A mixed-methods evaluation of long-term outcomes after trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy for children subjected to family violence

Objective: Exposure to family violence in childhood significantly increases the risk of developing severe psychiatric and physiological illnesses. Trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (TF-CBT) effectively addresses trauma-related symptoms and improves overall well-being. However, knowledge of the persistence of these positive effects over time, facilitating factors, and why some children are not benefited remains limited. Furthermore, little attention has been paid to exploring children’s subjective experiences. This study aimed to investigate long-term changes in trauma-related symptoms among children and youths who underwent TF-CBT due to family violence. Nine participants (M age = 16,6 years, range = 14–23; 7 girls and 2 boys) were assessed and interviewed four to five years after TF-CBT treatment. Methods: The study adopted a mixed-method approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative methods. Results: While most participants still reported being affected by the violence, most had benefited from treatment, with improvements lasting over the years. However, for those who did not report decreased symptoms, trauma symptoms persisted, accompanied by additional severe mental health problems. Conclusions: The findings underscore the importance of providing effective trauma-focused treatments such as TF-CBT and highlight the need for enhanced safety measures and parental interventions for children who do not benefit from treatment.publishedVersio

A new treaty on intellectual property, genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge

Among the most contentious practices within a globalized and corporatized economy is allegations of so-called ‘biopiracy’. This refers to the taking of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge without either free, prior and informed consent or any mechanisms for benefit-sharing with the community that provided the resource. Attempts to revise the TRIPS Agreement (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) to bring it more in compliance with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) have not led to concrete results. The article analyzes CBD provisions, binding protocols and non-binding guiding documents, and two less known treaties of the United Nations. The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), that joined the United Nations in 1974, has – after negotiating for almost 15 years – adopted the WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge. The article demonstrates how this WIPO Treaty is embedded in the ‘defensive strategy’ of traditional knowledge protection, enabling patent examiners to reject a patent as the alleged invention does not represent new and applicable knowledge. The alternative, termed ‘positive strategy’, is witnessed primarily in India’s Plant Variety and Farmers’ Rights Act, which has resulted in more grants of certificates for so-called ‘farmers’ varieties’ compared to all other varieties together. Other United Nations treaties include elements of such protection, but not on the level of specify and subsequent implementation as found in India. The negotiations of what became the WIPO Treaty has generated increased awareness of indigenous peoples’ traditional knowledge and should be easy to ratify as it aligns with existing legislation.publishedVersio

Seeing several sides of the story: Unpacking an ethical dilemma in home-based care

Healthcare professionals in home-based care face various challenges at the system and patient levels, which can lead to ethical dilemmas. In addition, home-based care workers lack arenas to share their experiences, as they are often scattered across the care district, work alone, and do not have the immediate support of a colleague. Based on ethnographic fieldwork among professional caregivers in home-based care in Norway, we present a case of an ethical dilemma that occurred during a patient visit. Using a narrative ethics approach, we unpack the case into six “stories” and show the context of the ethical dilemma. Home-based care staff may not be aware of an ethical dilemma as it unfolds. Reflection on the case leads us to suggest that staff would benefit from some form of clinical ethics support to learn, share stories, and receive support. We also suggest that professional caregivers and patients would benefit from advance care planning as a way to clarify expectations between patients and healthcare professionals. Clinical ethics support and advance care planning are ways for staff and patients, respectively, to let their voices and stories be heard.publishedVersio

“I know more who I am!” International nursing students’ experience of study exchange to Norway: A qualitative study

International student exchange has been enhanced by higher educational institutions, national governments and policy documents for the last two decades. Nevertheless, there is limited knowledge and research regarding nursing students’ experiences of going on study exchange to non-English countries like Norway. The study aimed to explore international nursing students’ experiences when studying abroad in a Norwegian Bachelor of Nursing program. The study used an interpretative qualitative design. Ten nursing students from Australia and the Netherlands participated in two focus groups, and provided their motivation letter, written prior to their exchange. The study followed the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) checklist. The findings suggest that the students had several motives and expectations for studying abroad that went beyond nursing skills and competence. It was also of great importance to prepare for the exchange at multiple levels. Another important element central to the students’ development was their relations with the other international students. Their experiences in daily life and their participation in the courses that they took on campus were interconnected and contributed to both personal growth and professional development.publishedVersio

Ideelle velferdsorganisasjoners særtrekk, merverdi og impact (SMI)

Denne forskningsrapporten presenterer funnene fra en omfattende studie av ideelle organisasjoners særtrekk, merverdi og impact (samfunnseffekt) innen helse- og sosialsektoren. Forskningsprosjektet har tatt utgangspunkt i to hovedspørsmål: 1. Hva er ideelle tjenesteleverandører på helse- og sosialfeltet sine særtrekk, merverdi og impact? 2. Hvordan forske på ideelle tjenesteleverandører på helse- og sosialfeltet sine særtrekk, merverdi og impact, og hvilke fordeler og ulemper har forskjellige målemetoder? Prosjektet har fremhevet utforsking av merverdi som et prioritert formål. Et bærende resonnement i studien er at merverdi forutsetter impact ettersom det ikke ses på som mulig å generere merverdi uten først å skape en form for impact. Impact måler samfunnseffekten en tjeneste har for sluttbrukere. Merverdi er verdien av en tjeneste som bygger på samfunnseffekten. Det er verdien av ideelle velferdsorganisasjoner tjenester som positivt overskyter verdien som tilbys av andre tjenester, organisasjoner eller sektorer, slik dette oppfattes av sentrale interessenter. Siden dette er et relativt nytt forskningsfelt har prosjektet utviklet og testet et spørsmålsbatteri som er egnet til å utforske ideelle velferdsaktørers merverdi. Dette spørsmålsbatteriet opptrer i denne studien i to former; en intervjuguide brukt i kvalitative studier og et spørreskjema brukt i en kvantitativ studie.publishedVersio

Engagement factors affect academic success through study approaches among university students in physical education and sport: A mediation analysis

Introduction: University students should engage with the study and ensure they adopt productive study approaches, but the nature of relationships between engagement and study approaches are under-researched. The study aimed to investigate how emotional, cognitive, and behavioral engagement affect academic success through study approaches among physical education and sports students. Methods: Online forms were submitted by 488 students in physical education and sports (age range 19–25 years, Mean = 21 ± 1.5 year). They completed surveys regarding their academic engagement, study approaches, and grade point average (GPA). Analyses of associations were conducted through linear regression analysis and mediation analysis. Results: Results from the linear regression analysis showed correlations between academic engagement factors, study approach variables, and GPA, with higher GPA correlating with higher scores on behavioral engagement, cognitive engagement, surface theory task, and deep theory task, and with lower scores on surface practical task. The analysis of total and direct effects revealed positive associations between all academic engagement factors and GPA. Emotional engagement exhibited a positive association with GPA mediated by study approaches. All engagement dimensions appear to influence academic success among these students. Conclusion: The influence of emotional engagement on academic success appears in part to be operating through its effects on study approaches. The study can enable educators in monitoring and enhancing student engagement, thereby supporting students in their pursuit of high academic performance in physical education and sport.publishedVersio

Just transition and eco-justice: A diaconal approach guiding strategic alliance-building

Two terms that are included in separate preambular paragraphs to the 2015 ParisAgreement, just transition and eco-justice, are analysed, to understand how theyemerged and how they have implications for strategic alliance building and policy-making. Churches and church-related organisations have to prioritize with whomto cooperate, which relates to which notion of sustainability that is chosen. Thearticle explains two Norwegian decades long cooperations, also identifying themain content of the massive investment programmes in green technology that areunderway in the USA and the EU, that shift considerably the modes of cooperation.The article builds on the practice of diakonia as identified in Called to Transforma-tion. Ecumenical Diakonia by the World Council of Churhes and ACT Alliance,and theological perspectives, asking how they can be tools for alliance building.Specifically, the article identifies two opposing views on nature: instrumental andintrinsic; two opposing understandings of environmental compensation; and tworationales for cooperation in relation to nature: “technology fix” and “nature first”.publishedVersio

Frihet og vennskap. Om ungdom og rusopplevelser

De fleste norske ungdommer eksperimenterer med alkohol i løpet av tenårene, og det finnes en rekke forskningsbidrag som undersøker sårbarhetsfaktorer for tidlig alkoholdebut eller belyser de negative konsekvensene av ungdomsalkoholbruk. I denne artikkelen tar vi et annet utgangspunkt og utforsker ungdommenes egne historier om alkoholens tiltrekningskraft i denne formative livsfasen. Vi baserer analysene på 145 kvalitative intervju med norske ungdommer og undersøker hvordan ungdommene utrykker positive og meningsfulle sider ved å drikke alkohol. De framhevet hvordan alkohol tilførte noe ekstraordinært til sosiale situasjoner og beskrev kollektive alkoholopplevelser som en positiv time-out fra hverdagslivet. Samtidig ga alkoholopplevelsene rom for at ungdommene kunne utforske og forhandle sin egen identitet og bidro til et alternativt mulighetsrom for slike forhandlinger. Ungdommene beskrev også alkoholen som et sosialt og relasjonelt lim, der opplevelser av fellesskap bidro til å knytte nye vennskapsbånd. Disse fortellingene illustrerer hvilke betydninger alkohol kan ha i ungdommers liv og hvordan alkoholbruk er innvevd i sosiale prosesser som er viktige i overgangen fra barndom til voksent liv.publishedVersio

Work readiness among occupational therapy students in the USA: Associations with approaches to studying

Previous studies have looked at the association between study approaches and student grades with a focus on deep, strategic, and surface learning. This study used a cross-sectional design to examine the association between study approaches and students’ feelings of readiness to practice. Thirty-five students in master’s and clinical doctoral programs completed the Work Readiness Scale and the short 18-item version of the Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students (ASSIST). Using a linear regression analysis, higher scores on the strategic study approach (β=0.38, p<0.05) and lower scores on the surface study approach (β=-0.44, p<0.05) were associated with higher scores on the Work Readiness Scale. Studying harder (i.e. spending more hours studying) was not related to feeling ready to practice. Rather, studying wisely, meaning using a strategic approach to studying and avoiding using a surface approach, was associated with students’ increased feeling of readiness to practice.publishedVersio