Natural history of functional dyspepsia: a 10-year population-based study.

Background: Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a common disorder, but information on its natural history is limited.

Aim: To study the natural history of FD as assessed by 2 criteria over a 10-year period.

Method: A population-based study conducted by mailing a questionnaire to the same age- and gender-stratified random sample of the Icelandic population aged 18-75 in 1996 and again in 2006.