Acupuncture for fatigue in breast cancer survivors: a study protocol for a pragmatic, mixed method, randomised controlled trial.

Introduction: Fatigue is a common symptom observed in post-cancer treatment, yet its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Acupuncture has been employed to alleviate cancer-related fatigue (CRF); however, its effectiveness in addressing associated comorbidities that may influence fatigue is also poorly understood. This study represents the first investigation to use acupuncture as an intervention for fatigue in breast cancer survivors within a Norwegian cohort.

A qualitative study of professional caregivers' perceptions of processes contributing to mealtime agitation in persons with dementia in nursing home wards and strategies to attain calmness.

Aim: Describe professional caregivers' perceptions of factors and processes contributing to mealtime agitation and strategies for attaining and maintaining calm mealtimes.

Design: Qualitative and descriptive.

Methods: A convenience sample of professional caregivers working in two wards for residents with dementia was used.

Spiritually Sensitive Social Work with Victims of Natural Disasters and Terrorism.

As a primary intervention, raising the topics of faith and religion with individuals traumatised by terrorism and/or natural disasters can be daunting for social workers, because victims often enter the helping relationship with feelings of helplessness, loss of personal control and of doubt about their relationships, environment, and their cultural and belief systems. Just as clients benefit from knowledge and awareness in the aftermath of a traumatic event, insights gleaned from traumatic experiences and from research can be useful for social workers grappling with the challenges associated with designing and deploying appropriate helping strategies with victims of disaster and terrorism. This article draws on extant literature and survey research, to explore how social workers might ethically assess clients' spiritual perspectives and incorporate helping activities that support clients' recovery, in the context of a spiritually sensitive helping relationship with victims of disaster and terrorism.

Patients' experiences of enhanced recovery after surgery: a systematic review of qualitative studies.

Aims And Objectives: To aggregate, interpret and synthesise findings from qualitative studies to further our knowledge regarding patients' pre- and postoperative experiences when participating in an enhanced recovery after surgery.

Background: Numerous quantitative studies have documented benefits of participation in enhanced recovery after surgery programmes. Randomised control trials show that enhanced recovery after surgery reduce patient morbidity and shorten hospital length of stay.

Experiences of Tenants with Serious Mental Illness Regarding Housing Support and Contextual Issues: A Meta-Synthesis.

This study aimed to analyze and synthesize findings from qualitative studies that explored the experiences of tenants with serious mental illness regarding housing support and contextual issues. Twenty-four articles were identified using a systematic search strategy. The total number of informants was N = 769.

Mental health rehabilitation in a care farm context: A descriptive review of Norwegian intervention studies.

Background: C are farming is a service developed at farms for promoting mental and physical health and is increasingly used in mental health rehabilitation in Norway.

Objective: This article aims to present a descriptive review of Norwegian intervention research on care farms that provide rehabilitation for people with mental health disorders.

Methods: This literature review applied a non-systematic search strategy: all articles in the field known to the authors were selected for inclusion.

The Lived Experience of Getting and Having a Home of One's Own: A Meta-Synthesis.

This study aimed to synthesize findings from qualitative studies that explored the lived experiences of persons with serious mental illness with regard to getting and having a home. A systematic search strategy was used. Data from 24 articles were extracted and analyzed using a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach.

Psychometric properties of Antonovsky's 29-item Sense of Coherence scale in research on older home-dwelling Norwegians.

Aim: The aim of this study was to test the homogeneity and construct validity of the Sense of Coherence 29-item scale (SOC-29) among older home-dwelling Norwegians.

Methods: A postal questionnaire, consisting of background variables, five health-related questions, the SOC-29, and three other instruments measuring mental health, self-care ability, and risk for undernutrition, was sent to 6033 home-dwelling older people (65+ years) in southern Norway. A total of 2069 participants were included.

Sexual Abuse of Older Residents in Nursing Homes: A Focus Group Interview of Nursing Home Staff.

The objective of this study was to increase knowledge of sexual abuse against older residents in nursing homes. A qualitative approach was used. Through a focus group interview with staff in nursing homes, the aim was to reveal employees' thoughts, experiences, and attitudes.

Enhancing students' moral competence in practice: Challenges experienced by Malawian nurse teachers.

Background: Nurses and student nurses in Malawi often encounter challenges in taking a moral course of action. Several studies have demonstrated a need for increased awareness of ethical issues in the nursing education.

Objective: To explore the challenges experienced by nurse teachers in Malawi in their efforts to enhance students' moral competence in clinical practice.

Clinical use of sensory gardens and outdoor environments in norwegian nursing homes: a cross-sectional e-mail survey.

Gardens and outdoor environments offer multiple therapeutic possibilities for the residents in nursing homes. Web-based questionnaires were sent to 488 nursing home leaders and 121 leaders responded. The clinical impressions of the leaders and staff regarding the benefits of sensory gardens (SGs) to the residents were consistent with previous research.

The last three days of life: a comparison of pain management in the young old and the oldest old hospitalised patients using the Resident Assessment Instrument for Palliative Care.

Background: Pain is a common symptom in older patients at the end of life. Little research has evaluated pain management among the oldest hospitalised dying patients.

Aims And Objectives: To compare the pain characteristics documented by healthcare workers for the young old and the oldest old hospitalised patients and the types of analgesics administered in the last three days of life.

Systemic therapy and attachment narratives: Attachment Narrative Therapy.

This article outlines an integration of attachment theory with narrative theory and systemic theory and practice: Attachment Narrative Therapy (ANT). This integration offers a more powerful explanatory formulation of the development and maintenance of human distress in relationships, families and communities, and gives direction to psychotherapeutic intervention.

Benefits of sensory garden and horticultural activities in dementia care: a modified scoping review.

Aims And Objectives: To provide a review on the benefits associated with the use of sensory gardens and horticultural activities in dementia care.

Background: Maintaining quality of life is important in dementia care. Sensory gardens and horticultural activities are increasingly used in dementia care, yet their benefits are uncertain.

Sense of well-being 10 years after stroke.

Aims And Objectives: To describe factors that promote subjective well-being in a long-time perspective of 10 years after stroke.

Background: The research literature describes circumstances that are difficult to deal with after a stroke, but there is relatively little knowledge of factors that contribute to well-being in a longer-time perspective than two years after the incident. This study focuses on such conditions in a 10-year perspective.

Cognitive milieu therapy and physical activity: experiences of mastery and learning among patients with dual diagnosis.

During the last decade, there has been a growing interest in implementing cognitive milieu therapy (CMT) in psychiatric institutions. However, there is a lack of systematic evaluations from patients' point of view. The aim of this study was to explore and describe patient perceptions of essential experiences of mastery, learning alternative ways of thinking, and acquiring new skills through CMT and physical activity in an inpatient setting.

Learning through cognitive milieu therapy among inpatients with dual diagnosis: a qualitative study of interdisciplinary collaboration.

The main aim of this study was to explore the experiences of interdisciplinary collaboration among staff members, applying cognitive milieu therapy for inpatients with dual diagnosis. The study is based on 33 individual, qualitative interviews. The interdisciplinary approach helped the staff to agree on common aims for the treatment of each patient.

Implementation of a standardised health education in a local context. A case study.

Educational interventions are generally poorly described and the active elements underlying several successful interventions have insufficient descriptions. The aim of the present study was to analyse and discuss the theoretical principles according to which a standardised health education programme originating from a Norwegian Learning and Mastery Centre was performed, and how these principles influence practice at a local Learning and Mastery Centre. A descriptive embedded multiple-case study, with two cases and three defined units, was chosen for the analysis.

Hip fracture and urinary incontinence--use of indwelling catheter postsurgery.

Background: Norway has a higher incidence of hip fractures than any other country. For older individuals, a hip fracture may cause dramatic changes in health status like incontinence and daily activities. Patients with hip fractures are at high risk of urinary incontinence (UI) after surgical repair.

Building a Patient Ombudsman scheme: the Norwegian experience.

The Patient Ombudsman scheme in Norway has gradually been established over the last 25 years, and has its basis in the Patients' Rights Act. The 18 ombudsmen are obliged to assist all users of health services. The question mainly to be dealt with is twofold: In which ways are the aims of the Patient Ombudsmen scheme attended to by the ombudsmen? What do the ombudsmen look upon as key elements in building a functional system? This is examined by means of data from the Norwegian Social Science Data Services, the Norwegian Board of Health Supervision and from a questionnaire presented to the ombudsmen.

Last three days of life in the hospital: a comparison of symptoms, signs and treatments in the young old and the oldest old patients using the Resident assessment instrument for palliative care.

Background: Knowledge concerning the provision of end of life care to the oldest old hospitalised patients is deficient.

Aims And Objectives: To analyse whether there were differences in registered nurses' documentation of the young old vs. the oldest old patients according to symptoms, clinical signs and treatment in the last 3 days of life.

Agreement in documentation of symptoms, clinical signs, and treatment at the end of life: a comparison of data retrieved from nurse interviews and electronic patient records using the Resident Assessment Instrument for Palliative Care.

Aims And Objectives: To assess agreement between data retrieved from interviews with nurses and data from electronic patient records (EPR) about hospitalised patients' symptoms, clinical signs and treatment during the last three days of life.

Background: Patient records have been used to map symptom prevalence in dying hospitalised patients. However, deficiencies have been found regarding nursing documentation.

Pain control at the end of life: a comparative study of hospitalized cancer and noncancer patients.

Background: Pain is a common symptom in dying patients. Previous studies have paid little attention to pain and pain control in terminally ill patients with diseases other than cancer.

Aims: This study investigated whether there were differences in healthcare workers' documentation of pain characteristics in cancer and noncancer patients.