182 research outputs found
Confrontational yet submissive: Calculated ambivalence and populist partiesâ strategies of responding to racism accusations in the media
This article provides an analysis and typology of the discursive
strategies nationalist-populist anti-immigration parties use when
responding to racism accusations in mainstream news. The typology is
based on a three-party comparative analysis of statements given in
national public service media by the representatives of three
electorally successful Northwestern European populist parties â the UK
Independence Party, the Finns Party and the Sweden Democrats. When
responding to racism accusations, populist parties use both submissive
and confrontational sets of discursive strategies in varying
combinations to communicate an ambivalent attitude towards racism. This
ambivalence is communicated both on the level of an individual speaker
utilizing several strategies and on the level of multiple speakers
communicating contradictory messages. The comparative analysis suggests
that country-specific contexts, and the statuses of both the persons
under accusation and the responders giving statements, affect to what
extent responses to racism accusations tend to be confrontational.</p
How Do Adolescents Use Electronic Diaries? A Mixed-Methods Study Among Adolescents With Depressive Symptoms
Background: Depression in adolescence is common. Less than half of the adolescents with depression receive mental health care; furthermore, treatment tends to be suspended, and its success rates are low. There is a need for these adolescents to have a safe place to share their thoughts. Studies have shown that writing may be a useful treatment method for people with mental health problems.Objective: This study aims to describe the use of an electronic diary (e-diary) among adolescents with depressive symptoms.Methods: This paper describes a substudy of a randomized controlled trial. We used a mixed-methods approach to understand the way in which e-diaries were used by participants in the intervention under the randomized controlled trial. Data were collected during 2008-2010 at 2 university hospitals in Finland. Study participants (N=89) were 15-17-year-old adolescents who had been referred to an adolescent outpatient psychiatric clinic due to depressive symptoms. Participants were instructed to use the e-diary at least once a week to describe their thoughts, feelings, and moods. The content of the e-diary data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and inductive content analysis.Results: Overall, 53% (47/89) of the adolescents used the e-diary. Most of them (39/47, 83%) logged into the program during the first week, and about one-third (19/47, 40%) logged into the e-diary weekly as suggested. The number of words used in the e-diary per each log ranged between 8 and 1442 words. The 3 topics most often written about in the e-diary were related to mental health problems (mental disorder), social interaction (relationship), and one's own development (identity).Conclusions: An e-diary may be a usable tool to reflect experiences and thoughts, especially among adolescents who have signs of depression. The results of this study can be used to develop user-centered electronic health applications that allow users to express their own thoughts and experiences in ways other than systematic mood monitoring
School Nurses' Perceptions, Learning Needs and Developmental Suggestions for Mental Health Promotion: Focus Group Interviews
= 21) were purposively sampled from one city in Southern Finland. The data were analyzed using inductive content analysis, resulting in seven categories describing school nurses' perceptions, needs and suggestions for development of mental health promotion in school health care. School nurses perceived health care at school as a low-threshold service. Mental health problems are often first identified by a school nurse. However, school nurses felt that extra effort is needed to recognise mental health problems, build trusting relationships, and motivate adolescents to attend regular health check-ups. Specific core learning competencies such as communication skills, being present, keeping confidentiality, and the ability to motivate adolescents to regularly visit the school health clinic are needed. However, school nurses often lack basic resources for mental health promotion. The areas of mental health development included cooperation with stakeholders and parents, and development of anonymous, easy-access services. It is important that school nurses have the skills needed and enough resources to fulfil their demanding tasks in school health care services
Internet use, eHealth literacy and attitudes toward computer/internet among people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders: a cross-sectional study in two distant European regions
Background: Individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders use the Internet for general and health-related purposes. Their ability to find, understand, and apply the health information they acquire online in order to make appropriate health decisions-known as eHealth literacy-has never been investigated. The European agenda strives to limit health inequalities and enhance mental health literacy. Nevertheless, each European member state varies in levels of Internet use and online health information-seeking. This study aimed to examine computer/Internet use for general and health-related purposes, eHealth literacy, and attitudes toward computer/Internet among adults with schizophrenia spectrum disorders from two distant European regions.Methods: Data were collected from mental health services of psychiatric clinics in Finland (FI) and Greece (GR). A total of 229 patients (FI = 128, GR = 101) participated in the questionnaire survey. The data analysis included evaluation of frequencies and group comparisons with multiple linear and logistic regression models.Results: The majority of Finnish participants were current Internet users (FI = 111, 87%, vs. GR = 33, 33%, P<.0001), while the majority of Greek participants had never used computers/Internet, mostly due to their perception that they do not need it. In both countries, more than half of Internet users used the Internet for health-related purposes (FI = 61, 55%, vs. GR = 20, 61%). The eHealth literacy of Internet users (previous and current Internet users) was found significantly higher in the Finnish group (FI: Mean = 27.05, SD 5.36; GR: Mean = 23.15, SD = 7.23, P<. 0001) upon comparison with their Greek counterparts. For current Internet users, Internet use patterns were significantly different between country groups. When adjusting for gender, age, education and disease duration, country was a significant predictor of frequency of Internet use, eHealth literacy and Interest. The Finnish group of Internet users scored higher in eHealth literacy, while the Greek group of never Internet users had a higher Interest in computer/Internet.Conclusions: eHealth literacy is either moderate (Finnish group) or low (Greek group). Thus, exposure to ICT and eHealth skills training are needed for this population. Recommendations to improve the eHealth literacy and access to health information among these individuals are provided
The implications of autonomy: Viewed in the light of efforts to uphold patients dignity and integrity
This article focuses on Danish patientsâ experience of autonomy and its interplay with dignity and integrity in their meeting with health professionals. The aim is to chart the meanings and implications of autonomy for persons whose illness places them in a vulnerable life situation. The interplay between autonomy and personal dignity in the meeting with health care staff are central concepts in the framework. Data collection and findings are based on eight qualitative semi-structured interviews with patients. Patients with acute, chronic, and life threatening diseases were represented including surgical as well as medical patients. The values associated with autonomy are in many ways vitalising, but may become so dominant, autonomy seeking, and pervasive that the patient's dignity is affected. Three types of patient behaviour were identified. (1) The proactive patient: Patients feel that they assume responsibility for their own situation, but it may be a responsibility that they find hard to bear. (2) The rejected patient: proactive patients take responsibility on many occasions but very active patients are at risk of being rejected with consequences for their dignity. (3) The knowledgeable patient: when patients are health care professionals, the patient's right of self-determination was managed in a variety of ways, sometimes the patient's right of autonomy was treated in a dignified way but the opposite was also evident. In one way, patients are active and willing to take responsibility for themselves, and at the same time they are âforcedâ to do so by health care staff. Patients would like health professionals to be more attentive and proactive
Digital Gaming for Improving the Functioning of People With Traumatic Brain Injury: Randomized Clinical Feasibility Study
Background
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major
health problem that often requires intensive and long-term rehabilitation.
Objective
The aim of this study was to determine
whether rehabilitative digital gaming facilitates cognitive functioning and
general well-being in people with TBI.
Methods
A total of 90 Finnish-speaking adults with
TBI (18-65 years) were recruited from an outpatient neuroscience clinic. The
participants were randomly allocated to one of the three groups: a
rehabilitation gaming group (n=29, intervention), an entertainment gaming group
(n=29, active control), or a passive control group (n=32). The gaming groups
were instructed to engage in gaming for a minimum of 30 min per day for 8
weeks. Primary and secondary outcomes were measured at three time points:
before the intervention, after the intervention, and 3 months following the
intervention. The primary outcome was cognitive status measured by processing
speed and visuomotor tasks (The Trail Making Test; Wechsler Adult Intelligence
Scale-Fourth Edition, WAIS-IV, symbol search, coding, and cancellation tasks).
Secondary outcomes were attention and executive functions (Simon task), working
memory (WAIS-IV digit span and Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test, PASAT),
depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), self-efficacy (General
Self-efficacy Scale), and executive functions (Behavior Rating Inventory of
Executive Function-Adult Version). Feasibility information was assessed
(acceptability, measurement instruments filled, dropouts, adherence, usability,
satisfaction, and possible future use). Cognitive measurements were conducted
in face-to-face interviews by trained psychologists, and questionnaires were
self-administered.
Results
The effects of rehabilitation gaming did
not significantly differ from the effects of entertainment gaming or being in a
passive control group. For primary outcomes and PASAT tests, the participants
in all three groups showed overall improvement in test scores across the three
measurement points. However, depression scores increased significantly between
baseline and after 8 weeks and between baseline and after 3 months in the
rehabilitative gaming group. No differences were found in patientsâ
self-efficacy between the three measuring points in any of the groups.
Participants did use the games (rehabilitation group: 93%, 27/29; entertainment
group 100%, 29/29). Games were seen as a usable intervention (rehabilitation
group: 70%, 14/29; entertainment group: 83%, 20/29). The rehabilitation group
was less satisfied with the gaming intervention (68%, 13/29 vs 83%, 20/29), but
they were more willing to use the game after the intervention period (76%,
16/29 vs 63%, 15/29). Total time spent on gaming during the intervention period
was low (15.22 hour rehabilitation gaming group, 19.22 hour entertainment
gaming group).
Conclusions
We did not find differences between the
groups in improvement in the outcome measures. The improvements in test
performance by all three groups may reflect rehearsal effects. Entertainment
gaming had elements that could be considered when rehabilitative games are
designed for, implemented in, and assessed in larger clinical trials for
persons with TBI.</p
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