41 research outputs found
Protocol of a mixed method randomized controlled pilot study evaluating a wilderness program for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors: the WAYA study
Introduction
The majority of childhood, adolescent and
young adult (AYA) cancer survivors suffer from long-term
and late effects such as fatigue, psychological distress or
comorbid diseases. Effective health promotion strategies
are needed to support the health of this vulnerable group.
This protocol provides a methodological description of
a study that aims to examine the feasibility and safety
of performing a randomised clinical trial (RCT) on a
wilderness programme that is developed to support the
health of AYA cancer survivors.
Methods and analysis
The pilot RCT study has a mixedmethod design, including quantitative and qualitative
evaluations. Participants are AYAs, aged 16–39 years,
that have been diagnosed with cancer during childhood,
adolescence or young adulthood. A total of 40 participants
will be randomly assigned to a wilderness programme
(n=20) or a holiday programme (n=20). Both arms include
participation in an 8-day summer programme, followed
by a 4-day programme 3 months later. Primary outcomes
are feasibility and safety parameters such as time to
recruitment, willingness to be randomised, programme
adherence and adverse effects. Secondary outcomes
include self-reported health such as self-esteem, quality
of life, self-efficacy and lived experiences. Descriptive
statistics will be used to analyse outcomes and explore
indications of differences between the programmes.
Interviews are analysed by directed content analysis
and hermeneutic phenomenology. A convergent parallel
mixed-method analysis design will be applied to integrate
quantitative and qualitative data. Results of this feasibility
study will inform the preparation for a larger RCT with AYA
cancer survivors.
Ethics and dissemination
The study protocol is
approved by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority
(reference: 2020-00239). This study will be performed
between January 2021 and December 2023. Results
will be published in international peer-reviewed
journals, presented at conferences and disseminated to
participants, cancer societies, healthcare professionals
and outdoor instructors
The Prevalence, Attitudes, and Correlates of Waterpipe Smoking Among High School Students in Iran: a Cross-Sectional Study
Violence in caring : Risk factors, outcomes and support
The overall aim of this dissertation is to promote knowledge of violence against personnel in municipal caring by studying its magnitude, the risk factors involved, its consequences, and the significance of social support and prevention. A subsidiary aim was to develop methods for surveying and analyzing workplace violence in a care setting. The five papers in this dissertation are based upon three studies: a pilot study; a literature review based on database searches; and, a nationwide questionnaire survey of the seven largest occupations in municipal nursing and caring (administrators, nursing specialists, supervisors, direct carers, nursing auxiliaries, assistant nurses, and personal assistants). A total of 2,800 individuals were covered by the survey. Violence was defined broadly, encompassing both verbal and physical aggression aimed at personnel. The pilot study consisted in the testing of a recording form (list) to be used in the workplace, which resulted in a large number of violent incidents being reported. The literature review highlighted five distinct focuses of research on violence in a work setting. With the review as a foundation, a model for the identification and analysis of risks of violence was developed. The model operates at three levels: individual (specific factors), workplace (situational factors), and organization (structural factors). It was found in the questionnaire study that over half of respondents had been exposed to violence or threat of violence on one or several occasions over the previous year. Over nine percent reported that they had been exposed on a daily basis, but there were also cases of aggravated physical violence. All occupational groups were exposed, but degree of exposure varied between groups. Low age and short occupational tenure proved to act as risk factors, as too did certain types of workplaces, working full-time with patients/clients, reorganization (downsizing), and high workload. The consequences of acts of violence were many and varied. Financial, health-related, emotional, work-related, and social impacts were all reported. One out of five victims of violence sustained physical injuries, and emotional reactions were common. Violent acts did not only affect work with care recipients but also impacted on personnel s leisure time. Scarcely four out of ten had received support or help following an act of violence, while six out of ten stated that some kind of preventive intervention had been made in their workplace. The overall results indicate that violence is a work-environment problem within the health-and-care sector. Indeed, for many it is a daily recurring problem. Acts of violence have different consequences according to the individual and the workplace.Våld i omsorgsarbete Riskfaktorer, konsekvenser och stöd Avhandlingens övergripande syfte är att öka kunskapen om våld mot personal i kommunalt omsorgsarbete genom att studera dess magnitude, riskfaktorer, konsekvenser och betydelsen av social support och prevention. Ett ytterligare syfte var att utveckla metoder för kartläggning och analys av våld i omsorgsarbete. Avhandlingen grundar sig på tre studier, vilka behandlas i fem papers: en pilotstudie, en litteraturinventering i ett antal databaser och en rikstäckande enkätundersökning bland de sju största yrkesgrupperna inom kommunal vård- och omsorg (handläggare, specialister, föreståndare, vårdare, vårdbiträden, undersköterskor och personliga assistenter). Totalt 2 800 personer ingick enkätstudien. I avhandlingens studier definieras våld brett och omfattar både verbal och fysisk aggression mot personal. Under pilotstudien provades en registreringslista för lokalt arbetsmiljöarbete och ett stort antal incidenter rapporterades. Litteraturinventeringen lyfte fram fem skilda fokus i forskningen om våld i arbetssammanhang. En modell för identifiering och analys av våldsrisker utvecklades, bl a med litteraturinventeringen som bas. Modellen tar fasta på tre nivåer i en organisation, d v s individ (specifika faktorer), arbetsplats (situationella faktorer) och organisation (strukturella faktorer). Resultaten från enkätstudien visade att över hälften av de svarande hade blivit utsatta för våld eller hot om våld en eller flera gånger under det senaste året. Över nio procent uppgav att de blivit utsatta dagligen. Verbalt våld var vanligt, men även grövre fysiskt våld förekom. Alla yrkesgrupper var utsatta men graden varierade. Låg ålder och kort anställningstid visade sig vara riskfaktorer. Typ av arbetsplats, att arbeta hela tiden med vårdtagare, omorganisation (downsizing) och hög arbetsbelastning var andra riskfaktorer. Konsekvenserna av våldshändelserna var många och varierande. Ekonomiska, hälsorelaterade, emotionella och arbetsrelaterade samt sociala konsekvenser rapporterades. En av fem hade fått fysiska skador. Emotionella reaktioner var frekventa. Våldshändelser påverkade inte bara arbetet med vårdtagarna utan också fritiden. Knappt fyra av tio hade fått stöd och hjälp efter våldshändelsen. Sex av tio rapporterade att förebyggande insatser hade genomförts på arbetsplatsen. Avhandlingens samlade resultat pekar på att våld är ett arbetsmiljöproblem inom vård- och omsorgssektorn. Det är ett dagligt problem för många. Våldshändelser kan leda till olika konsekvenser för individen och för arbetsplatsen. Nyckelord: Våld, vård- och omsorgspersonal, riskfaktorer, arbetsförhållanden, konsekvenser, hjälp och stöd, förebyggande, modell, registrerin
Samverkan i distansutbildning, från fristående kurser till examen i folkhälsovetenskap
Att främja jämlik hälsa är komplext och kräver inte bara mångvetenskap utan också tvärvetenskap för att få en ökad insikt och förståelse om dagens hälsoproblem. Distansundervisning gör det möjligt för studenterna att vara rums- och tidsoberoende så väl som ortsoberoende. I denna artikel redo-visas en folkhälsoutbildning som leder till kandidatexamen. Utbildningen är en samverkan mellan två lärosäten i Sverige, Högskolan i Halmstad och Mittuniversitetet i Sundsvall. Utbildningen är på it-distans och börjar med A- och B-kurser på Högskolan i Halmstad med inriktning i hälsa och livs-stil med fortsättning sedan på Mittuniversitetet i Sundsvall med utbildnings-fokus på projektplanering och projektledning för att kunna genomföra strategiska insatser för bättre folkhälsa på organisations- och samhälls-nivå. Utbildningen avslutas med en kandidatexamen i Folkhälsovetenskap.To promote equity in health is complex and requires not only multidisciplinary methods but also interdisciplinary studies to get a better insight and under-standing of today’s health problems. Distance learning makes it possible for students to be room-and-time-independent as well as local independent. In this article we present, a public health education leading to a Bachelor’s degree. The programme is a collaboration between two universities in Sweden, Halmstad University and Mid Sweden University in Sundsvall. The training is at it-distance and begins with basic courses at Halmstad Univer-sity with a specialization in health and lifestyle. Further, the students starts at the Mid Sweden University in Sundsvall with focus on project planning and project management to implement strategic actions for better health at the organizational and societal level. The programme ends with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health
Politicians’ views on societal responsibility and possibility to promote newly arrived migrants’ health in Sweden
Newly arrived migrants in Sweden risk facing ill health. Politicians at the local and regional levels are involved in many decisions regarding the social determinants of health. The aim of this study was to explore politicians’ views on different societal actors’ responsibility and possibility to promote newly arrived migrants’ health. Data were collected through online questionnaires completed by 667 politicians from municipality and regional councils in northern Sweden. Bivariate analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Multivariate analyses were performed using cluster analysis and binary logistic regression analysis. The results show that politicians generally rate societal actors’ responsibility and possibility to promote the general population’s health higher than newly arrived migrants’ health. Moreover, they consider societal actors’ responsibility to be greater than their possibility to promote health. Factors significantly contributing to politicians’ high ratings of societal responsibility and possibility are attitude (odds ratio [OR] = 2.156, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.306–3.558), specific knowledge of newly arrived migrants’ health status (OR = 1.528, 95% CI: 1.005–2.323), personal interest in public health (OR = 2.452, 95% CI: 1.460–4.119), being a municipality politician (OR = 1.659, 95% CI: 1.031–2.670) and being female (OR = 1.934, 95% CI: 1.333–2.806). This study shows that politicians generally rate societal responsibility and possibility to promote newly arrived migrants’ health rather high. Personal characteristics are important for politicians’ high or low ratings of responsibility and possibility, suggesting insufficient structural support for politicians in health promotion
Collaboration in health promotion for newly arrived migrants in Sweden
As a group, newly arrived migrants in Sweden face inequities in health compared to the general population. Successful promotion of population health requires awareness of and focus on health from several sectors of society. In light of this, the aim was to study the views of local authority officials on collaboration in health promotion activities for newly arrived migrants. Data was collected through five focus group interviews with 23 local authority officials working with the integration of newly arrived migrants in the Establishment Program in a municipality or at the Employment Services in northern Sweden. An inductive qualitative latent content analysis was performed, and the analysis showed that the participating officials considered health promotion as desirable in the Establishment Program, but it also raised complex issues within the existing organisations. The officials described unclear roles, but also possible changes to the organisation that would improve the possibility of working to promote health. The present study adds to the relatively limited knowledge of health promotion in integration activities and offers clinical relevance for policymakers through the officials’ suggestions for improvements in the Establishment Program. It also raises important questions for further research.
Local and regional politicians’ considerations of newly arrived migrants’ health in political decision-making : a public health study in northern Sweden
Background and aim: Early action is important for promoting newly arrived migrants’ health. Politicians are major actors in decision-making that affects health outcomes in the population. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore local and regional politicians’ considerations of newly arrived migrants’ health in political decision-making: whether politicians reflect on or discuss the effects of decision-making specifically on newly arrived migrants’ health, whether considerations differ between municipality and regional politicians, and how knowledge and attitudes are associated with such considerations. Subject and methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted. A total of 667 municipality and regional politicians from northern Sweden responded to a questionnaire developed based on interviews with politicians. Bivariate analyses were performed using χ2 tests, the independent samples t-test, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Multivariate analysis was performed using binary logistic regression. Results: Politicians considered the effects on newly arrived migrants’ health significantly less frequently than those on the total population’s health. Regional politicians discussed such effects more often than municipality politicians. Knowledge (odds ratio [OR] = 1.343), attitude (OR = 5.962), previous experience working on public health issues (OR = 1.784), and female gender (OR = 1.787) were positively associated with considering effects on newly arrived migrants’ health in decision-making. Conclusion: Politicians play important roles in health promotion, and most consider health-related effects in their decision-making. However, about a third do not consider such effects. General health-related knowledge and attitude are important factors that could be affected or changed during political assignments.
Multiple Risk Factors for Violence to Seven Occupational Groups in the Swedish Caring Sector
Violence towards health-care personnel represent an increasing problem, but little is known in terms of how different occupational groups are affected. A questionnaire was sent to a stratified sample of 2,800 of 173,000 employees in the Swedish municipal health and welfare sector. Seven major groups working with the elderly or persons with developmental disabilities were considered: administrators, nursing specialists, supervisors, direct carers, nursing auxiliaries, assistant nurses, and personal assistants. The response rate was 85 percent. Fifty-one percent of respondents reported exposure to violence or threats of violence over one year. The most vulnerable groups were assistant nurses and direct carers (usually of the developmentally disabled). Individual characteristics, such as age and organizational tenure, were related to exposure. Work-related characteristics, such as type of workplace, working full-time with clients, organizational downsizing, and high workload, were also associated with risk. Greater knowledge of impacts on different professional groups and relevant prevention are required.La violence au travail est un sujet qui a retenu l’attention croissante Ă l’échelle internationale. Le personnel du secteur de la santĂ© et du bien-ĂŞtre semble plus exposĂ© que d’autres catĂ©gories de personnels. Dans le passĂ©, la violence reliĂ©e au travail dans le secteur des soins de santĂ© a fait l’objet d’étude plus particulièrement dans les domaines des soins psychiatriques et mĂ©dicaux graves. D’autres domaines de ce secteur, tels que les services aux personnes en perte d’autonomie, aux plus âgĂ©es et Ă celles physiquement malades ont beaucoup moins retenu l’attention des chercheurs. On a fait Ă©tat des effets d’ordre physique, psychologique et comportemental reliĂ©s Ă une forme ou l’autre d’agression, alors que la violence peut avoir Ă©galement une influence sur les conditions de travail et sur la qualitĂ© des soins Ă donner aux patients.De nombreuses Ă©tudes ont fait rĂ©fĂ©rence aux caractĂ©ristiques des patients Ă titre d’explications au phĂ©nomène de la violence au travail ou encore Ă un facteur de risque auquel le personnel serait exposĂ©, alors que l’analyse systĂ©matique de d’autres facteurs de risque se fait attendre. Ces facteurs peuvent ĂŞtre de l’ordre, par exemple, des caractĂ©ristiques personnelles des travailleurs, c’est-Ă -dire l’âge, le sexe et l’expĂ©rience de travail. De plus, des diffĂ©rences au plan des conditions de travail qui prĂ©valent dans certaines catĂ©gories d’emploi peuvent donner lieu Ă des degrĂ©s diffĂ©rents de risque. Ainsi, des particularitĂ©s reliĂ©es au travail, telles que le lieu physique des soins, le type d’emploi (plein temps ou temps partiel), les heures de travail, les conditions de travail (contacts frĂ©quents ou non avec les bĂ©nĂ©ficiaires, le fait de travailler Ă la rĂ©sidence des patients ou de travailler seul), le changement organisationnel (rĂ©duction de la taille de l’établissement) et la charge de travail sont autant de facteurs qui peuvent accroĂ®tre ou diminuer le risque.La connaissance limitĂ©e de la violence et des menaces dans le secteur des soins de santĂ© et du bien-ĂŞtre est devenue avec le temps un terrain propice Ă la recherche dans ce domaine. Cette Ă©tude fait justement partie d’un vaste projet de recherche dont les objectifs sont de vĂ©rifier dans quelle mesure les menaces et la violence visent certains groupes professionnels ou occupationnels dans le secteur de la santĂ© et du bien-ĂŞtre en Suède et de rĂ©pertorier les facteurs reliĂ©s Ă la personne ou Ă l’environnement de travail en regard du risque.L’échantillon retenu dans cette Ă©tude provient de sept groupes professionnels les plus importants dans le secteur municipal de la santĂ© et du bien-ĂŞtre en Suède : les administrateurs, les spĂ©cialistes des soins infirmiers, les surveillants, le personnel infirmier (soins directs), le personnel infirmier auxiliaire, le personnel d’aides infirmiers et les prĂ©posĂ©s. Sur un total de 172 881 employĂ©s, 400 furent choisis au hasard dans chaque catĂ©gorie occupationnelle. Les donnĂ©es ont Ă©tĂ© recueillies par voie de questionnaires postaux comprenant 29 questions impliquant des rĂ©ponses sous forme de choix forcĂ©. Le taux de rĂ©ponse dĂ©finitif a Ă©tĂ© de 85 % de l’échantillon total. Pour les fins de cette Ă©tude, la violence au travail a Ă©tĂ© dĂ©finie d’une manière large englobant l’agression Ă la fois verbale et physique Ă l’endroit du personnel de la part principalement des patients. On fit appel Ă des tests de chi-carrĂ© pour apprĂ©cier les Ă©carts entre les diffĂ©rentes catĂ©gories occupationnelles eu Ă©gard au degrĂ© d’exposition aux menaces et Ă la violence; Ă©galement eu Ă©gard Ă la frĂ©quence de l’exposition. On a aussi retenu les tests de chi-carrĂ© pour vĂ©rifier si des caractĂ©ristiques individuelles ou reliĂ©es au travail chez le personnel exposĂ© pouvaient varier selon les catĂ©gories occupationnelles. Pour l’identification des facteurs de risque d’exposition aux menaces et Ă la violence, on a utilisĂ© la rĂ©gression logistique en recourrant Ă des analyses distinctes pour les sept catĂ©gories occupationnelles. Dans chacun des cas, la variable dĂ©pendante Ă©tait l’exposition Ă la menace ou Ă la violence, alors que les variables indĂ©pendantes comprenaient des ensembles de caractĂ©ristiques individuelles et reliĂ©es au travail. On a aussi fait appel Ă l’analyse de rĂ©gression multiple pour Ă©valuer la frĂ©quence Ă laquelle le personnel des soins de santĂ© Ă©tait exposĂ© aux menaces et Ă la violence dans le secteur municipal en Suède. La frĂ©quence d’exposition Ă©tait la variable dĂ©pendante, alors que les variables indĂ©pendantes Ă©taient de nouveau un ensemble de caractĂ©ristiques reliĂ©es Ă la personne ou associĂ©es au travail. Les analyses ont Ă©tĂ© effectuĂ©es de façon sĂ©parĂ©e pour chaque catĂ©gorie occupationnelle.Environ la moitiĂ© des rĂ©pondants (50 %) ont mentionnĂ© qu’ils avaient Ă©tĂ© victimes de violence ou de menace de violence au travail Ă un moment donnĂ© au cours de l’annĂ©e prĂ©cĂ©dente. La grande majoritĂ© des rĂ©pondants ont fait Ă©tat d’avoir Ă©tĂ© victimes de violence originant des patients ou des clients (96 %). Les sortes de violence les plus mentionnĂ©es consistaient en des menaces verbales (72 %), des actions de pincer ou de griffer (65 %), de taper (49 %) et de cracher (36 %). Les occupations les plus exposĂ©es entrent dans la catĂ©gorie des soins directs (infirmières) (61,6 %) et des aides infirmières (60,7 %). Plus du tiers des rĂ©pondants exposĂ©s ont dit avoir fait face Ă des menaces ou Ă de la violence au travail Ă la frĂ©quence soit d’une fois par mois (11,7 %), une fois par semaine (17,7 %) ou sur une base presque quotidienne (9,3 %). Les frĂ©quences d’exposition quotidienne se retrouvaient dans la catĂ©gorie des soins directs, des aides infirmières et des prĂ©posĂ©s. En tout, l’âge moyen des personnes exposĂ©es se situait Ă 42,1 annĂ©es et la plupart Ă©taient des femmes. Seulement 11,2 % ont rapportĂ© une faible anciennetĂ© et 23,6 % ont mentionnĂ© ĂŞtre dans leur Ă©tablissement actuel depuis une courte pĂ©riode de temps. Dans le groupe Ă l’étude pris dans son ensemble, 71,2 % Ă©taient affectĂ©s aux soins gĂ©riatriques. La plupart (76,6 %) travaillaient dans des rĂ©sidences pour personnes âgĂ©es. Moins d’un tiers des personnes travaillaient dans la demeure du bĂ©nĂ©ficiaire ou l’équivalent. LĂ©gèrement un peu plus du tiers travaillaient habituellement Ă temps plein et 58 % le faisaient durant le jour. La grande majoritĂ© (91,1 %) des rĂ©pondants Ă©tait en contact direct avec les bĂ©nĂ©ficiaires pendant leur temps de travail. Près de la moitiĂ© du personnel exposĂ© passait la plupart de leurs heures de travail Ă l’intĂ©rieur des maisons de leurs clients et 42,1 % demeuraient avec les clients pour plus de la moitiĂ© de leur temps de travail. Environ la moitiĂ© du personnel exposĂ© avait Ă©tĂ© tĂ©moin d’une restructuration au cours de l’annĂ©e antĂ©rieure. Un tiers mentionnait que la charge de travail Ă©tait extrĂŞmement lourde au cours de cette pĂ©riode.NĂ©anmoins, les rĂ©sultats obtenus s’avèrent consistants avec ceux des recherches antĂ©rieures. Chacune des sept catĂ©gories professionnelles a Ă©tĂ© exposĂ©e Ă de la violence sur le lieu de travail, mais la frĂ©quence de l’exposition varient. Des facteurs d’ordre individuel tout comme des caractĂ©ristiques reliĂ©es au travail sont associĂ©s au risque d’une exposition Ă la violence. Les donnĂ©es indiquent que les menaces et la violence dans les lieux de soins de santĂ© constituent un enjeu important de l’environnement de travail. Des remèdes d’ordre organisationnel et environnemental en vue de gĂ©rer et de rĂ©duire la violence au travail sont recommandĂ©s.La violencia contra el personal del sector salud representa un problema creciente pero ha sido raramente investigado segĂşn el grupo ocupacional implicado. Un cuestionario fuĂ© enviado a una muestra estratificada de 2 800 empleados de los 173 000 que componen el sector municipal de salud y bienestar en Suecia. Fueron considerados los siete principales grupos que trabajan con personas de edad avanzada o deficientes mentales: administradores, enfermeras especialistas, supervisores, ayudantes directos, enfermeras auxiliares, enfermeras asistentes y personal asistente. La tasa de respuesta fue de 85%. Un 51% de respuestas reportan una exposiciĂłn a la violencia o menazas de violencia durante el año. Los grupos mas vulnerables son las enfermeras asistentes y ayudantes directos (generalmente del deficiente mental). Las caracterĂsticas individuales, tales como la edad y la antigĂĽedad en el puesto, muestran una asociaciĂłn con la exposiciĂłn. Las caracterĂsticas relacionadas al trabajo tales como el tipo de lugar de trabajo, el trabajo a tiempo completo con clientes, la disminuciĂłn de personal y la carga elevada de trabajo, fueron tambiĂ©n asociados con el riesgo. Es necesario un mejor conocimiento de los impactos sobre los diferentes grupos ocupacionales y sobre la prevenciĂłn pertinente
Health among lifetime victimized men
Objectives. We examined differences in demographics/socio-economics, lifestyles and mental/ physical health between victimized/non-victimized men, and identified/quantified factors associated with mental/physical health. Study design. The study design was cross-sectional. Methods. The men were assessed in various areas (e.g., depression) by means of a questionnaire. Results. The univariate analyses showed that victims compared with non-victims were younger. They also had higher intermediate education levels, were more often blue-collar/low white-collar workers, were on student allowances and financially strained, smoked more, had a lower BMI, and reported headaches, depression, tension and cognitive difficulties more frequently. The regression analyses showed that financial strain rather than violence was a more important factor for illhealth. Only headaches and cognitive difficulties were associated with violence. Conclusions. Quite an number of men were in a poor physical/mental state, but there were few differences between victims/non-victims. Financial strain was determined to be a more important factor for ill-health than violence. Our data indicate that violence had little effect on men’s health. Our findings do not generally support a relationship between poor health and the abuse of men