Communication of support and critique in Swedish virtual community threads about prenatal diagnoses of fetal anomalies.

Background: A prenatal diagnosis of a fetal anomaly involves acute grief and psychological distress. The Internet has the potential to provide virtual support following the diagnosis. The overall aim was to explore communication of support and critique in Swedish virtual community threads about prenatal diagnoses of fetal anomalies.

Improved glucose metabolism after gastric bypass: evolution of the paradigm.

Background: Glucose metabolism is improved in patients with type 2 diabetes after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB).

Objectives: To quantify the relative contribution of calorie restriction, rerouting of nutrients, and adipose tissue reduction.

Setting: University Hospital.

Cancer disclosure-account from a pediatric oncology ward in Egypt.

Objective: Informing the child about his/her diagnosis and treatment plan is essential; research has shown that it is related to the patient's quality of life and adherence to medication.

Methods: For 7 months during 2008 (February to September), 2 study-specific questionnaires were constructed and administered to 304 parents of children diagnosed with cancer at the Children's Cancer Hospital Egypt.

Results: Among the 313 eligible parents of children diagnosed with cancer, 304 (97%) answered the first questionnaire and 281 (92%) answered the second questionnaire.

Challenges of evaluating a computer-based educational programme for women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer: a randomised controlled trial.

In a two-group, multi-centre, randomised controlled 9 months trial, we (1) evaluated the impact of a computer-based educational programme compared to standard care and (2) examined whether different patterns of programme usage could be explained by demographic, medical and psychosocial factors. We involved 226 Swedish-speaking women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer and scheduled for surgery. Primary outcomes were health self-efficacy and health care participation measured by the Comprehensive Health Enhancement Supportive System instrument.

'Bringing respite in the burden of illness' - dog handlers' experience of visiting older persons with dementia together with a therapy dog.

Aims And Objectives: To illuminate meanings of the lived experiences of dog handlers' when visiting older persons with dementia with their therapy dog.

Background: Studies indicate that care of persons with dementia should focus on a person-centred approach with the person's interests in the centre. Animal-assisted therapy using a therapy dog in the care of persons with dementia has been shown to increase well-being and decrease problematic behaviours associated with the illness.

Older patients' experiences during care transition.

Background: A fragmented health care system leads to an increased demand for continuity of care across health care levels. Research indicates age-related differences during care transition, with the oldest patients having experiences and needs that differ from those of other patients. To meet the older patients' needs and preferences during care transition, professionals must understand their experiences.

Children with cancer share their views: tell the truth but leave room for hope.

Aim: One in five children diagnosed with cancer will die from the disease. The aim of the study was to explore how children with cancer want to receive bad news about their disease, such as when no more treatment options are available.

Methods: We conducted individual interviews with ten children with cancer, aged seven to 17 years, at a single paediatric oncology unit in central Sweden.

Experiences and preferences of care among Swedish immigrants following a prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart defect in the fetus: a qualitative interview study.

Background: Immigrants experience significant challenges when in contact with healthcare and report less satisfaction with maternity care compared to native Swedes. Research that gives voice to pregnant immigrant women and their partners following a prenatal diagnosis of a fetal anomaly is scarce. Thus, the aim of this study was to explore experiences and preferences of care following a prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart defect among Swedish immigrants.

Parents' Experiences and Wishes at End of Life in Children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Types I and II.

Objective: To explore experiences and wishes of bereaved parents concerning end-of-life care for their child with severe spinal muscular atrophy.

Study Design: A follow-up survey was conducted in 2013 on parents of deceased Swedish children who were born between 2000 and 2010 and later diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy type I or II (n = 48). The questions used in this study covered location of death (LoD), support from health care staff, and parents' wishes and concerns about their child's end-of-life care.

Health and Social Service Access Among Family Caregivers of People with Parkinson's Disease.

Background: Being a family caregiver for a person with Parkinson's disease (PD) can negatively impact health and wellbeing, but it appears less clear to what extent caregivers' health/social service needs are met.

Objective: We explored the extent to which PD family caregivers experience sufficient access to health/social services, as compared to age-matched controls; and the associations between this and demographic and health-related variables.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 66 PD family caregivers and 79 age-matched control subjects including the SF-36 health survey, the Nottingham Health Profile Sleep section (NHP-Sleep), and questions regarding contacts with various health/social related services and whether these were perceived as sufficient.

Managing Ethical Difficulties in Healthcare: Communicating in Inter-professional Clinical Ethics Support Sessions.

Several studies show that healthcare professionals need to communicate inter-professionally in order to manage ethical difficulties. A model of clinical ethics support (CES) inspired by Habermas' theory of discourse ethics has been developed by our research group. In this version of CES sessions healthcare professionals meet inter-professionally to communicate and reflect on ethical difficulties in a cooperative manner with the aim of reaching communicative agreement or reflective consensus.

Nursing students' perceptions of caring for dying people, after one year in nursing school.

Aim: To describe Swedish nursing students' perceptions of caring for dying people after the first year of a three year in a nursing programme at three university nursing schools in Sweden.

Methods: Interviews (n=17) were undertaken with nursing students at the end of their first year. A phenomenographic approach was used to design and structure the analysis of the nursing students' perceptions.

The experience of women living with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia: impact of the condition and the care given.

Context: Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is caused most often by mutations in the CYP21A2 gene, resulting in cortisol and aldosterone deficiency and increased production of androgens.

Objective: To describe how women with CAH experience their condition and the care given.

Design, Setting And Participants: Semi-structured interviews with 13 adult Swedish women with CAH were transcribed.

Characteristics of the Family Caregivers Who Did Not Benefit From a Successful Psychoeducational Group Intervention During Palliative Cancer Care: A Prospective Correlational Study.

Background: Although there has been a steady increase in intervention studies aimed toward supporting family caregivers in palliative cancer care, they often report modest effect sizes and there is a lack of knowledge about possible barriers to intervention effectiveness.

Objective: The aim of this study is to explore the characteristics of family caregivers who did not benefit from a successful psychoeducational group intervention compared with the characteristics of those who did.

Intervention/methods: A psychoeducational intervention for family caregivers was delivered at 10 palliative settings in Sweden.

Exploring the Person-Centeredness of an Innovative E-Supportive System Aimed at Person-Centered Care: Prototype Evaluation of the Care Expert.

Integrated in a multiphase development project, the Care Expert is a prototype of a novel e-supportive system aiming to mediate person-centered care in the context of outpatient oncology. At this early stage of development, the current study was conducted aiming at exploring the person-centeredness concept underlying the Care Expert version 1.0 and its usability for patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Time-dependent dose-response relation for absence of vaginal elasticity after gynecological radiation therapy.

Background And Purpose: To investigate the dose-response relation between the dose to the vagina and the patient-reported symptom 'absence of vaginal elasticity' and how time to follow-up influences this relation.

Material And Methods: The study included 78 long-term gynecological cancer survivors treated between 1991 and 2003 with external beam radiation therapy. Of those, 24 experienced absence of vaginal elasticity.

Unresolved grief and its consequences. A nationwide follow-up of teenage loss of a parent to cancer 6-9 years earlier.

Purpose: The early loss of a parent is a tragedy and a serious life event. This study investigated grief resolution and morbidity in cancer-bereaved teenagers 6 to 9 years after the loss of a parent to cancer.

Methods: In a nationwide population-based study of 622 of 851 (73 %) youths who as teenagers 6 to 9 years earlier had lost a parent to cancer, we explored the magnitude of unresolved grief and its association with psychological and physiological morbidity.

Group intervention: A way to improve working teams' positive psychological capital.

Background: Positive psychological capital is reported to have positive effects on people's well-being and attitudes to their working lives.

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate if it is possible to increase the level of positive psychological capital by two group intervention programs.

Methods: The research design was a controlled study with 2 × 2 experimental groups and two control groups.

Confirming mental health care in acute psychiatric wards, as narrated by persons experiencing psychotic illness: an interview study.

Background: It is important that mental health nurses meet the safety, security and care needs of persons suffering from psychotic illness to enhance these persons' likelihood of feeling better during their time in acute psychiatric wards. Certain persons in care describe nurses' mental health care as positive, whereas others report negative experiences and express a desire for improvements. There is limited research on how persons with psychotic illness experience nurses' mental health care acts and how such acts help these persons feel better.

Enhancing adherence to infection control in Swedish community care: Factors of importance.

Healthcare-associated infections are the most frequent adverse event in healthcare delivery worldwide. The theory of planned behavior has proven helpful in hospital hygiene interventions and might be useful in community care. This study explored how medically-responsible nurses in Swedish community care perceived and ranked the impact of factors related to the theory of planned behavior, the factors" probability to change, enhancing the healthcare staff's adherence to infection control guidelines, and identified which theory of planned behavior subquestions should be focused on to enhance adherence to infection control.

Bereaved Siblings' Advice to Health Care Professionals Working With Children With Cancer and Their Families.

Introduction: Siblings of children with cancer experience psychosocial distress during the illness and after bereavement, but often stand outside the spotlight of attention and care. This study explored bereaved siblings' advice to health care professionals (HCPs) working with children with cancer and their families.

Materials And Methods: In a nationwide Swedish survey of bereaved siblings, 174/240 (73%) participated.