Who enrols and graduates from web-based pharmacy education - Experiences from Northern Sweden

Introduction: As a response to the shortage of prescriptionists in Northern Sweden, a web-based Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy program was introduced at Umeå University in 2003. This study explored who is likely to enrol and graduate from the web-based bachelor program and whether the program has addressed the shortage of prescriptionists in rural Northern Sweden. Methods: Data from three different sources were included in this study; the initial cohort including students admitted to the program in 2003 (survey), the entire cohort including all people admitted to the program between 2003 and 2014 (university\u27s admissions data) and the alumni cohort including graduates who participated in an alumni survey in 2015. Results: A typical student of the web-based pharmacy program is female, over 30 years of age, married or in a de-facto relationship and has children. Furthermore, the students graduating before 2009 were more likely to live in Northern Sweden compared to those graduating later. Discussion and conclusion: The results indicate that the introduction of a web-based bachelor of pharmacy program at Umeå University was to some extent able to address the shortage of prescriptionists in Northern Sweden. Web-based education may potentially help address the maldistribution of health professionals by providing flexible education opportunities

Pharmacists\u27 satisfaction with their work: Analysis of an alumni survey

Background: The level of job satisfaction among practicing pharmacists is important because it has been found to affect job performance and employee turnover. The Swedish pharmacy market has undergone major changes in recent years, and little is known about pharmacists’ job satisfaction. Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the level of job satisfaction and associated factors among graduates from the web-based pharmacy programs at Umeå University. Methods: Job satisfaction of pharmacists was measured as part of an alumni survey conducted with those who graduated from the pharmacy programmes between 2006 and 2014. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, and logistic regression was used to explore factors affecting job satisfaction. Results: The total number of graduates who completed the survey was 222 (response rate 43%.) The majority of respondents were female (95%), and most were employed at a community pharmacy (85%). The mean age was 39.7 years. The majority of graduates (91%) were satisfied with their job “most of the time” or “all of the time”, and 87% of the respondents would “definitely” or “maybe” choose the same career again. The multivariate analysis showed that increasing years in the current position (OR:0.672 (0.519–0.871)) was associated with lower job satisfaction. Older age (OR: 1.123 (1.022–1.234)), the perception that the knowledge and skills acquired during the education is useful in the current job (OR: 4.643 (1.255–17.182)) and access to continuing professional development (OR:9.472 (1.965–45.662)) were associated with higher job satisfaction. Conclusion: Most graduates from the web-based pharmacy programmes are satisfied with their current job. Access to continuing professional development seems to be important for the level of job satisfaction among pharmacists

Communicating beyond the word - designing a wearable computing device for Generation Z

Humans have always communicated with each other. When the smartphone technology was launched on the market, it revolutionized the way people communicate. This smartphone technology is constantly evolving and during 2014 wearable computing seems to be in the focal point at most smartphone technology conferences. This master thesis aims to discover how a wearable computing device can further develop the communication between people with focus on communication beyond using words. Generation Z was chosen as a focus group. Their communication patterns, behavior and needs were the central parts for this thesis. A concept with a Low-Fidelity prototype was developed to visualize how a wearable computing device can be designed to take the communication beyond using only words. This concept and its design were developed using features of participatory design with help from possible end-users. Additionally, a usability evaluation on the final prototype was carried out. Three essential characteristics of the concept have been identified during the work process; beyond using words, predetermined message and spontaneous and easy. All three characteristics together make the concept well suitable for a wearable computing device since it takes the user’s interaction and communication behavior to a new level

Kirjailu laukkumalliston pääelementtinä : Laukkumalliston tuotekehitysprojekti

Opinnäytetyön tavoitteena oli suunnitella naisille kaunis, yksinkertainen, helposti muunneltava ja toimiva high end -sektorille kohdennettu kuuden mallin laukkumallisto. Lähtökohtana työssä toimi aiemmin suunniteltu laukkumallisto. Inspiraationa käytettiin itämaiseen taiteeseen pohjautuvaa kuvallista yksityiskohtaa, joka kirjailtiin tuotteeseen. Kirjailtavan kuvan suunnitteli kuvittaja Mimosa Seeskari. Laukkumalliston suunnittelua hyödyttivät opinnäytetyöntekijän osaaminen kirjailusta sekä Bag Design & Technology -opintojakso HAMKissa, jonka piti virolainen laukkusuunnittelija Kadri Kruus. Työ keskittyi laukkujen suunnitteluun sekä valmiin malliston luomiseen digitaalisen kuvanmuokkausohjelman avulla. Laukkumalliston suunnittelun apuna käytettiin tuotekehitys- ja suunnitteluprosessia. Suunnittelun lähtökohtia selvitettiin havainnoinnin avulla sekä niistä kerättyä tietoa analysoitiin. Mallistosta valmistettiin yksi laukku kirjailuineen. Työhön sisältyi ideointiprosessi, yhteistyö kuvittaja Mimosa Seeskarin kanssa, yhden laukun kaavoitus, protoaminen ja valmistus sekä tuloksien pohdinta. Valitun laukun valmistusprosessia dokumentoitiin visuaalisesti sekä kirjallisesti. Opinnäytetyön tuloksena syntyi kuuden mallin laukkumallisto, jossa to-teutuivat sille asetetut vaatimukset. Laukkumallisto on high end -sektorille kohdennettu, yksinkertainen sekä toimiva kokonaisuudeltaan. Se sopii niin juhla- kuin vapaa-ajan käyttöön.The aim of the thesis was to create a beautiful, simple, easily modified and working bag collection targeted for women in the high end -sector. The collection is based on the previously created collection Alter Ego. The goal of the thesis was to develop these products. A picture inspired by oriental art worked as an embroidered detail in the bags. The picture was designed by a visual artist Mimosa Seeskari. The knowledge on embroidery and a Bag Design & Technology –course held by an Estonian bag designer Kadri Kruus, benefited the thesis worker. The work concentrated on bag design and creating a complete collection with a digital image processing program Adobe Illustrator. A product development method was used to develop the collection. Research on the backgrounds of design process was made through observation and analyzing. One bag from the collection was made with the embroidered detail. The work included ideation, co-work with the visual designer Mimosa Seeskari, pattern making, prototype production and pondering of the results. The production process of the bag was visually and literally documented. The result of the thesis was a complete collection of six bags that fulfilled the requirements set upon them. The collection is targeted for high end –sector, it is simple and easily modified. It fits for both party and free-time occasions

Impact of Gaps on Resource Efficiency in Heavy Welding Industry.

This paper describes a study investigating the current situation concerning plate gaps in welding operations at a company producing welded products. A varying gap between the plates has been identified as a root cause for quality issues and unnecessary costly welds, hence affecting resource efficiency. The result showed signs of vast variations of gaps, both concerning the size of gaps and presence of an extra weld. The investigation indicates a large potential, possible to achieve without heavy investments

Omföderskors uppfattning av en normal förlossning

Förlossningsupplevelsen grundar sig i vilka förväntningar kvinnan har och om komplikationer tillstöter. Förväntningarna och den verkliga förlossningsupplevelsen skiljer sig ofta åt. Detta måste uppmärksammas för att kvinnan ska känna sig delaktig och ha kontroll. Syftet med studien var att beskriva omföderskors uppfattning av en normal förlossning samt undersöka vilka förväntningar de hade på sin kommande förlossning. En kvalitativ intervjustudie utfördes som bearbetades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys, där 13 omföderskor inkluderades. I resultatet framkom fyra huvudkategorier; Tidigare förlossningsupplevelse som grund för normalitetsuppfattningen, Att föda med kroppens kraft eller med hjälpmedel, Att känna sig trygg och Att ha kontroll i förlossningssituationen. Uppfattningen av normaliteten visade sig vara komplex utifrån tidsaspekten, delaktighet och interventioner. Förlossningen bör formas efter individens behov och det är inte alltid definitionen av en normal förlossning som i slutändan blir det normala för den födande kvinnan

Serum concentrations of Thymidine kinase 1 measured using a novel antibody-based assay in patients with Hodgkin Lymphoma

Background: Thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) is an intracellular protein associated with DNA synthesis, expressed during the G1 phase and remained elevated through the M phase, with a potential as a biomarker for cell proliferation. In this study, we explore the possible use of TK1 in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL).Methods: Serum concentrations of TK1 (S-TK1) were measured in 46 newly diagnosed HL patients using prospectively collected biobanked serum samples. The samples were analyzed using a novel antibody-based TK1 immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results: The concentrations of S-TK1 were elevated in HL patients compared with healthy controls (median 0.32 mu g/L vs. 0.24 mu g/L, P = 0.003). A further increase in S-TK1 was observed during the treatment. The S-TK1 concentrations were higher in patients with advanced stage disease, low B-Hb, elevated P-LD and in those with B-symptoms. A high ESR correlated with low S-TK1.Conclusions: The study results suggest that S-TK1, measured using a novel antibody-based assay, has the potential to be a biomarker in HL. However, while S-TK1 levels are elevated at baseline compared with healthy controls, a limited number of patients and comparatively short follow-up time render reliable -conclusions difficult

COVID-19 severity and mortality in patients with CLL: an update of the international ERIC and Campus CLL study

Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) may be more susceptible to Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) due to age, disease, and treatment-related immunosuppression. We aimed to assess risk factors of outcome and elucidate the impact of CLL-directed treatments on the course of COVID-19. We conducted a retrospective, international study, collectively including 941 patients with CLL and confirmed COVID-19. Data from the beginning of the pandemic until March 16, 2021, were collected from 91 centers. The risk factors of case fatality rate (CFR), disease severity, and overall survival (OS) were investigated. OS analysis was restricted to patients with severe COVID-19 (definition: hospitalization with need of oxygen or admission into an intensive care unit). CFR in patients with severe COVID-19 was 38.4%. OS was inferior for patients in all treatment categories compared to untreated (p < 0.001). Untreated patients had a lower risk of death (HR = 0.54, 95% CI:0.41–0.72). The risk of death was higher for older patients and those suffering from cardiac failure (HR = 1.03, 95% CI:1.02–1.04; HR = 1.79, 95% CI:1.04–3.07, respectively). Age, CLL-directed treatment, and cardiac failure were significant risk factors of OS. Untreated patients had a better chance of survival than those on treatment or recently treated

The evolving landscape of COVID‐19 and post‐COVID condition in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: A study by ERIC, the European research initiative on CLL

In this retrospective international multicenter study, we describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and related disorders (small lymphocytic lymphoma and high-count monoclonal B lymphocytosis) infected by SARS-CoV-2, including the development of post-COVID condition. Data from 1540 patients with CLL infected by SARS-CoV-2 from January 2020 to May 2022 were included in the analysis and assigned to four phases based on cases disposition and SARS-CoV-2 variants emergence. Post-COVID condition was defined according to the WHO criteria. Patients infected during the most recent phases of the pandemic, though carrying a higher comorbidity burden, were less often hospitalized, rarely needed intensive care unit admission, or died compared to patients infected during the initial phases. The 4-month overall survival (OS) improved through the phases, from 68% to 83%, p = .0015. Age, comorbidity, CLL-directed treatment, but not vaccination status, emerged as risk factors for mortality. Among survivors, 6.65% patients had a reinfection, usually milder than the initial one, and 16.5% developed post-COVID condition. The latter was characterized by fatigue, dyspnea, lasting cough, and impaired concentration. Infection severity was the only risk factor for developing post-COVID. The median time to resolution of the post-COVID condition was 4.7 months. OS in patients with CLL improved during the different phases of the pandemic, likely due to the improvement of prophylactic and therapeutic measures against SARS-CoV-2 as well as the emergence of milder variants. However, mortality remained relevant and a significant number of patients developed post-COVID conditions, warranting further investigations

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat