Training of transport drivers improves their handling of pigs during loading for transport to slaughter.

Pig transport drivers' (TDs') handling actions are of great importance as these drivers handle a large number of finishing pigs during stressful situations. Poor handling techniques can have negative consequences for working conditions, pig welfare and meat quality. We studied the effects of a training intervention on Swedish TDs' attitudes towards pigs and their handling actions during loading for transport to slaughter.

Surgical repair of diastasis recti abdominis provides long-term improvement of abdominal core function and quality of life: a 3-year follow-up.

Background: Diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) is a condition affecting many post-partum women. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term results of surgical repair of DRA in a cohort of post-partum women.

Methods: Sixty post-partum women with DRA and training-resistant core dysfunctions were included.

Cohort study of the effect of surgical repair of symptomatic diastasis recti abdominis on abdominal trunk function and quality of life.

Background: During pregnancy, women are at risk of developing persistent symptomatic diastasis recti abdominis (DRA), which may have a detrimental effect on their physical function and quality of life (QoL). The aim of this prospective cohort study was to determine the effect of surgical repair of DRA on abdominal trunk function, urinary incontinence and QoL in postpartum women with trunk instability symptoms resistant to training.

Methods: Postpartum women with diagnosed DRA and training-resistant symptoms underwent double-row plication of the linea alba.

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.

Speech in 5-Year-Olds With Cleft Palate With or Without Cleft Lip Treated With Primary Palatal Surgery With Muscle Reconstruction According to Sommerlad.

Objective: To evaluate speech in 5-year-olds with cleft palate with or without cleft lip (CP±L) treated with primary palatal surgery in 1 stage with muscle reconstruction according to Sommerlad at about 12 months of age.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Primary care university hospital.

Abdominal plasty with and without plication-effects on trunk muscles, lung function, and self-rated physical function.

Background: Weight loss after obesity and pregnancy is associated with excess abdominal skin and weakness of the abdominal wall, which is assumed to cause low back pain and reduce lung function. Today, abdominoplasty is the only known method to treat excess skin, and plication is used to improve aesthetics and function alone or in addition to surgery. There is lack of evidence concerning the surgery's effect on trunk muscles, lung function, and physical function.

Experiences among children and adolescents of living with spina bifida and their visions of the future.

Purpose Transitioning to independence may be problematic for persons with spina bifida (SB). Experiences of young persons with SB may provide insights into this group's needs for support. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate children's and adolescents' experiences of living with SB, their social and emotional adjustment, and their thoughts about becoming independent adults.

Improvement of communication and interpersonal competence in telenursing--development of a self-assessment tool.

Aims And Objectives: The aim of this study was to develop a self-assessment tool aiming to raise telenurses' awareness of their communication and interpersonal competence, and highlight areas in need of improvement.

Background: Several studies have revealed the need for development of communication competence in telenursing. Structured analyses of conversations with patients/callers, is one way to increase telenurses' awareness of their unique communication and interpersonal competence.

Everyday life for women with celiac disease.

The aim of this research was to explore how women with celiac disease experience everyday life. It is important that healthcare professionals understand what it is like to live with a chronic illness, and also the factors that affect the lives of women who have celiac disease. The study has a qualitative approach and the data were collected using interviews with 16 women.

A multifaceted intervention model can give a lasting improvement of older peoples' nutritional status.

Objective: The purpose of this study was with a multifaceted intervention model improve the nutritional status of elderly people living in residential homes to increase their energy intake and to maintain improvements over time.

Setting: Three different municipal residential homes in the south-east of Sweden.

Participants: The study population consisted of 67 elderly people.

Experiences of the Swedish healthcare system: an interview study with refugees in need of long-term health care.

Background: Refugees needing long-term health care must adapt to new healthcare systems. The aim of this study was to examine the viewpoints of nine refugees in a county in Sweden, with a known chronic disease or functional impairment requiring long-term medical care, on their contacts with care providers regarding treatment and personal needs.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews with nine individuals and/or their next of kin.

Nutritional status and health care costs for the elderly living in municipal residential homes--an intervention study.

Objective: The aim was to study the effect of individualised meals on nutritional status among older people living in municipal residential homes and to compare the results with a control group. An additional aim was to estimate direct health care costs for both groups.

Setting: Six different municipal residential homes in the south-east of Sweden.

Quality of nursing care from the perspective of patients with leg ulcers.

Objective: To investigate and analyse the quality of nursing care in a primary care setting from the perspective of patients with leg ulcers and determine the subjective importance that patients attach to various aspects of quality of care.

Method: All of the patients with leg ulcers at 15 primary care centres in the south east of Sweden were invited to participate. They were given the short version of the Quality from the Patient's Perspective questionnaire (QPP) to fill in.

Swedish women with coeliac disease in remission use more health care services than other women: a controlled study.

Objective: To examine whether the perceived poor outcome of dietary treatment makes Swedish women with coeliac disease (CD) prone to use more health care services than other women.

Material And Methods: The health care consumption over 36 consecutive months was examined for 137 Swedish women aged 20-80 years with CD in remission after living on a gluten-free diet for a median of 4 years (range 1-8 years). Comparisons were made with the health care consumption of 411 women in the general population matched for age and residence.

Health promotion: facilitators and barriers perceived by district nurses.

Purpose: To investigate district nurses' (DN) opinions regarding facilitators and barriers in their work with health promotion.

Methods: Qualitative descriptive study. Interviews with a purposeful sampling of 54 DNs.

Advancing nursing documentation--an intervention study using patients with leg ulcer as an example.

Aim: The aim was to implement and evaluate a standardised nursing record, using patients with leg ulcer as an example, regarding the content of the nursing record and district nurses' experiences of documentation.

Method: This was a prospective, stratified and randomised intervention study, with one intervention group and one control group. A standardised nursing wound care record was designed and implemented in the electronic patient record in the intervention group for a period of 3 months.

Nursing documentation for communicating and evaluating care.

Aims: To investigate the utility of electronic nursing documentation by exploring to what extent and for what purpose general practitioners use nursing documentation and to what extent and in which cases care unit managers use nursing documentation for quality development of care.

Background: As health care includes multidisciplinary activities, communication about the care given is essential. To assure delivery of good and safe care, quality development is necessary.

Impact of primary care management on nursing documentation.

Aim: The aim was to investigate whether perceptions of electronic nursing documentation and its performance differed because of primary health care management.

Background: Success in leading people depends on the manager's personality, the context and the people who are led. Close proximity to clinical work, with manager and personnel sharing the same profession, promotes the authority to carry out changes.

Prevention and health promotion and evidence-based fields of nursing - a literature review.

This paper summarizes the evidence constituting the foundation for preventive and health promotive work performed by nurses in primary care. This is a systematic literature review in six scientific databases. Forty original articles and 16 literature reviews met the inclusion criteria.

National public health target awareness of staff at two organisational levels in health care.

Objective: To investigate national public health target awareness at two organisational levels in health care comprising public officials and district nurses (DNs). To determine if the targets were incorporated in county council public health policy documents and if DNs worked in accordance with them.

Method: Telephone interviews were performed with 21 county council officials and personal interviews were conducted with 54 DNs representing Sweden's 21 health care regions.

The perceived meaning of a (w)holistic view among general practitioners and district nurses in Swedish primary care: a qualitative study.

Background: The definition of primary care varies between countries. Swedish primary care has developed from a philosophic viewpoint based on quality, accessibility, continuity, co-operation and a holistic view. The meaning of holism in international literature differs between medicine and nursing.

The use of clinical guidelines for asthma, diabetes, and hypertension in primary health care.

Objective: To investigate which clinical guidelines primary health care staff refer to regarding asthma, diabetes, and hypertension, the number of existing guidelines, and the organizational level at which they were drawn up, and whether there are different guidelines for the same disease, either in different primary health care centres or within individual centres.

Design: The study is descriptive. Data were obtained by telephone interviews and by procuring clinical guidelines regarding asthma, diabetes, and hypertension from primary health care centres.

Electronic nursing documentation in primary health care.

The aim of this study was to describe and analyse nursing documentation based on an electronic patient record (EPR) system in primary health care (PHC) with emphasis on the nurses' opinions and what, according to the nursing process and the use of the keywords, the nurses documented. The study was performed in one county council in the south of Sweden and included 42 Primary Health Care Centres (PHCC). It consisted of a survey, an audit of nursing records with the Cat-ch-Ing instrument and calculation of frequencies of keywords used during a 1-year period.

Exploring views on Swedish district nurses' prescribing--a focus group study in primary health care.

Since 1994 district nurses (DNs) in Sweden have been permitted to prescribe drugs from a limited list. This reform has met severe resistance from doctors and the opinions of general practitioners (GPs) and DNs have differed in many aspects. The aim of this study was to gain deeper understanding of the different opinions about DNs' prescribing and to explore the impact of the reform on primary care.

Opinions about district nurses prescribing.

Opinions about district nurses prescribing The aim of this study was to investigate the opinions of district nurses (DNs) and general practitioners (GPs) about nurse prescribing in Sweden in order to elucidate similarities and differences, and relate different opinions to background and psychosocial working factors. In a questionnaire about psychosocial working conditions, seven statements about DNs prescribing were included. The questionnaire was sent to 554 DNs and 566 GPs with a participant rate of 83%.