"Ihminen ihmiselle" : Lastentarhanopettajien sekä maahanmuuttajaperheiden vanhempien kokemuksia monikulttuurisesta varhaiskasvatuksesta

Opinnäytetyömme tavoitteena oli selvittää Kemissä toimivien lastentarhanopettajien näkemyksiä monikulttuurisen varhaiskasvatuksen toteuttamisesta. Toinen tavoitteemme oli ottaa selvää varhaiskasvatuksen asiakkaina toimivien maahanmuuttajavanhempien kokemuksia varhaiskasvatuksen asiakkuudesta. Työmme tarkoitus oli kartoittaa niitä asioita, joihin maahanmuuttajaperheiden vanhempien kanssa työskennellessä tulisi kiinnittää huomioita. Ajatuksenamme oli saada sekä lastentarhanopettajien että vanhempien äänet kuuluviin. Aiheen ajankohtaisuuden vuoksi työmme on merkityksellinen sekä varhaiskasvatuksen ammattilaista puhutteleva. Maahanmuuttajavanhemmilta saadut kokemukset voivat toimia ohjenuorina työntekijöiden toteuttaessa monikulttuurista varhaiskasvatusta. Opinnäytetyömme on kvalitatiivinen eli laadullinen työ. Toteutimme aineistonkeruun puolistrukturoitujen teemahaastattelujen avulla. Aineistonkeruumenetelmään päädyimme sen keskustelevan luonteen vuoksi. Lisäksi koimme kyseisen menetelmän työmme kannalta luotettavimmaksi haastateltavien näkökulmia ajatellen. Keräsimme aineiston lastentarhanopettajilta sekä maahanmuuttajavanhemmilta. Analysoimme saadun aineiston teemahaastattelussa läpikäytyjen teemojen mukaisesti. Teoreettinen viitekehyksemme muodostui siten, että perehdyimme työmme kannalta oleellisiin lakeihin sekä kirja- ja internetlähteisiin liittyen monikulttuuriseen varhaiskasvatukseen. Otimme selvää erilaisista ohjeistuksista sekä suosituksista, joita varhaiskasvatuksen ammattihenkilöstöä varten on laadittu. Lisäksi saimme maahanmuuttajakoordinaattorin haastattelusta ajankohtaista tietoa Kemin monikulttuurisesta varhaiskasvatuksesta. Työmme sisältää kahdet eri johtopäätökset, joissa tulkitsemme aineistoamme monipuolisesti. Opinnäytetyömme aineiston pohjalta voimme todeta, että haastattelemamme lastentarhanopettajat toteuttavat monikulttuurista varhaiskasvatusta valtakunnallisten ohjeistusten sekä suositusten mukaisesti. Varhaiskasvattajan rooli monikulttuurisessa lapsiryhmässä on merkittävä. Maahanmuuttajavanhemmat ovat olleet pääsääntöisesti tyytyväisiä Kemin varhaiskasvatuspalveluihin. Positiivisten näkemysten ohella vanhemmat toivat esille myös kokemiaan haasteita liittyen esimerkiksi kommunikoinnin vaikeuksiin työntekijöiden kanssa.The aim of our thesis was to find out kindergarten teachers’ opinions on how to accomplish multicultural early childhood education in Kemi. Our second aim was to find out how parents of immigrant families, experience being clients in early childhood education. The goal of our work was to survey the things that need to be consider while working with immigrant families. The aim of our work was to bring both kindergarten teachers’ and parents’ voices heard. Because our subject is current our work is significant and speaks to early childhood education professionals. The experiences that we got from parents of immigrant families can work as guidelines when employees accomplish multicultural early childhood education. Our thesis is a qualitative work. We collected the data through semi-structured interviews. To this data collection method, we chose because of its conversational nature. Moreover, we experienced the method the most reliable for our work considering the interviewees’ perspective. We collected the data from kindergarten teachers and parents of immigrant families. We analyzed the data according to themes that we handled in the theme interview. Our theoretical framework was formed by getting acquainted with relevant laws, literature and internet references linked to multicultural early childhood education. We examined different kinds of directions and guidelines that have been made for early childhood education professionals. Moreover, we got good information from the immigrant coordinator about Kemi´s multicultural early childhood education. Our work includes two different conclusion parts where we interpret our data widely and diversely. According to our data we can say that kindergarten teachers who work in Kemi, accomplish multicultural early childhood education according to national directions and guidelines. The early childhood educator’s role is significant in a multicultural group of children. The parents have mainly been satisfied with Kemi´s early childhood education services. In addition to the positive views the families expressed their challenges linked to for example communication problems

Painonnostosta pallojumppaan : tuki- ja liikuntaelinohjekansion laatiminen Helsingin kaupungin pelastuslaitoksen liikunnanohjaajien työn tueksi

Julkisuudessa on jo pidemmän aikaa keskusteltu pelastajien liian korkeasta eläkeiästä ja työturvallisuudesta. Pelastajien keski-ikä on tällä hetkellä yli 40 vuotta ja nousee jatkuvasti. Tämä on johtanut siihen, että pelastajilla on yhä enemmän pitkäaikaissairauksia ja työrajoitteita. Tuki- ja liikuntaelinten ongelmat ovat pelastajan ammatissa tavallisia, ja niiden suurimpia aiheuttajia ovat fyysisesti kuormittava työ sekä vapaa-ajan liikuntaharrastukset. Raskas työ ja lihasharjoittelu sekä puutteellinen alkuverryttely ja lihashuolto muodostavat yhdistelmän, joka altistaa pelastajat tuki- ja liikuntaelinvaivoille. Opinnäytetyömme on toiminnallinen opinnäytetyö, jonka tarkoituksena oli tuottaa Helsingin kaupungin pelastuslaitoksen liikunnanohjaajien työn tueksi ohjekansio, joka sisältää tietoa neljän tuki- ja liikuntaelimistön osa-alueen (niska-hartia, olkapää, selkä, polvi) anatomisesta rakenteesta ja toiminnasta, tyypillisimmistä vaivoista sekä niiden ennaltaehkäisystä ja toipumisen edistämisestä omatoimisen harjoittelun keinoin. Kartoitimme Helsingin kaupungin pelastuslaitoksen pelastajilla yleisimmin esiintyviä tuki- ja liikuntaelinvaivoja kyselylomakkeen ja työterveyslääkärin haastattelun keinoin. Tyypillisimmiksi tuki- ja liikuntaelimistön ongelma-alueiksi osoittautuivat olkapää, niska-hartiaseutu, alaselkä sekä polvi ja siksi olemme tuotoksena laatimassamme kansiossa keskittyneet näihin. Opinnäytetyössämme käsittelemme pelastajan ammattia, pelastajan työssä jaksamista ja työterveyttä sekä niiden yhteyttä tuki- ja liikuntaelimistön ongelmiin. Merkittävä osa opinnäytetyötämme on kansion laatimista kuvaava prosessikuvaus, jossa selvitämme prosessimme etenemisen vaiheita ja haasteita.Professional firefighters' high pension age and occupational safety has been a centre of public discussion for some time now. Currently, the firefighters' middle age is 40 and it is rising continuously. This has led to an increasing amount of chronical illnesses and work restrictions in this profession. Musculoskeletal disorders are common among firefighters mainly because of the physical aspect of their work and physically exerting exercises. Heavy work and muscle exercises together with the lack of stretching and flexing exercises and muscle maintenance create a combination that predisposes professional firefighters to musculoskeletal disorders. The purpose of this study was to determine the most common musculoskeletal disorders among the Helsinki firefighters and to compile information on the rehabilitation and prevention of these disorders to support the work of the P.E. instructors of the Helsinki Fire and Rescue Department. This study is based on interviews, Internet resources and an excursion to the head fire and rescue department in Helsinki. The survey carried out by using a questionnaire and by interviewing an occupational health doctor indicated that the musculoskeletal disorders experienced by the firefighters affected most frenquently the shoulder, neck, lower back and knee. Thus, special attention has been paid to these areas in the information folder compiled for the P.E. instructors. Moreover, the process description about the progress and challenges of creating this folder forms a remarkable part of this study

The quality of non-prescription medicine counselling in Finnish pharmacies – a simulated patient study

Background: Medication counselling provided by pharmacists is important for ensuring the safe use of medicines. Objective: To assess the quality of non-prescription medicines counselling in Finnish pharmacies. Methods: Three scenarios using simulated patient methodology were conducted: the patient requesting a specific brand name Burana® (ibuprofen, OTC medicine), Pronaxen® (naproxen, behind-the-counter (BTC) medicine) and a nasal spray. The visits were conducted in 146 pharmacies by trained simulated patients. Each pharmacy was visited twice. The quality of counselling was defined as poor (1–2 points), moderate (3–4 points), or high (5–6 points) based on developed scenario-based scoring criteria. Results: The total number of conducted visits was 292, of which only 29 received high quality counselling. The quality was high in 20% of the cases for Pronaxen® and in 7% of the cases for Nasal spray scenarios. In the Burana® scenario, counselling quality was high only in 2% of the cases. Patients who requested a nasal spray were often asked questions about their symptoms (93%). In the Pronaxen®-scenario, the most frequently asked questions were related to contraindications and drug interactions (56%). The most often given instructions varied between the scenarios, being follow-up in the Burana® and Nasal spray scenarios (17% and 70%, respectively) and how to use the medicine in the Pronaxen®-scenario (63%). Conclusions: Non-prescription medicine counselling is rarely performed with high quality. However, the quality of counselling depends on the medication in question. There is room to improve medication counselling and the assessment of the necessity and suitability of treatment, especially when a patient requests an OTC pain medicine by its brand name

Medication management in comprehensive schools in Finland : teachers' perceptions

Objective: Many children who take medication require it during school time, and their participation in school activities could depend on it. The aim of this study was to identify whether schools have guidelines for medication management and to explore teachers' perceptions about medication administration practices and the characteristics affecting these practices using Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory as the framework. Methods: A cross-sectional postal survey was conducted in Finland in 2010 covering a representative sample of comprehensive school teachers (n = 1700). The survey included sections on guidelines and practices for medication administration, beliefs about medicines, and background information on the respondent and the respondent's school. Quantitative and qualitative methods of analysis were used. Key findings: The response rate was 56% (928/1664). At the national level (macrosystem), teachers reported uncertainty about existing laws and guidelines, while at the local level (exosystem), most of the teachers reported having medication management guidelines (73% primary; 76% lower secondary school). However, a majority described guidelines instructing them not to administer medicines to pupils. Medication management practices were found to differ depending on the province and size of school. At the personal level (microsystem), practices were also affected by teachers' experience of, and views about, medicines. Conclusion: No consistent medication administration guidelines exist in Finnish schools. Challenges were identified at all system levels of ecological theory. To ensure proper medication management, school staff need clear and consistent guidance developed in co-operation between different professions, and exploring ways to involve pharmacists in this task

Association between beliefs about medicines and teaching medicine education; a survey among Finnish comprehensive school teachers

Objective: To describe the association between teachers’ beliefs about medicines and teaching about illnesses and medicines-related topics by Finnish comprehensive school teachers. Design: A nationwide postal survey. Setting: Finnish primary and lower secondary school teachers. Method: Data were collected using a nationwide postal survey from a representative sample (n = 1700) of Finnish primary and lower secondary school teachers in spring 2010. A response rate of 56% (n = 928) was achieved, from which 667 teachers had taught health-related topics. Logistic regression multivariate analysis was used to measure key associations. Results: Among primary school teachers, stronger beliefs about the harmfulness of medicines were associated with teaching basic knowledge about what medicines are (odds ratio [OR] 1.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01–3.45). Although an association was detected, other explanatory factors, for example, teachers’ experience of medicating a long-term illness in their own child, their teaching experience and a qualification in health education and perceived teaching skills, seemed to predict the teaching more than teachers’ beliefs about medicines. Conclusion: Findings have important implications for teacher training and continuing education. If teachers can become more aware of the beneficial aspects of teaching about the rational use of medicines, this may lead to greater inclusion of medicines-related education in school health education