62 research outputs found

    The fungi community development in a primary succession and its effect on newly planted Pinus sylvestris

    Get PDF
    In the Boreal zone, ectomycorrhiza is the most common mycorrhiza found among trees and helps with nitrogen and nutrient uptake. Most research on mycorrhiza, its effect, and community development are done on secondary succession (succession in an ecosystem after a disturbance) such as after a clearcut. This case study focuses on primary succession (succession in a previous lifeless ecosystem with no organic matter) of 15- and 30-year-old Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) in an old gravel pit outside Uppsala, Sweden. The aim of the study is to find a connection between tree growth and its associated soil fungal community, especially with the ectomycorrhizal community. To do this, two hypotheses are proposed: (i) Difference in tree growth depends on which fungal guild dominates around that tree; trees with lower growth are dominated by free-living saprotrophs, and trees with higher growth are dominated by symbiotic ectomycorrhizal fungi. (ii) Species diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi increases with higher tree growth, and there is a gradient from pioneer species to N-immobilizers, to N-miners as tree height increases. The categorization relies on how the genus obtains nitrogen and when they first colonize a habitat. A few selected genera of ectomycorrhiza were categorized as either pioneers (first colonizers), N-immobilizers (later colonizers), or N-miners (late colonizers). Overall, the results support the two hypotheses. What was found regarding the first hypothesis was that as tree height increased, the abundance of saprotrophs decreased while ectomycorrhiza or other root associated fungi increased. For the second hypothesis, the number of observed ectomycorrhiza increased with tree height, and the hypothesized gradient was observed

    Outcomes of a Multiprofessional Educational Intervention in Evidence-Based Practice

    Get PDF
    Background: Education is a commonly used intervention in the development of evidence-based practice (EBP). The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of an educational intervention on healthcare professionals’ perceived skills in finding, reviewing, and using research evidence in clinical practice. A further aim was to identify potential determinants for the outcome.Methods and Findings: A three-day course in EBP was designed for registered nurses, medical social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and dieticians. The Developing Evidence-Based Practice Questionnaire (DEBP) questionnaire was administered before and six months after the intervention (N = 274). Non-parametric statistics were used. The results showed an overall effect on ability to find research evidence (p = .0005) and ability to review research evidence (p = .0005), whereas there was no overall effect on use of research evidence in clinical practice (p = .18). However, some subgroups showed a significant improvement over time, for example, those whose profession was nursing or midwifery and those who had experience using evidence-based practice prior to the educational intervention.Conclusions: The results showed that a three-day course in EBP improved the participants’ ability to find and review research evidence, but it did not have an overall effect on the use of research evidence in clinical practice

    Outcomes of a Multiprofessional Educational Intervention in Evidence-Based Practice

    Get PDF
    Background: Education is a commonly used intervention in the development of evidence-based practice (EBP). The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of an educational intervention on healthcare professionals’ perceived skills in finding, reviewing, and using research evidence in clinical practice. A further aim was to identify potential determinants for the outcome.Methods and Findings: A three-day course in EBP was designed for registered nurses, medical social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and dieticians. The Developing Evidence-Based Practice Questionnaire (DEBP) questionnaire was administered before and six months after the intervention (N = 274). Non-parametric statistics were used. The results showed an overall effect on ability to find research evidence (p = .0005) and ability to review research evidence (p = .0005), whereas there was no overall effect on use of research evidence in clinical practice (p = .18). However, some subgroups showed a significant improvement over time, for example, those whose profession was nursing or midwifery and those who had experience using evidence-based practice prior to the educational intervention.Conclusions: The results showed that a three-day course in EBP improved the participants’ ability to find and review research evidence, but it did not have an overall effect on the use of research evidence in clinical practice

    Seeing and holding baby: Systematic review of clinical management and parental outcomes following stillbirth

    Get PDF
    Background - In 2009 there were an estimated 2.6 million stillbirths worldwide. In the United States, a 2007 systematic review found little consensus about professional behaviours perceived by parents to be most helpful or most distressing. In the United Kingdom a bereaved parents’ organisation has highlighted discordance between parental views and clinical guidelines that recommend clinicians’ do not encourage parents to see and hold their baby. The objective of this review was to identify and synthesise available research reporting parental outcomes relating to seeing and holding. Method(s) - We undertook a systematic review. We included studies of any design, reporting parental experiences and outcomes. Electronic searches (PubMed, PsychINFO) were conducted in January 2014. Three authors independently screened and assessed the quality of the studies, before abstracting data and undertaking thematic analysis. Results - We reviewed 741 records and included 23 studies (10 quantitative,12 qualitative,1 mixed-method). Twenty-one studies suggested positive outcomes for parents who saw or held their baby. Increased psychological morbidity was associated with current pregnancy, choice not to see their baby, lack of time with their baby and/or insufficient mementos. Three themes were formulated “Positive effects of contact within a traumatic life event”, “Importance of role of health professionals”; and “Impact on Mothers and Fathers: Similarities and differences”. Conclusions - Stillbirth is a risk factor for increased psychological morbidity. Parents’ seeing and holding their stillborn baby can be beneficial to their future wellbeing. Since 2007, there has been a proliferation of studies that challenge clinical guidelines recommending clinicians do not encourage parental contact

    Investigating factors associate to nurses’ attitudes towards perinatal bereavement care

    Get PDF
    Aim: The purpose of this study was to explore nurses’ attitudes towards perinatal bereavement care and to identify factors associate with such attitudes. Background: Caring for and supporting parents whose infant has died is extremely demanding, difficult and stressful. It is likely that the attitude of nursing staff can influence recovery from a pregnancy loss and nurses with positive attitude to bereavement care can help bereaved parents to cope during their grieving period. Method: Data were collected through a structured questionnaire; 334 nurses were recruited (63% response rate) from the Obstetrics and Gynaecology unit in five hospitals in Hong Kong during May–August 2006. Outcome measures including attitudes towards perinatal bereavement care, importance on hospital policy and training support for bereavement care. Results: Majority of nurses in this study held a positive attitude towards bereavement care. Results showed that only 39·3% (n = 130) of nurses had bereavement related training. By contrast, about 89·8% of nurses (n = 300) showed they need to be equipped with relevant knowledge, skills and understanding in the care and support of bereaved parents and more than 88·0% (n = 296) would share experiences with colleagues and seek support when feeling under stress. Regression model showed that age, past experience in handling grieving parents and nurses’ perceived attitudes to hospital policy and training provided for bereavement cares were factors associate with nurses’ attitudes towards perinatal bereavement care. Conclusions: Hong Kong nurses emphasized their need for increased knowledge and experience, improved communication skills and greater support from team members and the hospital for perinatal bereavement care

    The role of healthcare professionals in encouraging parents to see and hold their stillborn baby: a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies.

    Get PDF
    Background: Globally, during 2013 there were three million recorded stillbirths. Where clinical guidelines exist some recommend that professionals do not encourage parental contact. The guidance is based on quantitative evidence that seeing and holding the baby is not beneficial for everyone, but has been challenged by bereaved parents' organisations. We aim to inform future guideline development through a synthesis of qualitative studies reporting data relevant to the research question; how does the approach of healthcare professionals to seeing and holding the baby following stillbirth impact parents views and experiences? Methods/Findings: Using a predetermined search strategy of PubMed and PsychINFO we identified robust qualitative studies reporting bereaved parental views and/or experiences relating to seeing and holding their stillborn baby (final search 24 February, 2014). Eligible studies were English language, reporting parental views, with gestational loss >20weeks. Quality was independently assessed by three authors using a validated tool. We used meta-ethnographic techniques to identify key themes and a line of argument synthesis. We included 12 papers, representing the views of 333 parents (156 mothers, 150 fathers, and 27 couples) from six countries. The final themes were: "[Still]birth: Nature of care is paramount", "Real babies: Perfect beauties, monsters and spectres", and "Opportunity of a lifetime lost." Our line-of-argument synthesis highlights the contrast between all parents need to know their baby, with the time around birth being the only time memories can be made, and the variable ability that parents have to articulate their preferences at that time. Thus, we hypothesised that how health professionals approach contact between parents and their stillborn baby demands a degree of active management. An important limitation of this paper is all included studies originated from high income, westernised countries raising questions about the findings transferability to other cultural contexts. We do not offer new evidence to answer the question "Should parents see and hold their stillborn baby?", instead our findings advance understanding of how professionals can support parents to make appropriate decisions in a novel, highly charged and dynamic situation. Conclusions: Guidelines could be more specific in their recommendations regarding parental contact. The role of healthcare professionals in encouraging parents to see and hold their stillborn baby is paramount. Parental choice not to see their baby, apprehension, or uncertainty should be continuously revisited in the hours after birth as the opportunity for contact is fleeting and final

    New understandings of fathers’ experiences of grief and loss following stillbirth and neonatal death: a scoping review

    Get PDF
    Objective: To report on research conducted on men's experiences of grief and loss following stillbirth and neonatal death in high-income, Western countries. Design: This review was guided by the following research questions: 1. The impact of perinatal death for men 2. The meaning of the loss for a father's sense of identity 3. The extent to which men were able to express grief while supporting their partners and, 4. how men's experience of grief was mediated by the support and care received by health professionals. Data Sources: We searched the following databases: Medline; PsychINFO; CINAHL to identify relevant articles published from the year 2000 onwards. The searches were run between 1/04/2018 and 8/4/2018. Review methods: A scoping review was conducted of nursing, psychological, medical and social science databases using these key words: fathers’ grief, men's grief, perinatal loss and death, stillbirth and neonatal death. Results: Studies indicated that men reported less intense and enduring levels of psychological outcomes than women but were more likely to engage in avoidance and coping behaviours such as increased alcohol consumption. Men felt that their role was primarily as a ‘supportive partner’ and that they were overlooked by health professionals. Conclusions: Further research is needed on men's experience of grief following perinatal death, especially on their physical and mental well-being. Impact: This review addressed the problem of the lack of knowledge around paternal needs following perinatal death and highlighted areas which researchers could usefully investigate with the eventual aim of improving care for fathers

    Ridsportevent och deras nÀrvaro pÄ sociala medier

    No full text
    Denna studie behandlar ridsportevent och deras nÀrvaro pÄ sociala medier. Studien undersöker i vilken omfattning ridsportevenemang i Europa pÄ femstjÀrnig nivÄ anvÀnder sig av sociala medier, frÀmst Facebook för att kommunicera med sin publik. Det finns totalt 47 ridsportevent pÄ femstjÀrnig nivÄ som frÄn början var tÀnkta att delta i denna studie varav det i slutÀndan gav 2 respondenter. Insamlingen av material har skett genom kvalitativa öppna frÄgor som intervjuunderlag i kombination med en netnografisk studie dÀr de tvÄ respondenterna, Falsterbo Horse Show och Gothenburg Horse Shows Facebook-sidor har studerats. Resultatet av studien visar att Facebook Àr det mest förekommande sociala media som anvÀnds av ridsporteventen. De tvÄ ridsportevenemang som deltog i denna studie anvÀnder sig i hög grad av sociala medier och en del satsar mer pÄ det Àn annan traditionell marknadsföring. UtifrÄn de öppna frÄgorna framkommer att anledningen till att de finns pÄ sociala medier Àr för att kunna ha kontakt med sin publik Äret om. De tvÄ respondenterna har Àven mÀrkt att genom att vara aktiva pÄ Facebook sÀljer de fler biljetter och sÀljer slut biljetterna tidigare genom att finnas pÄ Facebook. Det Àr inte mÀngden inlÀgg som skapar framgÄng utan att de behÄller kontakten med sin publik och skapar vÀrde för sina följare pÄ sÄvÀl Facebook som nÀr de kommer som besökare till evenemanget och pÄ sÄ vid kan etablera en kontakt Äret om.This study handles equestrian events and their presence on social media. The study examines the extent to which the equestrian events in Europe in the five-star level of use of social media, particularly Facebook to communicate with their audience. There are a total of 47 equestrian events at the five-star level that was initially supposed to participate in this study, which ultimately resulted in two respondents. The collection of materials has been done through qualitative open questions interview surface in combination with a netnographic study where the two respondents, Falsterbo Horse Show and the Gothenburg Horse Shows Facebook pages have been studied. The results of the study show that Facebook is the most common social media used by equestrian events on five-star level. The two equestrian events who participated in this study makes use of the high degree of social media and some focus more on it than any other traditional marketing. Based on the open questions reveals that the reason they are on social media is to be able to have contact with their audience all year around. The two respondents also noticed that by being active on Facebook, they sell more tickets and are sold out on tickets earlier by being on Facebook. It is not the amount of posts that create success without maintaining contact with their audience and create value for their followers on both Facebook and in real life, that when they come as visitors to the event and so on can establish a contact all year round

    Strategies for organization and collaboration of municipal labour market policy : In the wake of the changed national labour market policy

    No full text
    Examensarbetets syfte var att belysa och bidra till kunskaper om hur elva kommuner i en delregion förhÄller sig till nya förutsÀttningar med en förÀndrad nationell arbetsmarknadspolitik efter Arbetsförmedlingens reformering 2019. Arbetet bidrar till att ge insikter kring kommunernas strategier för organisering och samverkan, samt konsekvenser för kommunala aktiviteter för deltagarna. Empirin Àr inhÀmtad med kvalitativ metod genom att djupintervjua elva kommunala chefer, med ansvar inom arbetsmarknadsomrÄdet i sin kommun, pÄ en strategisk eller strategisk/operativ nivÄ. Arbetsförmedlingens reformering har till exempel inneburit nedstÀngning av mÄnga lokala kontor och att insatser som tidigare ofta utfördes av kommunerna pÄ uppdrag av Arbetsförmedlingen nu utförs av fristÄende aktörer. Som en följd av de statliga förÀndringarna har det pÄverkat den lokala arbetsmarknadspolitiken som kommunerna utför, med anpassning av kommunernas organisationer och vilka aktiviteter som kan erbjudas deltagarna i mÄlgruppen. Arbetsförmedlingens reformering innebar till en början omfattande konsekvenser för den lokala samverkan och individsamverkan, vilket har fÄtt en betydelse för utförandet av arbetsmarknadspolitiken i praktiken för kommunerna och kommunernas invÄnare. Examensarbetets teoretiska referensram beskriver att Arbetsförmedlingen har svÄrigheter i att kunna erbjuda flera av mÄlgrupperna tillrÀckliga insatser, vanligen de deltagare som stÄr lÀngst ifrÄn arbetsmarknaden till exempel ungdomar, utrikesfödda och lÄngtidsarbetslösa, grupper som ofta kan ha ett kommunalt ekonomiskt bistÄnd. Det medför att det kan finnas förvÀntningar att kommunerna ska utföra insatser för de som stÄr lÀngst ifrÄn arbetsmarknaden. MÄlgruppen utgör ofta en kostnad för kommuner och Àven om arbetsmarknadspolitiken i grunden Àr ett statligt ansvar agerar kommunerna med insatser för att reducera de egna kostnaderna för ekonomiskt bistÄnd. Det empiriska materialet i examensarbetet har analyserats tematiskt. För att synliggöra strukturen kontra individernas handlingars betydelse för förÀndringsprocesserna har analysen utgÄtt frÄn Giddens Struktureringsteori. Slutsatserna Àr att kommunerna har pÄverkats med omfattande anpassningar efter Arbetsförmedlingens reformering. Det har krÀvts olika individuella lokala strategiska beslut för att anpassa organiseringen, ofta med nedskÀrningar, och samverkan till de nya förutsÀttningarna. Kommunerna har Àven valt olika strategier vid anpassning av de aktiviteter som erbjuds olika grupper av deltagare och vilka mÄlgrupper som kommunerna erbjuder aktiviteter.The aim of the thesis was to shed light and contribute to knowledge about how eleven municipalities in a region are responding to new conditions with a changed national labour market policy after the reform of the Swedish Public Employment Service in 2019. The work contributes to insights into the municipalities' strategies for organization and cooperation, as well as consequences for municipal activities for participants. The empirical data was collected using qualitative method by conducting in-depth interviews with eleven municipal managers, responsible for the labour market area in their municipality, at a strategic or strategic/operational level. For example, the reform of the Swedish Public Employment Service has resulted in the closure of many local offices and that services that were previously often carried out by the municipalities on behalf of the Public Employment Service are now carried out by independent actors. As a result of the government changes, it has affected the local labour market policy that the municipalities carry out, with adaptation of the municipalities' organizations and which activities can be offered to the participants in the target group. The reform of the employment agency initially had extensive consequences for local and individual collaboration, which has been important for the implementation of labour market policy in practice for the municipalities and their residents. The thesis' theoretical framework describes that the Public Employment Service has difficulties in being able to offer several of the target groups sufficient activities, usually the participants who are the furthest from the labour market, such as young people, foreign-born and the long-term unemployed, groups that often can receive municipal economic support. This means that there may be expectations that the municipalities will carry out activities for those who are furthest from the labour market. The target groups represent a cost for the municipalities and even if labour market policy is fundamentally a state responsibility, the municipalities act with activities to reduce their own costs for economic support. The empirical material in the thesis has been analysed thematically. To make visible the structure versus the significance of individuals' actions for the change processes, the analysis has been based on Gidden's Structuration Theory. The conclusions are that the municipalities have been affected by extensive adaptations after the reform of the Swedish Public Employment Service. Various individual local strategic decisions have been required to adapt the organization, often with cuts, and collaboration to the new conditions. The municipalities have also chosen different strategies when adapting the activities offered to different groups of participants and which target groups the municipalities offer activities to
    • 

    corecore