Gottfries' Cognitive Scale for Staff Proxy Rating of Cognitive Function Among Nursing Home Residents.

Background: For research purposes, there is a need for tools to assess an individual's level of cognitive function. For survey-based investigations in nursing home contexts, proxy ratings allow the assessment also of individuals with severe cognitive impairment.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the feasibility and psychometric properties of Gottfries' cognitive scale when used in a nursing home context for proxy rating of cognitive function.

Prevalence of pain and pharmacological pain treatment among old people in nursing homes in 2007 and 2013.

Purpose: Many elderly people living in nursing homes experience pain and take analgesic medication. The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of pain and pharmacological pain treatment among people living in nursing homes in Sweden, in two large, comparable, samples from 2007 to 2013.

Methods: Cross-sectional surveys were performed in 2007 and 2013, including all residents in nursing homes in the county of Västerbotten, Sweden.

Prevalence of constipation among persons living in institutional geriatric-care settings - a cross-sectional study.

Rational: The current state of knowledge about the prevalence of constipation among persons living in institutional geriatric-care settings is limited.

Aim: The aim was to investigate the prevalence of constipation among institutional geriatric-care residents and identify resident characteristics related to constipation.

Methodological Design: In a cross-sectional study of all the institutional geriatric-care settings in a county in northern Sweden, 2970 residents were assessed.

Behavioral and psychological symptoms and psychotropic drugs among people with cognitive impairment in nursing homes in 2007 and 2013.

Purpose: The use of psychotropic drugs to treat behavioral and psychological symptoms among people with dementia has been widely questioned because of its limited efficacy and risk of harmful side-effects. The objectives of this study was to compare the prevalence of behavioral and psychological symptoms and the use of psychotropic drug treatments among old people with cognitive impairment living in geriatric care units in 2007 and 2013.

Methods: Two questionnaire surveys were performed in 2007 and 2013, comprising all those living in geriatric care units in the county of Västerbotten in northern Sweden.

Effect evaluation of a heated ambulance mattress-prototype on thermal comfort and patients' temperatures in prehospital emergency care--an intervention study.

Background: The ambulance milieu does not offer good thermal comfort to patients during the cold Swedish winters. Patients' exposure to cold temperatures combined with a cold ambulance mattress seems to be the major factor leading to an overall sensation of discomfort. There is little research on the effect of active heat delivered from underneath in ambulance care.

Reduction in the use of potentially inappropriate drugs among old people living in geriatric care units between 2007 and 2013.

Purpose: The aims of this study were to investigate trends in the prevalence of potentially inappropriate drug use among old people living in geriatric care units in the county of Västerbotten between 2007 and 2013 using six national quality indicators and to assess the impact of medication reviews on those quality indicators.

Methods: Data were collected concerning potentially inappropriate drug use, function in the activities of daily living (ADL) and cognitive function, using the Multi-Dimensional Dementia Assessment Scale (MDDAS). A comparison was made between the years 2007 and 2013, comprising 2772 and 1902 people, respectively, living in geriatric care in the county of Västerbotten, Sweden.

A person-centred intervention for providing information to parents of children with cancer. Experiences and effects.

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to describe the experiences of participating in a person-centred information intervention aimed at parents of children with cancer.

Methods: Eight parents participated in the intervention, beginning two months after their child's diagnosis. The intervention was based upon the representational approach to patient education and a mixed method approach was employed in the study.

Effect evaluation of a heated ambulance mattress-prototype on body temperatures and thermal comfort--an experimental study.

Background: Exposure to cold temperatures is, often, a neglected problem in prehospital care. One of the leading influences of the overall sensation of cold discomfort is the cooling of the back. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a heated ambulance mattress-prototype on body temperatures and thermal comfort in an experimental study.

Marginal and internal fit of cobalt-chromium fixed dental prostheses generated from digital and conventional impressions.

Objectives. Digital impressions are increasingly used and have the potential to avoid the problem of inaccurate impressions. Only a few studies to verify the accuracy of digital impressions have been performed.

Psychotropic drug use among people with dementia--a six-month follow-up study.

Background: Psychotropic drugs are widely used among old people with dementia but few studies have described long-term treatment in this group of patients. The purpose of this study was to explore the long-term use of psychotropic drugs in old people with dementia.

Methods: Data on psychotropic drug use, functioning in the activities of daily living (ADL), cognitive function and behavioral and psychological symptoms were collected at baseline and six months later, using the Multi-Dimensional Dementia Assessment Scale (MDDAS).

Solubility and strength of zirconia-based dental materials after artificial aging.

Statement Of Problem: Advanced high-strength dental ceramics based on zirconium oxide are widely used for dental restorations. However, their durability in liquids has been questioned.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the flexure strength of zirconium dioxide materials designed for different sintering techniques before and after surface exposure to an acidic solution and to correlate the dissolution of the materials with strength data.

Association between behavioral and psychological symptoms and psychotropic drug use among old people with cognitive impairment living in geriatric care settings.

Background: Behavioral and psychological symptoms are common among cognitively impaired individuals and psychotropic drugs are widely used for their treatment. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and associated factors of psychotropic and anti-dementia drug use among old people with cognitive impairment living in geriatric care settings.

Methods: The study comprised 2,019 cognitively impaired people living in geriatric care units in the county of Västerbotten, Sweden.

Patients' experiences of cold exposure during ambulance care.

Background: Exposure to cold temperatures is often a neglected problem in prehospital care. Cold exposure increase thermal discomfort and, if untreated causes disturbances of vital body functions until ultimately reaching hypothermia. It may also impair cognitive function, increase pain and contribute to fear and an overall sense of dissatisfaction.

Inappropriate long-term use of antipsychotic drugs is common among people with dementia living in specialized care units.

Background: Antipsychotic drugs are widely used for the treatment of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD), despite their limited efficacy and concerns about safety. The aim of this study was to describe antipsychotic drug therapy among people with dementia living in specialized care units in northern Sweden.

Methods: This study was conducted in 40 specialized care units in northern Sweden, with a total study population of 344 people with dementia.

Aspects of body image after mastectomy due to breast cancer - a two-year follow-up study.

Purpose: This 2-year follow-up study explores aspects of body image after mastectomy due to breast cancer.

Materials And Methods: This population-based study included 76 women living in northern Sweden who, during November 2006 to October 2007, underwent mastectomy due to breast cancer. The women completed a questionnaire entitled "Life After Mastectomy (LAM)" 10 months after the mastectomy and again 2 years later.

Porous titanium granules in the surgical treatment of peri-implant osseous defects: a randomized clinical trial.

Purpose: Porous titanium granules (PTG) may have potential as an osteoconductive bone graft substitute to treat peri-implant osseous defects. The aim of this study was to analyze clinical and radiographic outcomes of peri-implant osseous defects after treatment with PTG.

Materials And Methods: This prospective, randomized, case-control, clinical 12-month study compared open-flap debridement and surface decontamination with titanium curettes and 24% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid gel (n = 16) to the same protocol but with the addition of PTG (n = 16).

Physical restraint use in institutional care of old people in Sweden in 2000 and 2007.

Background: Physical restraint use is common in institutional care for old people and mainly used to prevent falls, despite the fall-preventive effect of physical restraints being questioned in previous research. The aim of the study was to investigate the use of physical restraints in Sweden in 2000 and 2007.

Methods: Data were collected from two comparable census surveys conducted in all institutional care units for old people in 2000 (n = 3,669) and 2007 (n = 2,914).

Experiences of a high-intensity functional exercise programme among older people dependent in activities of daily living.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the experience of participating in a high-intensity functional exercise programme among older people dependent in activities of daily living (ADL) and living in residential care facilities. Interviews were conducted with nine older people, aged 73-91, and dependent in ADL who had participated in a high-intensity functional exercise programme. Qualitative content analysis was used in analysing the interviews.

Comparison of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia and psychotropic drug treatments among old people in geriatric care in 2000 and 2007.

Background: Behavioral and psychological symptoms, such as verbal or physical aggression, aberrant motor behaviors, psychotic symptoms, anxiety, depressive symptoms and apathy are common among people with dementia. The aim of the present study was to compare the one-week prevalence of behavioral and psychological symptoms and psychotropic drug treatment among people with cognitive impairment living in institutional care, in two large, comparable samples from 2000 and 2007.

Methods: A comparison was made between two cross-sectional samples, collected in 2000 and 2007, comprising 4054 participants with cognitive impairment living in geriatric care units in the county of Västerbotten, Sweden.

Physically violent behaviour in dementia care: Characteristics of residents and management of violent situations.

Objective: Physically violent behaviour (PVB) is common among residents with dementia and often complicates nursing care. This study aims to explore types of caring situations, resident characteristics related to PVB and professional caregivers' management of PVB.

Methods: The study included 40 group homes for 309 residents with dementia.

One-week prevalence of depressive symptoms and psychotropic drug treatments among old people with different levels of cognitive impairment living in institutional care: changes between 1982 and 2000.

Background: Dementia and depression are common in advanced age, and often co-exist. There are indications of a decreased prevalence of depressive symptoms among old people in recent years, supposedly because of the manifold increase in antidepressant treatment. Whether the prevalence of depressive symptoms has decreased among people in different stages of dementia disorders has not yet been investigated.

Effects of a restraint minimization program on staff knowledge, attitudes, and practice: a cluster randomized trial.

Objectives: To evaluate the effects of a restraint minimization education program on staff knowledge and attitudes and use of physical restraints.

Design: Cluster-randomized controlled trial with nursing units as the basis for randomization.

Setting: Forty group dwelling units for people with dementia.

Differences between women who have and have not undergone breast reconstruction after mastectomy due to breast cancer.

Aim: This study compares potential differences between women with breast cancer who after mastectomy had undergone breast reconstruction with those who had not.

Material And Methods: All women (N=149) in the northern medical region of Sweden who had undergone mastectomy in 2003 received a self-reported questionnaire entitled "Life After Mastectomy (LAM)" that included standardized measures of sociodemographic, decision-making process, breast reconstruction (BR) yes or no, sexuality, and body image. SPSS was used for data processing.

Changes between 1982 and 2000 in the prevalence of behavioral symptoms and psychotropic drug treatment among old people with cognitive impairment in geriatric care.

Background: People with a dementia disorder often live in institutional care facilities, particularly when the dementia disorder becomes severe or complicated by various behavioral disturbances. The aim of the present study was to analyze and compare the one-week prevalence of various behavioral symptoms and psychotropic drug treatment among people with cognitive impairment living in institutional care, in two large, comparable samples from 1982 and 2000.

Methods: A comparison was made between two cross-sectional samples, collected in 1982 and 2000 respectively, comprising 3404 participants with cognitive impairment living in geriatric care units in the county of Västerbotten, Sweden.

Factors associated with the prevalence of violent behaviour among residents living in nursing homes.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between environmental and organisational factors as well as resident and caregiver characteristics in nursing home wards with a high respectively low prevalence of residents with violent behaviour.

Background: Earlier studies have indicated that different factors are related to violent behaviour among residents living in nursing homes, such as environmental and organisational variations, and resident and caregiver characteristics. However, few studies have simultaneously examined the relationship between these factors.