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  • 1. Ahman, Birgitta
    et al.
    Svensson, Kristin
    Rönnegård, Lars
    Dalarna University, School of Technology and Business Studies, Statistics.
    High female mortality resulting in herd collapse in free-ranging domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in Sweden2014In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 9, no 10, article id e111509Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Reindeer herding in Sweden is a form of pastoralism practised by the indigenous Sami population. The economy is mainly based on meat production. Herd size is generally regulated by harvest in order not to overuse grazing ranges and keep a productive herd. Nonetheless, herd growth and room for harvest is currently small in many areas. Negative herd growth and low harvest rate were observed in one of two herds in a reindeer herding community in Central Sweden. The herds (A and B) used the same ranges from April until the autumn gathering in October-December, but were separated on different ranges over winter. Analyses of capture-recapture for 723 adult female reindeer over five years (2007-2012) revealed high annual losses (7.1% and 18.4%, for herd A and B respectively). A continuing decline in the total reindeer number in herd B demonstrated an inability to maintain the herd size in spite of a very small harvest. An estimated breakpoint for when herd size cannot be kept stable confirmed that the observed female mortality rate in herd B represented a state of herd collapse. Lower calving success in herd B compared to A indicated differences in winter foraging conditions. However, we found only minor differences in animal body condition between the herds in autumn. We found no evidence that a lower autumn body mass generally increased the risk for a female of dying from one autumn to the next. We conclude that the prime driver of the on-going collapse of herd B is not high animal density or poor body condition. Accidents or disease seem unlikely as major causes of mortality. Predation, primarily by lynx and wolverine, appears to be the most plausible reason for the high female mortality and state of collapse in the studied reindeer herding community.

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  • 2.
    Anåker, Anna
    et al.
    Dalarna University, School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Caring Science/Nursing. Karolinska institutet.
    von Koch, Lena
    Sjöstrand, Christina
    Bernhardt, Julie
    Elf, Marie
    Dalarna University, School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Caring Science/Nursing. Karolinska Institutet; Chalmers University of Technology.
    A comparative study of patients’ activities and interactions in a stroke unit before and after reconstruction – the significance of the built environment2017In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 12, no 7, article id e0177477Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Early mobilization and rehabilitation, multidisciplinary stroke expertise and comprehensive therapies are fundamental in a stroke unit. To achieve effective and safe stroke care, the physical environment in modern stroke units should facilitate the delivery of evidence-based care. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore patients’ activities and interactions in a stroke unit before the reconstruction of the physical environment, while in a temporary location and after reconstruction. This case study examined a stroke unit as an integrated whole. The data were collected using a behavioral mapping technique at three different time points: in the original unit, in the temporary unit and in the new unit. A total of 59 patients were included. The analysis included field notes from observations of the physical environment and examples from planning and design documents. The findings indicated that in the new unit, the patients spent more time in their rooms, were less active, and had fewer interactions with staff and family than the patients in the original unit. The reconstruction involved a change from a primarily multi-bed room design to single-room accommodations. In the new unit, the patients’ lounge was located in a far corner of the unit with a smaller entrance than the patients’ lounge in the old unit, which was located at the end of a corridor with a noticeable entrance. Changes in the design of the stroke unit may have influenced the patients’ activities and interactions. This study raises the question of how the physical environment should be designed in the future to facilitate the delivery of health care and improve outcomes for stroke patients. This research is based on a case study, and although the results should be interpreted with caution, we strongly recommend that environmental considerations be included in future stroke guidelines.

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  • 3.
    Asaye, Mengstu Melkamu
    et al.
    University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
    Gelaye, Kassahun Alemu
    University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
    Matebe, Yohannes Hailu
    University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
    Lindgren, Helena
    Karolinska Institutet, Solna.
    Erlandsson, Kerstin
    Dalarna University, School of Health and Welfare, Sexual Reproductive Perinatal Health.
    Effect of fetal malposition, primiparous, and premature rupture of membrane on Neonatal Near miss mediated by grade three meconium-stained amniotic fluids and duration of the active first stage of labor: Mediation analysis2023In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 18, no 5, article id e0285280Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    BACKGROUND: In many low-income countries, including Ethiopia, neonatal mortality remains a major concern. For every newborn that dies, many more neonates survived (near-miss neonates) the first 28 days after birth from life-threatening conditions. The generation of evidence on neonatal near-miss determinants could be a critical step in reducing neonatal mortality rates. However, studies causal pathway determinants are limited in Ethiopia. This study aimed to investigate the Neonatal Near-miss determinants in public health hospitals in Amhara Regional State, northwest Ethiopia.

    METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1277 mother-newborn pairs at six hospitals between July 2021 and January 2022. A validated interviewer-administered questionnaire and a review of medical records were used to collect data. Data were entered into Epi-Info version 7.1.2 and exported to STATA version 16 in California, America for analysis. The paths from exposure variables to Neonatal Near-Miss via mediators were examined using multiple logistic regression analysis. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and ß-coefficients were calculated and reported with a 95% confidence interval and a p-value of 0.05.

    RESULTS: The proportion of neonatal near-misses was 28.6% (365/1277) (95% CI: 26-31%). Women who could not read and write (AOR = 1.67,95%CI:1.14-2.47), being primiparous (AOR = 2.48,95% CI:1.63-3.79), pregnancy-induced hypertension (AOR = 2.10,95% CI:1.49-2.95),being referred from other health facilities (AOR = 2.28,95% CI:1.88-3.29), premature rupture of membrane (AOR = 1.47,95% CI:1.09-1.98), and fetal malposition (AOR = 1.89,95% CI:1.14-3.16) were associated with Neonatal Near-miss. Grade III meconium stained amniotic fluid partially mediated the relationship between primiparous (ß = 0.517), fetal malposition (ß = 0.526), pregnant women referred from other health facilities (ß = 0.948) and Neonatal Near-Miss at P-value < 0.01. Duration of the active first stage of labour partially mediated the relationship between primiparous (ß = -0.345), fetal malposition (ß = -0.656), premature rupture of membranes (ß = -0.550) and Neonatal Near-Miss at P- value <0.01.It had also a significant indirect effect (ß = 0.581, P<0.001) on NNM with variables (primiparous, fetal malposition, and premature rupture of membranes).

    CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between fetal malposition, primiparous, referred from other health facilities, premature rupture of membrane, and Neonatal Near miss were partially mediated by grade III meconium stained amniotic fluid and duration of the active first stage of labour. Early diagnosis of these potential danger signs and appropriate intervention could be of supreme importance in reducing NNM.

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  • 4.
    Bohman, Tony
    et al.
    Karolinska institutet.
    Tegern, Matthias
    Halvarsson, Alexandra
    Broman, Lisbet
    Larsson, Helena
    Concurrent validity of an isokinetic lift test used for admission to the Swedish Armed Forces2018In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 13, no 11, article id e0207054Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    The aim of this study was to assess the concurrent validity of the IsoKai isokinetic lift test peak force (IsoKaiPeak) in comparison to a submaximal 5-10RM deadlift test (5-10RMDL), and to develop an equation for converting the IsoKaiPeak in Newton (N) to an estimated 1RM (1RMest) deadlift load in kilograms (kg). The participants included 28 males and 16 female employees in the Swedish Armed Forces (20-59 years). Each participant conducted the IsoKai lift test, followed by the 5-10RMDL test at one occasion. The Pearson's correlation coefficient, with a 95% confidence interval was calculated to evaluate the validity between the IsoKaiPeak and the 1RMest deadlift load derived from the 5-10RMDL test. Univariate and multivariable linear regressions were used to derive the equation for calculating the 1RMest deadlift load based on the IsoKaiPeak. The IsoKaiPeak showed good- to-excellent correlation with the 1RMest deadlift weight with a correlation coefficient of 0.84 (0.72-0.91) for the total sample, and 0.65 (0.37-0.83) and 0.81 (0.53-0.93) in males and females, respectively. The final equation, 1RMest deadlift weight (kg) = -51.63 + (0.08 x IsoKaiPeak) + (2.28 x BMI), explained 72% (adjusted R2 = 0.72) of the total variance in the 1RMest, and had a standard error of the estimate (SEE) of 16.57 kg. In conclusion, the IsoKai isokinetic lift test could be considered a highly valid measure of maximal dynamic muscular strength in comparison to the 5-10RMDL. The equation can be used to convert the IsoKai lift test (N) results to an 1RMest deadlift load (kg), but with consideration of the relative large SEE.

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  • 5.
    Bohman, Tony
    et al.
    Karolinska institutet.
    Tegern, Matthias
    Halvarsson, Alexandra
    Broman, Lisbet
    Larsson, Helena
    Reliability and agreement of the IsoKai isokinetic lift test - a test used for admission to the Swedish Armed Forces2018In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 13, no 12, article id e0209419Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    This study was performed to evaluate the reliability and agreement of the IsoKai isokinetic lift test as it is currently administered in admission to the Swedish Armed Forces. The study included an intrarater (n = 534) and interrater reliability sample (n = 137), of Swedish male conscripts who performed the test on two test occasions about two hours apart. Two-to-four lifts were performed at each occasion, and the highest mean (IsoKaiMF) and peak force (IsoKaiPF) produced (N) were used for evaluation. All intraclass coefficients showed excellent reliability. The interrater analyses resulted in intraclass coefficients of 0.942 (95% CI; 0.920-0.959) and 0.858 (95% CI; 0.806-0.896) for the IsoKaiMF and IsoKaiPF, respectively, while the corresponding coefficients for the intrarater analyses were 0.935 (95% CI; 0.923-0.946) and 0.865 (95% CI; 0.842-0.886). Agreement, the capability of a test to detect changes, was assessed by the standard error of measurement (SEM/SEM%) and the smallest real difference (SRD/SRD%). These estimate indicated that it is possible to achieve measurements relevant to use in real practice with the IsoKai isokinetic lift test. Bland and Altman analyses revealed no systematic errors in either sample. Based on these findings, the IsoKai isokinetic lift test is suggested to be a highly reliable test for maximal dynamic muscular strength. The test could be of use in selection procedures in order to accurately evaluate maximal dynamic muscular strength, and for evaluating longitudinal changes in strength.

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  • 6. Christidis, Nikolaos
    et al.
    Ghafouri, Bijar
    Larsson, Anette
    Palstam, Annie
    Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.
    Mannerkorpi, Kaisa
    Bileviciute-Ljungar, Indre
    Löfgren, Monika
    Bjersing, Jan
    Kosek, Eva
    Ernberg, Malin
    Comparison of the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines released in the vastus lateralis muscle of patients with fibromyalgia and healthy controls during contractions of the quadriceps muscle - A microdialysis study2015In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 10, no 12, article id e0143856Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    OBJECTIVE: Fibromyalgia is associated with central hyperexcitability, but it is suggested that peripheral input is important to maintain central hyperexcitability. The primary aim was to investigate the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines released in the vastus lateralis muscle during repetitive dynamic contractions of the quadriceps muscle in patients with fibromyalgia and healthy controls. Secondarily, to investigate if the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were correlated with pain or fatigue during these repetitive dynamic contractions.

    MATERIAL AND METHODS: 32 women with fibromyalgia and 32 healthy women (controls) participated in a 4 hour microdialysis session, to sample IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF from the most painful point of the vastus lateralis muscle before, during and after 20 minutes of repeated dynamic contractions. Pain (visual analogue scale; 0-100) and fatigue Borg's Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale; 6-20) were assessed before and during the entire microdialysis session.

    RESULTS: The repetitive dynamic contractions increased pain in the patients with fibromyalgia (P < .001) and induced fatigue in both groups (P < .001). Perceived fatigue was significantly higher among patients with fibromyalgia than controls (P < .001). The levels of IL-1β did not change during contractions in either group. The levels of TNF did not change during contractions in patients with fibromyalgia, but increased in controls (P < .001) and were significantly higher compared to patients with fibromyalgia (P = .033). The levels of IL-6 and IL-8 increased in both groups alike during and after contractions (P's < .001). There were no correlations between pain or fatigue and cytokine levels after contractions.

    CONCLUSION: There were no differences between patients with fibromyalgia and controls in release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and no correlations between levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and pain or fatigue. Thus, this study indicates that IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF do not seem to play an important role in maintenance of muscle pain in fibromyalgia.

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  • 7. Cleeve, Amanda
    et al.
    Byamugisha, Josaphat
    Gemzell-Danielsson, Kristina
    Mbona Tumwesigye, Nazarius
    Atuhairwe, Susan
    Faxelid, Elisabeth
    Klingberg-Allvin, Marie
    Dalarna University, School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Caring Science/Nursing. Karolinska institutet.
    Women's acceptability of misoprostol treatment for incomplete abortion by midwives and physicians: secondary outcome analysis from a randomized controlled equivalence trial at district level in Uganda2016In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 11, no 2Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess women´s acceptability of diagnosis and treatment of incomplete abortion with misoprostol by midwives, compared with physicians.

    METHODS: This was an analysis of secondary outcomes from a multi-centre randomized controlled equivalence trial at district level in Uganda. Women with first trimester incomplete abortion were randomly allocated to clinical assessment and treatment with misoprostol by a physician or a midwife. The randomisation (1:1) was done in blocks of 12 and stratified for health care facility. Acceptability was measured in expectations and satisfaction at a follow up visit 14-28 days following treatment. Analysis of women's overall acceptability was done using a generalized linear mixed-effects model with an equivalence range of -4% to 4%. The study was not masked. The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.org, NCT 01844024.

    RESULTS: From April 2013 to June 2014, 1108 women were assessed for eligibility of which 1010 were randomized (506 to midwife and 504 to physician). 953 women were successfully followed up and included in the acceptability analysis. 95% (904) of the participants found the treatment satisfactory and overall acceptability was found to be equivalent between the two study groups. Treatment failure, not feeling calm and safe following treatment, experiencing severe abdominal pain or heavy bleeding following treatment, were significantly associated with non-satisfaction. No serious adverse events were recorded.

    CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of incomplete abortion with misoprostol by midwives and physician was highly, and equally, acceptable to women.

    TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01844024.

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  • 8. Edge, J
    et al.
    Mundel, T
    Massey University, New Zealand.
    Pilegaard, H
    Centre of Inflammation and Metabolism (CIM), Department of Molecular Biology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
    Hawke, Emma
    Dalarna University, School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Sport and Health Science.
    Leikas, M
    Department of Renal Medicine, Wellington Hospital, New Zealand.
    Lopez-Villalobos, N
    Massey University, New Zealand.
    da Silva Fermino de Oliviera, R
    Victoria University, Australia.
    Bishop, D
    Victoria University, Australia.
    Ammonium chloride ingestion increases resting mRNA content but attenuates exercise-induced mRNA levels in human skeletal muscle2015In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 10, no 12, article id e0141317Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Minimizing the decrease in intracellular pH during high-intensity exercise training promotes greater improvements in mitochondrial respiration. This raises the intriguing hypothesis that pH may affect the exercise-induced transcription of genes that regulate mitochondrial biogenesis. Eight males performed 10x2-min cycle intervals at 80%  intensity on two occasions separated by ~2 weeks. Participants ingested either ammonium chloride (ACID) or calcium carbonate (PLA) the day before and on the day of the exercise trial in a randomized, counterbalanced order, using a crossover design. Biopsies were taken from the vastus lateralis muscle before and after exercise. The mRNA level of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor co-activator 1α (PGC-1α), citrate synthase, cytochome c and FOXO1 was elevated at rest following ACID (P<0.05). During the PLA condition, the mRNA content of mitochondrial- and glucose-regulating proteins was elevated immediately following exercise (P<0.05). In the early phase (0–2 h) of post-exercise recovery during ACID, PGC-1α, citrate synthase, cytochome C, FOXO1, GLUT4, and HKII mRNA levels were not different from resting levels (P>0.05); the difference in PGC-1α mRNA content 2 h post-exercise between ACID and PLA was not significant (P = 0.08). Thus, metabolic acidosis abolished the early post-exercise increase of PGC-1α mRNA and the mRNA of downstream mitochondrial and glucose-regulating proteins. These findings indicate that metabolic acidosis may affect mitochondrial biogenesis, with divergent responses in resting and post-exercise skeletal muscle.

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  • 9.
    Eggenschwiler, Luisa C
    et al.
    University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
    Rutjes, Anne W S
    University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
    Musy, Sarah N
    University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
    Ausserhofer, Dietmar
    University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; College of Health Care-Professions Claudiana, Bozen-Bolzano, Italy.
    Nielen, Natascha M
    University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
    Schwendimann, René
    University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
    Unbeck, Maria
    Dalarna University, School of Health and Welfare, Caring Science/Nursing. Department of Clinical Sciences, Danderyd Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
    Simon, Michael
    University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
    Variation in detected adverse events using trigger tools: A systematic review and meta-analysis2022In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 17, no 9, article id e0273800Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    BACKGROUND: Adverse event (AE) detection is a major patient safety priority. However, despite extensive research on AEs, reported incidence rates vary widely.

    OBJECTIVE: This study aimed: (1) to synthesize available evidence on AE incidence in acute care inpatient settings using Trigger Tool methodology; and (2) to explore whether study characteristics and study quality explain variations in reported AE incidence.

    DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

    METHODS: To identify relevant studies, we queried PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library and three journals in the patient safety field (last update search 25.05.2022). Eligible publications fulfilled the following criteria: adult inpatient samples; acute care hospital settings; Trigger Tool methodology; focus on specialty of internal medicine, surgery or oncology; published in English, French, German, Italian or Spanish. Systematic reviews and studies addressing adverse drug events or exclusively deceased patients were excluded. Risk of bias was assessed using an adapted version of the Quality Assessment Tool for Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2. Our main outcome of interest was AEs per 100 admissions. We assessed nine study characteristics plus study quality as potential sources of variation using random regression models. We received no funding and did not register this review.

    RESULTS: Screening 6,685 publications yielded 54 eligible studies covering 194,470 admissions. The cumulative AE incidence was 30.0 per 100 admissions (95% CI 23.9-37.5; I2 = 99.7%) and between study heterogeneity was high with a prediction interval of 5.4-164.7. Overall studies' risk of bias and applicability-related concerns were rated as low. Eight out of nine methodological study characteristics did explain some variation of reported AE rates, such as patient age and type of hospital. Also, study quality did explain variation.

    CONCLUSION: Estimates of AE studies using trigger tool methodology vary while explaining variation is seriously hampered by the low standards of reporting such as the timeframe of AE detection. Specific reporting guidelines for studies using retrospective medical record review methodology are necessary to strengthen the current evidence base and to help explain between study variation.

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  • 10.
    Elf, Marie
    et al.
    Dalarna University, School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Caring Science/Nursing.
    Eriksson, Gunilla
    Johansson, Sverker
    von Koch, Lena
    Ytterberg, Charlotte
    Self-reported fatigue and associated factors six years after stroke2016In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 11, no 8, article id e0161942Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Several studies have found that fatigue is one of the most commonly reported symptoms after stroke and the most difficult to cope with. The present study aimed to investigate the presence and severity of self-reported fatigue six years after stroke onset and associated factors. The cohort "Life After Stroke Phase I" (n = 349 persons) was invited at six years to report fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale 7-item version), perceived impact of stroke and global recovery after stroke (Stroke Impact Scale), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), life satisfaction (Life Satisfaction Checklist) and participation in everyday social activities (Frenchay Activities Index). At six years 37% of the 102 participants in this cross-sectional study reported fatigue. The results showed that in nearly all SIS domains the odds for post-stroke fatigue were higher in persons with a higher perceived impact. Furthermore, the odds for post-stroke fatigue were higher in those who had experienced a moderate/severe stroke and had signs of depression and anxiety. Fatigue is still present in one-third of persons as long as six years after stroke onset and is perceived to hinder many aspects of functioning in everyday life. There is an urgent need to develop and evaluate interventions to reduce fatigue.

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  • 11.
    Ericson, Jenny
    et al.
    Dalarna University, School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Caring Science/Nursing. Uppsala University; Falu Hospital.
    Palmér, Lina
    University of Borås.
    Cessation of breastfeeding in mothers of preterm infants: A mixed method study2020In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 15, no 5, article id e0233181Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    INTRODUCTION: Many women cease breastfeeding earlier than desired. This study examined the cessation of breastfeeding among mothers of preterm infants. Thus, the aim was to describe the cessation of breastfeeding in mothers of preterm infants up to 12 months after birth.

    METHOD: This mixed methods study used a convergent design with both qualitative data, consisting of written comments, and quantitative data, on breastfeeding status and breastfeeding satisfaction. The data were collected from questionnaires sent to the mothers at three points during the first year after birth. In total, 270 mothers of preterm infants who breastfed at the time of discharge from the neonatal unit provided data for the study. The quantitative and qualitative data were analysed separately with statistical tests and hermeneutical analysis, respectively and then together according to the convergent mixed methods design.

    RESULTS: Four themes of the meanings of the cessation of breastfeeding were identified in the qualitative analysis: "Desire to regain the mother's and the infant's well-being", "The mothers interpretation that the infants actively ceased breastfeeding", "The mother's body and/or the infants' signals showing the way" and "The mother's own will and perceived external obstacles". Mothers who did not breastfeed as long as they wanted were more likely to report less satisfaction with breastfeeding, a shorter breastfeeding period, and less activity when ceasing breastfeeding. In comparison, mothers who breastfed as long as they wanted were more satisfied with breastfeeding, breastfed for a longer period of time and were more active in decision making in breastfeeding cessation.

    CONCLUSION: Maternal passivity or activity influenced the cessation of breastfeeding in mothers of preterm infants who breastfed at the time of discharge from the neonatal unit. Passive behaviour related to breastfeeding may result in early cessation of breastfeeding, and low breastfeeding satisfaction while active behaviour may increase breastfeeding length and satisfaction.

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  • 12. Eriksson, Leif
    et al.
    Bergström, Anna
    Hoa, Dinh Thi Phuong
    Nga, Nguyen Thu
    Eldh, Ann Catrine
    Dalarna University, School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Caring Science/Nursing. Uppsala universitet.
    Sustainability of knowledge implementation in a low- and middle- income context: Experiences from a facilitation project in Vietnam targeting maternal and neonatal health2017In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 12, no 8, article id e0182626Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    BACKGROUND: In a previous trial in Vietnam, a facilitation strategy to secure evidence-based practice in primary care resulted in reduced neonatal mortality over a period of three years. While little is known as to what ensures sustainability in the implementation of community-based strategies, the aim of this study was to investigate factors promoting or hindering implementation, and sustainability of knowledge implementation strategies, by means of the former Neonatal Knowledge Into Practice (NeoKIP) trial.

    METHODS: In 2014 we targeted all levels in the Vietnamese healthcare system: six individual interviews with representatives at national, provincial and district levels, and six focus group discussions with representatives at the commune level. The interviews were transcribed verbatim, translated to English, and analysed using inductive and deductive thematic analysis.

    RESULTS: To achieve successful implementation and sustained effect of community-based knowledge implementation strategies, engagement of leaders and key stakeholders at all levels of the healthcare system is vital-prior to, during and after a project. Implementation and sustainability require thorough needs assessment, tailoring of the intervention, and consideration of how to attain and manage funds. The NeoKIP trial was characterised by a high degree of engagement at the primary healthcare system level. Further, three years post trial, maternal and neonatal care was still high on the agenda for healthcare workers and leaders, even though primary aspects such as stakeholder engagement at all levels, and funding had been incomplete or lacking.

    CONCLUSIONS: The current study illustrates factors to support successful implementation and sustain effects of community-based strategies in projects in low- and middle-income settings; some but not all factors were represented during the post-NeoKIP era. Most importantly, trials in this and similar contexts require deliberate management throughout and beyond the project lifetime, and engagement of key stakeholders, in order to promote and sustain knowledge implementation.

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  • 13. Frisk Torell, Matilda
    et al.
    Strömsöe, Anneli
    Dalarna University, School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Medical Science.
    Herlitz, Johan
    Claesson, Andreas
    Svensson, Leif
    Börjesson, Mats
    Outcome of exercise-related out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is dependent on location: Sports arenas vs outside of arenas.2019In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 14, no 2, article id e0211723Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    BACKGROUND: The chance of surviving an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) seems to be increased if the cardiac arrests occurs in relation to exercise. Hypothetically, an exercise-related OHCA at a sports arena would have an even better prognosis, because of an increased likelihood of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and higher availability of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). The purpose of the study was to compare survival rates between exercise-related OHCA at sports arenas versus outside of sports arenas.

    METHODS: Data from all treated exercise-related OHCA outside home reported to the Swedish Register of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (SRCR) from 2011 to 2014 in 10 counties of Sweden was analyzed (population 6 million). The registry has in those counties a coverage of almost 100% of all OHCAs.

    RESULTS: 3714 cases of OHCA outside of home were found. Amongst them, 268(7%) were exercise-related and 164 (61.2%) of those occurred at sports arenas. The 30-day survival rate was higher for exercise-related OHCA at sports arenas compared to outside (55.7% vs 30.0%, p<0.0001). OHCA-victims at sports arenas were younger (mean age±SD 57.6±16.3 years compared to 60.9±17.0 years, p = 0.05), less likely female (4.3% vs 12.2%, p = 0.02) and had a higher frequency of shockable rhythm (73.0% vs 54.3%, p = 0.004). OHCAs at arenas were more often witnessed (83.9% vs 68.9%, p = 0.007), received bystander CPR to a higher extent (90.0% vs 56.8%, p<0.0001) and the AED-use before EMS-arrival was also higher in this group (29.8% vs 11.1%, p = 0.009).

    CONCLUSION: The prognosis is markedly better for exercise-related OHCA occurring at sports arenas compared to outside. Victims of exercise-related OHCA at sports arenas are more likely to receive bystander CPR and to be connected to a public AED. These findings support an increased use of public AEDs and implementation of Medical Action Plans (MAP), to possibly increase survival of exercise-related OHCA even further.

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  • 14. Hansson, J
    et al.
    Vasan, RS
    Ärnlöv, Johan
    Dalarna University, School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Medical Science.
    Ingelsson, E
    Lind, l
    Larsson, A
    Michaelsson, K
    Sundström, J
    Biomarkers of extracellular matrix metabolism (MMP-9 and TIMP-1) and risk of stroke, myocardial infarction and cause-specific mortality: cohort study2011In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 6, no 1, article id e16185Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Objective: Turnover of the extracellular matrix in all solid organs is governed mainly by a balance between the degrading matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs). An altered extracellular matrix metabolism has been implicated in a variety of diseases. We investigated relations of serum levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 to mortality risk from an etiological perspective.

    Design: The prospective Uppsala Longitudinal Study of Adult Men (ULSAM) cohort, followed from 1991–1995 for up to 18.1 years. A random population-based sample of 1,082 71-year-old men, no loss to follow-up. Endpoints were all-cause (n = 628), cardiovascular (n = 230), non-cardiovascular (n = 398) and cancer mortality (n = 178), and fatal or non-fatal myocardial infarction (n = 138) or stroke (n = 163).

    Results: Serum MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels were associated with risk of all-cause mortality (Cox proportional hazard ratio [HR] per standard deviation 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–1.19; and 1.11, 1.02–1.20; respectively). TIMP-1 levels were mainly related to risks of cardiovascular mortality and stroke (HR per standard deviation 1.22, 95% CI 1.09–1.37; and 1.18, 1.04–1.35; respectively). All relations except those of TIMP-1 to stroke risk were attenuated by adjustment for cardiovascular disease risk factors. Relations in a subsample without cardiovascular disease or cancer were similar to those in the total sample.

    Conclusion: In this community-based cohort of elderly men, serum MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels were related to mortality risk. An altered extracellular matrix metabolism may be involved in several detrimental pathways, and circulating MMP-9 or TIMP-1 levels may be relevant markers thereof.

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  • 15.
    Hurtig, Anders
    et al.
    Dalarna University, School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Sport and Health Science. Högskolan i Gävle; Linköping universitet.
    Sörqvist, Patrik
    Ljung, Robert
    Hygge, Staffan
    Rönnberg, Jerker
    Student's second-language grade may depend on classroom listening position2016In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 11, no 6Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    The purpose of this experiment was to explore whether listening positions (close or distant location from the sound source) in the classroom, and classroom reverberation, influence students' score on a test for second-language (L2) listening comprehension (i.e., comprehension of English in Swedish speaking participants). The listening comprehension test administered was part of a standardized national test of English used in the Swedish school system. A total of 125 high school pupils, 15 years old, participated. Listening position was manipulated within subjects, classroom reverberation between subjects. The results showed that L2 listening comprehension decreased as distance from the sound source increased. The effect of reverberation was qualified by the participants' baseline L2 proficiency. A shorter reverberation was beneficial to participants with high L2 proficiency, while the opposite pattern was found among the participants with low L2 proficiency. The results indicate that listening comprehension scores-and hence students' grade in English-may depend on students' classroom listening position.

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  • 16. Ivert, Torbjörn
    et al.
    Malmström, Håkan
    Hammar, Niklas
    Carlsson, Axel C
    Wändell, Per E
    Holzmann, Martin J
    Jungner, Ingmar
    Ärnlöv, Johan
    Dalarna University, School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Medical Science. Karolinska Institutet.
    Walldius, Göran
    Cardiovascular events in patients under age fifty with early findings of elevated lipid and glucose levels - The AMORIS study2018In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 13, no 8, article id e0201972Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    BACKGROUND: The long-term trajectories of lipid and glucose levels in subjects who experience a major cardiovascular (CV) event at a young age has not been well studied. Our objective was to investigate lipid, lipoprotein, apolipoprotein (apo), and glucose levels in individuals experiencing a CV event before 50 years of age.

    METHODS AND FINDINGS: A first CV event [non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), coronary revascularisation, or CV related death] before age 50 was recorded in 2,939 (cumulative incidence 1.2% in males and 0.3% in females) of 361,353 individuals included in the prospective Swedish AMORIS (Apolipoprotein-related MOrtality RISk) study with health examinations 1985-1996 and follow-up through 2011. In a nested case-control analysis, cases with a CV event were matched to randomly selected controls. Population risk factor trajectories were calculated up to 20 years prior to an event. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and glucose levels were higher in cases than in controls as early as 20 years prior to the event with differences increasing over time. Low density lipoprotein, apoB, and the apoB/apoA-1 ratio were higher and increased over time, while HDL and apoA-1 were lower in cases compared to controls. The odds ratio was 2.5 (95% confidence interval 1.6-3.7) for TC ≥5 mmol/L and TG ≥1.7 mmol/L in cases versus controls. The adjusted population-attributable fractions including lipids, glucose, diabetes, smoking, hypertension, and obesity indicated that about 50% of CV events before age 50 may be associated with elevated lipid and glucose levels.

    CONCLUSIONS: Elevated TC, TG, LDL, apoB, and glucose levels and high apoB/apo A-1 ratio documented two decades before a CV event in subjects younger than 50 years may account for about half of CV events before age 50, which calls for early recognition and possibly treatment of modifiable CV risk factors in young individuals.

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  • 17.
    Jha, Paridhi
    et al.
    Foundation for Research in Health Systems, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
    Jha, Vikas Kumar
    Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India.
    Sharma, Bharati
    Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India.
    Jha, Ajeya
    Department of Management Studies, Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology, Rangpo, Sikkim, India.
    Erlandsson, Kerstin
    Dalarna University, School of Health and Welfare, Sexual Reproductive Perinatal Health.
    Bogren, Malin
    Institute of Health and Care Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg.
    Cultural adaptation and psychometric evaluation of Childbirth Experience Questionnaire 2 in Karnataka state, India2023In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 18, no 11, article id e0291591Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    BACKGROUND: Women's birthing experience is a sensitive indicator of the quality of childbirth care and can impact the physical and mental health of both women and their neonates. Negligible evidence exists on Indian women's birth experiences and-to the best of authors' knowledge-no questionnaire has been tested in India for measuring women's birthing experiences. This study aimed to test the construct validity and reliability of the Kannada-translated Revised Childbirth Experience Questionnaire.

    METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among postnatal women (n = 251, up to six months postpartum, with a live healthy neonate) who had given birth at a public or private health facility using the Kannada-translated CEQ2 in two districts of Karnataka. Data were collected at participants' homes after seeking written informed consent. Model fit was determined by Confirmatory Factor Analyses.

    RESULTS: The 4-factor model of the CEQ2 showed good fit after deletion of one item (item 8, subcategory "participation") with CMIN = 1.33; SRMR = 0.04; GFI = 0.92, CFI = 0.98, TLI = 0.99, RMSEA = 0.037 and p value 0.002). The Cronbach alpha values were acceptable for the four subscales (0.92, 0.93, 0.97, 0.91) as well as for the overall 21-item scale (0.84).

    CONCLUSIONS: The Kannada-translated CEQ2 is a reliable tool to measure the childbirth experiences among Kannada-speaking women and can serve as a reliable ongoing evaluation of women's birth experiences.

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  • 18.
    Jon-And, Anna
    et al.
    Dalarna University, School of Humanities and Media Studies, Portuguese. Stockholm University.
    Aguilar, Elliot
    A model of contact-induced language change: Testing the role of second language speakers in the evolution of Mozambican Portuguese2019In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 14, no 4, article id e0212303Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Language change is accelerated by language contact, especially by contact that occurs when a group of speakers shifts from one language to another. This has commonly been explained by linguistic innovation occurring during second language acquisition. This hypothesis is based on historical reconstructions of instances of contact and has not been formally tested on empirical data. In this paper, we construct an agent-based model to formalize the hypothesis that second language speakers are responsible for accelerated language change during language shift. We compare model predictions to a unique combination of diachronic linguistic and demographic data from Maputu, Mozambique. The model correctly predicts an increased proportional use of the novel linguistic variants during the period we study. We find that a modified version of the model is a better fit to one of our two datasets and discuss plausible reasons for this. As a general conclusion concerning typological differences between contact-induced and non-contact-induced language change, we suggest that multiple introductions of a new linguistic variant by different individuals may be the mechanism by which language contact accelerates language change.

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  • 19. Kristensen, Hanne Kaae
    et al.
    Tistad, Malin
    Dalarna University, School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Caring Science/Nursing.
    Koch, Lena von
    Ytterberg, Charlotte
    The importance of patient involvement in stroke rehabilitation2016In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 11, no 6, article id e0157149Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    OBJECTIVE: To investigate the perceived needs for health services by persons with stroke within the first year after rehabilitation, and associations between perceived impact of stroke, involvement in decisions regarding care/treatment, and having health services needs met.

    METHOD: Data was collected, through a mail survey, from patients with stroke who were admitted to a university hospital in 2012 and had received rehabilitation after discharge from the stroke unit. The rehabilitation lasted an average of 2 to 4.6 months. The Stroke Survivor Needs Survey Questionnaire was used to assess the participants' perceptions of involvement in decisions on care or treatment and needs for health services in 11 problem areas: mobility, falls, incontinence, pain, fatigue, emotion, concentration, memory, speaking, reading, and sight. The perceived impact of stroke in eight areas was assessed using the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) 3.0. Eleven logistic regression models were created to explore associations between having health services needs met in each problem area respectively (dependent variable) and the independent variables. In all models the independent variables were: age, sex, SIS domain corresponding to the dependent variable, or stroke severity in cases when no corresponding SIS domain was identified, and involvement in decisions on care and treatment.

    RESULTS: The 63 participants who returned the questionnaires had a mean age of 72 years, 33 were male and 30 were female. Eighty percent had suffered a mild stroke. The number of participants who reported problems varied between 51 (80%, mobility) and 24 (38%, sight). Involvement in decisions on care and treatment was found to be associated with having health services needs met in six problem areas: falls, fatigue, emotion, memory, speaking, and reading.

    CONCLUSIONS: The results highlight the importance of involving patients in making decisions on stroke rehabilitation, as it appears to be associated with meeting their health services needs.

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  • 20.
    Lind, Lars
    et al.
    Uppsala University.
    Sundström, Johan
    Uppsala University.
    Elmståhl, Sölve
    Lund University, Malmö.
    Dekkers, Koen F
    Uppsala University.
    Smith, J Gustav
    Lund University and Skåne University Hospital, Lund; Gothenburg University; Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg; Lund University.
    Engström, Gunnar
    Lund University, Malmö.
    Fall, Tove
    Uppsala University.
    Ärnlöv, Johan
    Dalarna University, School of Health and Welfare, Medical Science. Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge.
    The metabolomic profile associated with clustering of cardiovascular risk factors - A multi-sample evaluation2022In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 17, no 9, article id e0274701Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    BACKGROUND: A clustering of cardiovascular risk factors is denoted the metabolic syndrome (MetS), but the mechanistic underpinnings of this clustering is not clear. Using large-scale metabolomics, we aimed to find a metabolic profile common for all five components of MetS.

    METHODS AND FINDINGS: 791 annotated non-xenobiotic metabolites were measured by ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry in five different population-based samples (Discovery samples: EpiHealth, n = 2342 and SCAPIS-Uppsala, n = 4985. Replication sample: SCAPIS-Malmö, n = 3978, Characterization samples: PIVUS, n = 604 and POEM, n = 501). MetS was defined by the NCEP/consensus criteria. Fifteen metabolites were related to all five components of MetS (blood pressure, waist circumference, glucose, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides) at a false discovery rate of <0.05 with adjustments for BMI and several life-style factors. They represented different metabolic classes, such as amino acids, simple carbohydrates, androgenic steroids, corticosteroids, co-factors and vitamins, ceramides, carnitines, fatty acids, phospholipids and metabolonic lactone sulfate. All 15 metabolites were related to insulin sensitivity (Matsuda index) in POEM, but only Palmitoyl-oleoyl-GPE (16:0/18:1), a glycerophospholipid, was related to incident cardiovascular disease over 8.6 years follow-up in the EpiHealth sample following adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors (HR 1.32 for a SD change, 95%CI 1.07-1.63).

    CONCLUSION: A complex metabolic profile was related to all cardiovascular risk factors included in MetS independently of BMI. This profile was also related to insulin sensitivity, which provide further support for the importance of insulin sensitivity as an important underlying mechanism in the clustering of cardiovascular risk factors.

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  • 21. Lind, Lars
    et al.
    Sundström, Johan
    Larsson, Anders
    Lampa, Erik
    Ärnlöv, Johan
    Dalarna University, School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Medical Science. Karolinska Institutet.
    Ingelsson, Erik
    Longitudinal effects of aging on plasma proteins levels in older adults: associations with kidney function and hemoglobin levels2019In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 14, no 2, article id e0212060Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    BACKGROUND: A targeted proteomics chip has been shown to be useful to discover novel associations of proteins with cardiovascular disease. We investigated how these proteins change with aging, and whether this change is related to a decline in kidney function, or to a change in hemoglobin levels.

    MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS) study, including 1,016 participants from the general population aged 70 at baseline, 84 proteins were measured at ages 70, 75, 80. At these occasions, glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was estimated and the hemoglobin levels were measured.

    RESULTS: Sixty-one of the 84 evaluated proteins changed significantly during the 10-year follow-up (multiple testing-adjusted alpha = 0.00059), most showing an increase. The change in eGFR was inversely related to changes of protein levels for the vast majority of proteins (74%). The change in hemoglobin was significantly related to the change in 40% of the evaluated proteins, with no obvious preference of the direction of these relationships.

    CONCLUSION: The majority of evaluated proteins increased with aging in adults. Therefore, normal ranges for proteins might be given in age-strata. The increase in protein levels was associated with the degree of reduction in eGFR for the majority of proteins, while no clear pattern was seen for the relationships between the proteins and the change in hemoglobin levels. Studies on changes in urinary proteins are warranted to understand the association between the reduction in eGFR and increase in plasma protein levels.

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  • 22. Lüdecke, Daniel
    et al.
    Bien, Barbara
    McKee, Kevin
    Dalarna University, School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Social Work.
    Krevers, Barbro
    Mestheneos, Elizabeth
    Di Rosa, Mirko
    von dem Knesebeck, Olaf
    Kofahl, Christopher
    For better or worse: Factors predicting outcomes of family care of older people over a one-year period. A six-country European study2018In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 13, no 4, article id e0195294Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    OBJECTIVES: Demographic change has led to an increase of older people in need of long-term care in nearly all European countries. Informal carers primarily provide the care and support needed by dependent people. The supply and willingness of individuals to act as carers are critical to sustain informal care resources as part of the home health care provision. This paper describes a longitudinal study of informal care in six European countries and reports analyses that determine those factors predicting the outcomes of family care over a one-year period.

    METHODS: Analyses are based on data from the EUROFAMCARE project, a longitudinal survey study of family carers of older people with baseline data collection in 2004 and follow-up data collection a year later in six European countries (Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom), N = 3,348. Descriptive statistics of the sample characteristics are reported. Binary logistic random-intercept regressions were computed, predicting the outcome of change of the care dyad's status at follow-up.

    RESULTS: Where care is provided by a more distant family member or by a friend or neighbour, the care-recipient is significantly more likely to be cared for by someone else (OR 1.62) or to be in residential care (OR 3.37) after one year. The same holds true if the care-recipient has memory problems with a dementia diagnosis (OR 1.79/OR 1.84). Higher dependency (OR 1.22) and behavioural problems (OR 1.76) in the care-recipient also lead to a change of care dyad status. Country of residence explained a relatively small amount of variance (8%) in whether a care-recipient was cared for by someone else after one year, but explained a substantial amount of variance (52%) in whether a care-recipient was in residential care. Particularly in Sweden, care-recipients are much more likely to be cared for by another family or professional carer or to be in residential care, whereas in Greece the status of the care dyad is much less likely to change.

    DISCUSSION: The majority of family carers continued to provide care to their respective older relatives over a one-year period, despite often high levels of functional, cognitive and behavioural problems in the care-recipient. Those family carers could benefit most from appropriate support. The carer/care-recipient relationship plays an important role in whether or not a family care dyad remains intact over a one-year period. The support of health and social care services should be particularly targeted toward those care dyads where there is no partner or spouse acting as carer, or no extended family network that might absorb the caring role when required. Distant relatives, friends or acquaintances who are acting as carers might need substantial intervention if their caregiving role is to be maintained.

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  • 23. Magnéli, Martin
    et al.
    Unbeck, Maria
    Rogmark, Cecilia
    Sköldenberg, Olof
    Gordon, Max
    Measuring adverse events following hip arthroplasty surgery using administrative data without relying on ICD-codes.2020In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 15, no 11, article id e0242008Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    INTRODUCTION: Measure and monitor adverse events (AEs) following hip arthroplasty is challenging. The aim of this study was to create a model for measuring AEs after hip arthroplasty using administrative data, such as length of stay and readmissions, with equal or better precision than an ICD-code based model.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 1 998 patients operated with an acute or elective hip arthroplasty in a national multi-centre study. We collected AEs within 90 days following surgery with retrospective record review. Additional data came from the Swedish Hip Arthroplasty Register, the Swedish National Patient Register and the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare. We made a 2:1 split of the data into a training and a holdout set. We used the training set to train different machine learning models to predict if a patient had sustained an AE or not. After training and cross-validation we tested the best performing model on the holdout-set. We compared the results with an established ICD-code based measure for AEs.

    RESULTS: The best performing model was a logistic regression model with four natural age splines. The variables included in the model were as follows: length of stay at the orthopaedic department, discharge to acute care, age, number of readmissions and ED visits. The sensitivity and specificity for the new model was 23 and 90% for AE within 30 days, compared with 5 and 94% for the ICD-code based model. For AEs within 90 days the sensitivity and specificity were 31% and 89% compared with 16% and 92% for the ICD-code based model.

    CONCLUSION: We conclude that a prediction model for AEs following hip arthroplasty surgery, relying on administrative data without ICD-codes is more accurate than a model based on ICD-codes.

  • 24. Makenzius, Marlene
    et al.
    Faxelid, Elisabeth
    Gemzell-Danielsson, Kristina
    Odero, Theresa M A
    Klingberg-Allvin, Marie
    Dalarna University, School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Caring Science/Nursing. Karolinska institutet.
    Oguttu, Monica
    Contraceptive uptake in post abortion care-Secondary outcomes from a randomised controlled trial, Kisumu, Kenya.2018In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 13, no 8, article id e0201214Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    AIM: The aim was to explore contraceptive uptake, associated factors and satisfaction among post abortion-care (PAC) seeking women in Kenya. Due to unsafe abortions, almost 120 000 Kenyan women received PAC in 2012, and of these women, 70% did not use contraception before pregnancy.

    METHODS: This study was nested in a larger randomised controlled trial, where 859 women sought PAC at two public hospitals in Kisumu, in June 2013-May 2016. The women were randomly assigned to a midwife or a physician for PAC, including contraceptive counselling, and followed up at 7-10 days and three months. Associated factors for contraceptive uptake were analysed with binary logistic regression, and contraceptive method choice, adherence and satisfaction level were examined by descriptive statistics, using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22.0.

    RESULTS: Out of the 810 PAC-seeking women, 76% (n = 609) accepted the use of contraception. Age groups of 21-25 (OR: 2.35; p < 0.029) and 26-30 (OR: 2.22; p < 0.038), and previous experience of 1-2 gravidities (OR 1.939; p = 0.018) were independent factors associated with the up-take. Methods used: injections 39% (n = 236); pills 27% (n = 166); condoms 25% (n = 151); implant 7% (n = 45) and intrauterine device (IUD) 1% (n = 8). At 3-month follow-up of the women (470/609; 77%), 354 (75%) women still used contraception, and most (n = 332; 94%) were satisfied with the method. Reasons for discontinuation were side-effects (n = 44; 39%), partner refusal (n = 27; 24%), planned pregnancy (n = 27; 24%) and lack of resupplies (n = 15; 13%).

    CONCLUSIONS: PAC-seeking women seem highly motivated to use contraceptives, yet a quarter decline the use, and at 3-month follow-up a further quarter among the users had discontinued. Implant, IUD and permanent method are rarely used. Strategies to improve contraceptive counselling, particularly to adolescent girls, and to increase access to a wide range of methods, as well as provider training and supervision may help to improve contraceptive acceptance and compliance among PAC-seeking women in Kisumu, Kenya.

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  • 25.
    McDiarmid, Serena
    et al.
    University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada.
    Osman, Fatumo
    Dalarna University, School of Health and Welfare, Caring Science/Nursing. Uppsala University, Uppsala.
    Sarkadi, Anna
    Uppsala University, Uppsala.
    Durbeej, Natalie
    Uppsala University, Uppsala.
    Associations between social factors and school belonging among newcomer and non-newcomer youth in Sweden2023In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 18, no 2, article id e0280244Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Feeling a sense of belonging at school is associated with important positive outcomes for youth and requires youth to engage in positive social relationships. Yet there is a limited understanding of the social factors most associated with youths' school belonging and limited evidence about whether correlates of school belonging vary for marginalized groups like newcomers compared to majority groups. Sweden provides an important context for investigation of these issues because, over the past two decades, the country has experienced an influx of asylum seekers and educational reforms that have altered the composition and functioning of Swedish secondary schools. This study addresses these gaps by (1) investigating which of eight social factors are associated with school belonging among diverse Swedish youth, and (2) examining whether newcomer status moderates the relationship between social factors and school belonging. Hierarchical regression and moderation analyses were used to analyze data from 14 to 19 year-old (n = 233) newcomers and non-newcomers in Sweden. An exploratory factor analysis revealed that the school belonging measure contained two factors: positive perceptions and negative perceptions (reverse coded). For both, stronger school belonging was associated with lower perceived ethnic discrimination. Positive perceptions of school belonging were also associated with more prosocial behaviours and lower emotional problems. Negative perceptions of school belonging were associated with more peer problems. Notably, quantity and quality of peer relationships were not associated with school belonging. There was no consistent evidence of newcomer status moderating the relationship between social factors and school belonging. These results highlight factors associated with school belonging which are modifiable and amenable to intervention or impact by policy-ethnic discrimination, prosocial behaviour, and emotional and peer problems. The absence of moderation by newcomer status suggests that school belonging interventions or related policies are likely to affect newcomer and non-newcomer students similarly.

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  • 26.
    Nordström, Jonas
    et al.
    Univ Copenhagen, Lund Univ, Dept Food & Resource Econ, Sch Econ & Management, Copenhagen, Denmark..
    Shogren, Jason F.
    Univ Wyoming, Dept Econ, Laramie, WY 82071 USA..
    Thunstrom, Linda
    Univ Wyoming, Dept Econ, Laramie, WY 82071 USA..
    Do parents counter-balance the carbon emissions of their children?2020In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 15, no 4, article id e0231105Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    It is well understood that adding to the population increases CO2 emissions. At the same time, having children is a transformative experience, such that it might profoundly change adult (i.e., parents') preferences and consumption. How it might change is, however, unknown. Depending on if becoming a parent makes a person "greener" or "browner," parents may either balance or exacerbate the added CO2 emissions from their children. Parents might think more about the future, compared to childless adults, including risks posed to their children from environmental events like climate change. But parenthood also adds needs and more intensive competition on your scarce time. Carbon-intensive goods can add convenience and help save time, e.g., driving may facilitate being in more places in one day, compared to public transportation or biking. Pre-prepared food that contain red meat may save time and satisfy more household preferences, relative to vegetarian food. We provide the first rigorous test of whether parents are greener or browner than other adults. We create a unique dataset by combining detailed micro data on household expenditures of all expenditure groups particularly important for CO2 emissions (transportation, food, and heating/electricity) with CO2 emissions, and compare emissions from Swedish adults with and without children. We find that parents emit more CO2 than childless adults. Only a small fraction of adults permanently choose not to have children, which means any meaningful self-selection into parenthood based on green preferences is unlikely. Our findings suggest that having children might increase CO2 emissions both by adding to the population and by increasing CO2 emissions from those choosing to have children.

  • 27.
    Osman, Fatumo
    et al.
    Dalarna University, School of Health and Welfare, Caring Science/Nursing.
    Schön, Ulla-Karin
    Dalarna University, School of Health and Welfare, Social Work. Stockholm University.
    Klingberg-Allvin, Marie
    Dalarna University, School of Health and Welfare, Sexual Reproductive Perinatal Health.
    Flacking, Renée
    Dalarna University, School of Health and Welfare, Caring Science/Nursing.
    Tistad, Malin
    Dalarna University, School of Health and Welfare, Medical Science.
    The implementation of a culturally tailored parenting support programme for Somali immigrant parents living in Sweden: A process evaluation2022In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 17, no 9, article id e0274430Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    BACKGROUND: Parental support programmes aim to strengthen family functioning and the parent-child relationship and to promote the mental health of children and parents. However, there is a lack of knowledge on how parenting support programmes can be implemented for newly arrived immigrant parents. This process evaluation describes the implementation of a successful parenting programme for immigrant parents from Somalia and identifies key components of the implementation process with a focus on Reach, Adaptation, and Fidelity of Ladnaan intervention.

    METHOD: This process evaluation considered context, implementation and mechanism of impact, in accordance with the Medical Research Council's guidance. Data were collected through focus group discussions, a questionnaire, attendance lists, field and reflection notes and observations of the sessions. The data were then analysed using content analysis and descriptive statistics.

    RESULTS: Of the 60 parents invited to the parenting programme, 58 participated in the sessions. The study showed that involving key individuals in the early stage of the parenting programme's implementation facilitated reaching Somali-born parents. To retain the programme participants, parents were offered free transportation. The programme was implemented and delivered as intended. A majority of the parents were satisfied with the programme and reported increased knowledge about children's rights and the support they could seek from social services.

    CONCLUSIONS: This study illustrates how a parenting support programme can be implemented for Somali-born parents and provides guidance on how to attract immigrant parents to and engage them in participating in parenting support programmes.

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  • 28.
    Palstam, Annie
    et al.
    University of Gothenburg.
    Sjödin, Astrid
    University of Gothenburg.
    Sunnerhagen, Katharina Stibrant
    University of Gothenburg.
    Participation and autonomy five years after stroke: A longitudinal observational study.2019In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 14, no 7, article id e0219513Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    OBJECTIVE: Stroke is the second most common cause of disability in the world. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the participation and autonomy of persons with stroke, five years after a stroke, and to explore potential associations between factors and perceived restrictions in participation and autonomy.

    METHODS: This five-year follow-up survey study included individuals diagnosed with a first-time stroke during 2009-2010, in Gothenburg. The survey included the Impact of Participation and Autonomy-questionnaire (IPA-E), which comprised five domains: Autonomy Indoor, Family Role, Autonomy Outdoor, Work & Education, and Social Life & Relationships. Logistic regression analyses were used to analyze factors associated with participation restrictions.

    RESULTS: At 5 years after a stroke, 457 patients were alive; of these, 281 responded to the follow-up survey. Participation restrictions were most pronounced in the IPA-E domains of Autonomy Outdoors, Work/Education, and Social Life and Relationships. In contrast, restrictions were less pronounced in the IPA-E domains of Autonomy Indoors and Family Role. Severe stroke, older age, and female sex predicted participation restrictions at five years after a stroke. Participation restrictions were partly explained by feelings of depression at five years after stroke. Problems associated with participation restrictions were most frequently observed in the areas of mobility, leisure, and help/support from other people.

    CONCLUSION: This study showed that participation and autonomy were restricted among persons with stroke at five years after the stroke. The domains perceived as most restricted were those that required high levels of physical, social, and cognitive abilities.

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  • 29.
    Pappu, Noor Islam
    et al.
    Dalarna University, Falun.
    Öberg, Ida
    Dalarna University, Falun.
    Byrskog, Ulrika
    Dalarna University, School of Health and Welfare, Sexual Reproductive Perinatal Health.
    Raha, Pronita
    Dalarna University, Falun.
    Moni, Ratna
    Dalarna University, Falun.
    Akhtar, Shaheen
    Dalarna University, Falun.
    Barua, Priti
    Dalarna University, Falun.
    Das, Sujata Rani
    Dalarna University, Falun.
    De, Shipra
    Dalarna University, Falun.
    Jyoti, Hosne Jannat
    Dalarna University, Falun.
    Rahman, Rezaur
    Dalarna University, Falun.
    Sinha, Gita Rani
    Dalarna University, Falun.
    Erlandsson, Kerstin
    Dalarna University, School of Health and Welfare, Sexual Reproductive Perinatal Health.
    The commitment to a midwifery centre care model in Bangladesh: An interview study with midwives, educators and students2023In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 18, no 4, article id e0271867Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    BACKGROUND: Midwifery-led care is a key factor in reducing maternal and new-born mortality globally. In Bangladesh, only a third of births are attended by professionals and almost 70% of births occur outside healthcare facilities. Midwifery is a relatively new profession in Bangladesh and a midwifery centre care model has only recently been introduced. This study aims to explore the willingness within the healthcare system to support a greater role for midwifery centres in maternity services.

    METHODS: Data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews with 55 midwives, midwifery educators and final year midwifery students. Two of the midwifery educators were principals of nursing institutes involved in the government's midwifery leadership and considered as experts in the midwifery care system. The data was analysed using qualitative content analysis. The transcribed interviews comprised 150 pages. The study received ethical approval from the Directorate General of Nursing and Midwifery in Bangladesh.

    RESULTS: One main category emerged from the study: "The foundations of a midwifery centre care model need to be strengthened for the sustainable implementation of midwifery centres in Bangladesh to continue". Five additional categories were identified: 1) The midwifery centre care model is inaccessible for communities, 2) Striving for acceptable standards of care within a midwifery centre care model is not a priority 3) Respectful, woman-centred care is weak, 4) Community engagement with the midwifery centre care model is insufficient, and 5) The midwifery centre care model is not integrated into the healthcare system. These categories were supported by the identification of 11 sub-categories.

    CONCLUSION: The willingness to commit to a midwifery centre care model is not yet in place in Bangladesh. Advocacy, information, and education about the benefits of normal birth assisted by professional midwives is needed at all levels of Bangladeshi society.

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  • 30.
    Paul, Mandira
    et al.
    Uppsala Universitet.
    Iyengar, Kirti
    Karolinska institutet; ARTH, India.
    Essen, Birgitta
    Karolinska institutet.
    Gemzell-Danielsson, Kristina
    Karolinska institutet.
    Iyengar, Sharad D.
    ARTH, India.
    Bring, Johan
    Statisticon, Stockholm, Sweden..
    Soni, Sunita
    ARTH, India..
    Klingberg-Allvin, Marie
    Dalarna University, School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Caring Science/Nursing. Karolinska institutet.
    Acceptability of home-assessment post medical abortion and medical abortion in a low-resource setting in Rajasthan, India: Secondary outcome analysis of a non-inferiority randomized controlled trial2015In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 10, no 9, article id e0133354Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Background: Studies evaluating acceptability of simplified follow-up after medical abortion have focused on high-resource or urban settings where telephones, road connections, and modes of transport are available and where women have formal education.

    Objective: To investigate women's acceptability of home-assessment of abortion and whether acceptability of medical abortion differs by in-clinic or home-assessment of abortion outcome in a low-resource setting in India.

    Design: Secondary outcome of a randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trial. Setting Outpatient primary health care clinics in rural and urban Rajasthan, India.

    Population: Women were eligible if they sought abortion with a gestation up to 9 weeks, lived within defined study area and agreed to follow-up. Women were ineligible if they had known contraindications to medical abortion, haemoglobin < 85mg/l and were below 18 years.

    Methods: Abortion outcome assessment through routine clinic follow-up by a doctor was compared with home-assessment using a low-sensitivity pregnancy test and a pictorial instruction sheet. A computerized random number generator generated the randomisation sequence (1: 1) in blocks of six. Research assistants randomly allocated eligible women who opted for medical abortion (mifepristone and misoprostol), using opaque sealed envelopes. Blinding during outcome assessment was not possible.

    Main outcome measures: Women's acceptability of home-assessment was measured as future preference of follow-up. Overall satisfaction, expectations, and comparison with previous abortion experiences were compared between study groups.

    Results: 731 women were randomized to the clinic follow-up group (n = 353) or home-assessment group (n = 378). 623 (85%) women were successfully followed up, of those 597 (96%) were satisfied and 592 (95%) found the abortion better or as expected, with no difference between study groups. The majority, 355 (57%) women, preferred home-assessment in the event of a future abortion. Significantly more women, 284 (82%), in the home-assessment group preferred home-assessment in the future, as compared with 188 (70%) of women in the clinic follow-up group, who preferred clinic follow-up in the future (p < 0.001).

    Conclusion: Home-assessment is highly acceptable among women in low-resource, and rural, settings. The choice to follow-up an early medical abortion according to women's preference should be offered to foster women's reproductive autonomy.

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  • 31. Qian, J.
    et al.
    Hintze, Arend
    Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences, Claremont, United States; Michigan State University, East Lansing, United States.
    Adami, C.
    Colored motifs reveal computational building blocks in the C. elegans Brain2011In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 6, no 3, article id e17013Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Background: Complex networks can often be decomposed into less complex sub-networks whose structures can give hints about the functional organization of the network as a whole. However, these structural motifs can only tell one part of the functional story because in this analysis each node and edge is treated on an equal footing. In real networks, two motifs that are topologically identical but whose nodes perform very different functions will play very different roles in the network. Methodology/Principal Findings: Here, we combine structural information derived from the topology of the neuronal network of the nematode C. elegans with information about the biological function of these nodes, thus coloring nodes by function. We discover that particular colorations of motifs are significantly more abundant in the worm brain than expected by chance, and have particular computational functions that emphasize the feed-forward structure of information processing in the network, while evading feedback loops. Interneurons are strongly over-represented among the common motifs, supporting the notion that these motifs process and transduce the information from the sensor neurons towards the muscles. Some of the most common motifs identified in the search for significant colored motifs play a crucial role in the system of neurons controlling the worm's locomotion. Conclusions/Significance: The analysis of complex networks in terms of colored motifs combines two independent data sets to generate insight about these networks that cannot be obtained with either data set alone. The method is general and should allow a decomposition of any complex networks into its functional (rather than topological) motifs as long as both wiring and functional information is available. © 2011 Qian et al.

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  • 32.
    Salih, Mohammed Hassen
    et al.
    University of Gondar, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Nursing, Gondar, Ethiopia.
    Mekonnen, Hussen
    Addis Ababa University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Nursing and Midwifery, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
    Derseh, Lema
    University of Gondar, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Public Health, Gondar, Ethiopia.
    Lindgren, Helena
    Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institute, Solna, Sweden.
    Erlandsson, Kerstin
    Dalarna University, School of Health and Welfare, Sexual Reproductive Perinatal Health. Department of Women and Children's Health, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden.
    Anticipated stigma and associated factors among chronic illness patients in Amhara Region Referral Hospitals, Ethiopia: A multicenter cross-sectional study2022In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 17, no 9, article id e0273734Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    BACKGROUND: Anticipated stigma related to chronic illness patients undermines diagnosis, treatment, and successful health outcomes. The study aimed to assess the magnitude and factors associated with anticipated stigma among patients with chronic illness attending follow-up clinics in Amhara Region Referral Hospitals, Ethiopia.

    METHODS: A cross-sectional institution-based study was conducted in Amhara Region Referral Hospitals from 01 March to 15 April 2021. A simple random sampling technique was used to select the three Referral Hospitals in the region and study subjects. Data were collected using a pre-tested interview-based questionnaire. Data were entered and cleaned with Epi-Info version 6 and exported for analysis STATA version 14. Multiple linear regression was used to show the association between anticipated stigma and potential factors. Associations were measured using ß coefficients and were considered statistically significant if the p-value > 0.05.

    RESULTS: A total of 779 patients were included for analysis with a response rate of 97%. Their mean (Standard deviation) of anticipated stigma was estimated at 1.86 and 0.5, respectively. After running an assumption test for multiple linear regression; educational status, cigarette smoking, psychological distress, medication adherence, alcohol consumption, and social part of the quality of life were statically significantly associated with anticipated stigma.

    CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: The result showed a high level of anticipated stigma reported among the participants. Emphasizing improving their social part of the quality of life, avoiding risky behaviors like alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking, access to health education for chronically ill patients, integrating mental health in all types of chronic disease, and developing strategies and protocols which will help to improve patient medication adherence to their prescribed medication will be crucial. This can provide a foundation for government andnon-governmental organizations, and researchers implementing evidence-based interventions and strategies on chronic care to address factors related to anticipated stigma.

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  • 33.
    Salih, Mohammed Hassen
    et al.
    School of Nursing, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
    Wettergren, Lena
    Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University and Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institute, Solna, Sweden.
    Lindgren, Helena
    Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institute, Solna, Sweden.
    Erlandsson, Kerstin
    Dalarna University, School of Health and Welfare, Sexual Reproductive Perinatal Health. Department of Women's and Children's Health, Division of Reproductive Health, Karolinska Institute, Solna, Sweden.
    Mekonen, Hussen
    School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Nursing and Midwifery, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
    Derseh, Lemma
    College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
    Translation and psychometric evaluation of chronic illness anticipated stigma scale (CIASS) among patients in Ethiopia.2022In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 17, no 1, article id e0262744Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    BACKGROUND: Stigma is common among patients with chronic illnesses. It affects the delivery of healthcare for not addressing the psychological components and may interfere with the patient's attendance to necessary health care services. Therefore, a valid and reliable instrument to measure anticipated stigma related to chronic illness is vital to inform possible interventions. This study aimed to translate the Chronic Illness Anticipated Stigma Scale (CIASS) into the Amharic language and evaluate its psychometric properties in Ethiopia.

    METHODS: The CIASS was translated into Amharic language using standard procedures. The Amharic version was completed by 173 patients (response rate 96%) with chronic illness from three referral hospitals in the Amhara region. Internal consistency was examined through Cronbach's alpha. Construct validity was evaluated by confirmatory factor analysis and convergent validity by using a Pearson correlation of P-value less than or equal to 0.05.

    RESULTS: The internal consistency was estimated at Cronbach alpha of 0.92. By using a structural equation model, and modification indices a model fitness testing was run and shows a root mean squared error of approximation 0.049 (90% CI, 0.012-0.075). The structural validity results in 78.8% of confirmatory factor analysis showed from the extraction of the three-dimension (components). Validity tests for convergent by using Pearson correlation positively correlated with common mental distress and negatively correlated with quality of life-BREF, and the construct validity shows a good valid tool to CIASS.

    CONCLUSION: The Amharic language version of the chronic illness anticipated stigma scale shows a satisfactory level of reliability and validity on different psychometric measures of assessment. The tool may be useful for future researchers and patients with chronic illness in the Amharic-speaking population. Moreover, it will be used to see the psychological burden related to chronic illness and for comparison among international population groups.

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  • 34.
    Silverplats, Jennie
    et al.
    Dalarna University, School of Health and Welfare, Care Sciences. Dalarna University, School of Health and Welfare, Caring Science/Nursing. Region Dalarna, Mora Hospital, Mora.
    Strömsöe, Anneli
    Dalarna University, School of Health and Welfare, Medical Science. Center for Clinical Research Dalarna, Uppsala University, Falun / Region Dalarna, Falun.
    Äng, Björn
    Dalarna University, School of Health and Welfare, Medical Science. Center for Clinical Research Dalarna, Uppsala University, Falun / Karolinska Institutet.
    Södersved Källestedt, Marie-Louise
    Centre for Clinical Research Västmanland, Uppsala University, Västerås.
    Attitudes towards cardiopulmonary resuscitation situations and associations with potential influencing factors: A survey among in-hospital healthcare professionals2022In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 17, no 7, article id e0271686Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Introduction Attitudes towards cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) among in-hospital healthcare professionals (HCPs) are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate attitudes towards CPR situations among in-hospital HCPs and assess associations with potential influencing factors. Materials and methods A questionnaire was distributed to 3,085 HCPs in 2009 and 2,970 HCPs in 2015–2016. The associations of influencing factors were analyzed using binary logistic regression. Results In the event of a possible cardiac arrest situation, 61% of the HCPs would feel confident in their CPR knowledge, 86% would know what to do, and 60% would be able to take command if necessary. In the latest real-life CPR situation, 30% had been worried about making mistakes or causing complications, 57% had been stressed, and 27% had been anxious. A short time since the latest real-life CPR performance and a high number of previous real-life CPR performances were associated with lower odds of worrying about making mistakes/causing complications, lower odds of feeling stressed or anxious, and higher odds of feeling calm. Regardless of previous real-life CPR experience, there were differences in attitudes between groups of professions, where physicians showed increased odds of worrying about making mistakes/causing complications and nurses showed increased odds of stress. Working on a non-monitored ward meant increased odds of stress and worrying about making mistakes/causing complications. Twelve months or more having passed since the latest CPR training course was associated with increased odds of anxiety. Conclusions Despite HCPs’ generally positive attitudes towards performing CPR in the event of a possible cardiac arrest situation, feelings of stress and anxiety were common in real-life CPR situations. Regular CPR training among all HCPs is a key factor to maintain competence and reduce anxiety. The possible effects of attitudes on performing CPR need to be studied further.

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  • 35. Tandberg, Bente Silnes
    et al.
    Flacking, Renée
    Dalarna University, School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Caring Science/Nursing.
    Markestad, Trond
    Grundt, Hege
    Moen, Atle
    Parent psychological wellbeing in a single-family room versus an open bay neonatal intensive care unit.2019In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 14, no 11, article id e0224488Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    BACKGROUND: Studies of parents' psychological well-being in single-family rooms in neonatal intensive care units have shown conflicting results.

    AIMS: To compare emotional distress in the form of depression, anxiety, stress and attachment scores among parents of very preterm infants cared for in a single-family rooms unit vs an open bay unit.

    STUDY DESIGN: Prospective survey design.

    SUBJECT: Parents (132) of 77 infants born at 28 0/7-32 0/7 weeks of gestation in the two units.

    OUTCOME MEASURES: Duration of parental presence was recorded. Scores for depression (The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), anxiety (The State-Trait-Anxiety Inventory, Short Form Y), stress (The Parent Stressor Scale: neonatal intensive care unit questionnaire and The Parenting Stress Index-short form) and attachment (Maternal Postnatal Attachment Scale) measured 14 days after delivery, at discharge, expected term date and four months post-term.

    RESULTS: Parents were present 21 hours/day in the single-family room unit vs 7 hours/day in the Open bay unit. Ninety-three percent of the fathers in the single-family rooms unit were present more than 12 hours per day during the first week. Mothers in the single-family rooms had a significantly lower depression score -1.9 (95% CI: -3.6, -0.1) points from birth to four months corrected age compared to mothers in the Open bay unit, and 14% vs 52% scored above a cut-off point considered being at high risk for depression (p<0.005). Both mothers and fathers in the single-family rooms reported significantly lower stress levels during hospitalization. There were no differences between the groups for anxiety, stress or attachment scores after discharge.

    CONCLUSION: The lower depression scores by the mothers and lower parental stress scores during hospitalization for both parents supports that single-family rooms care contribute to parents' psychological wellbeing.

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  • 36. Tegern, Matthias
    et al.
    Aasa, Ulrika
    Äng, Björn
    Dalarna University, School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Medical Science.
    Harms-Ringdahl, Karin
    Larsson, Helena
    Inter-rater and test-retest reliability of movement control tests for the neck, shoulder, thoracic, lumbar, and hip regions in military personnel2018In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 13, no 9, article id e0204552Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Strategies are needed to mitigate the high rates and related risks of musculoskeletal complaints and injuries (MSCI) in the military aviator community. Previous work on Swedish Armed Forces (SwAF) soldiers have shown that proper screening methods have been successful in reducing early discharge from military training. Research has pointed at the importance of optimal spinal movement control in military aviators. The aim of this work was to investigate the inter-rater and test-retest reliability of a battery of clinical tests for evaluating movement control in the neck, shoulders, thoracic, lumbar, and hip regions in a population of SwAF military personnel. Inter-rater and test-retest reliability of 15 movement control tests were assessed by crude and prevalence-adjusted kappa coefficient. The study included 37 (inter-rater) and 45 (test-retest) SwAF personnel and was performed with two physiotherapists simultaneously observing and rating the movements on the first occasion and repeated with one physiotherapist on the second occasion. For inter-rater reliability, the kappa coefficient ranged from .19 to .95. Seven tests showed substantial to almost perfect agreement (kappa > .60). With the adjusted kappa, three more tests reached the level of substantial agreement. The corresponding values for test-retest reliability ranged from .26 to .65. Substantial agreement was attained for two tests, three with adjusted kappa. The following tests can reliably be used when screening for biomechanically less advantageous movement patters in military aviators: Shoulder flexion, and rotation, Neck flexion in sitting and supine, Neck extension and rotation in sitting, Pelvic tilt, Forward lean and Single and Double knee extension tests. Grading criteria for tests in supine and quadruped positions need to be further elaborated.

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  • 37.
    Thomson, Gill
    et al.
    Dalarna University, School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Caring Science/Nursing.
    Balaam, Marie-Clare
    International insights into peer support in a neonatal context: a mixed-methods study2019In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 14, no 7, article id e0219743Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Peer support is a widely used intervention that offers information and emotional support to parents during their infant's admission to the neonatal unit and/or post-discharge. Despite its widespread use, there are no comprehensive insights into the nature and types of neonatal-related peer support, or the training and support offered to peer supporters. We aimed to bridge these knowledge gaps via an international study into neonatal peer support provision. A mixed-methods study comprising an online survey was issued to peer support services/organisations, and follow-up interviews held with a purposive sample of survey respondents. Survey/interview questions explored the funding, types of peer support and the recruitment, training and support for peer supporters. Descriptive and thematic analysis was undertaken. Thirty-one managers/coordinators/trainers and 77 peer supporters completed the survey from 48 peer support organisations/services in 16 different countries; with 26 interviews undertaken with 27 survey respondents. We integrated survey and interview findings into five themes: 'background and infrastructure of peer support services', 'timing, location and nature of peer support', 'recruitment and suitability of peer supporters', 'training provision' and 'professional and emotional support'. Findings highlight variations in the types of peer support provided, training and development opportunities, supervisory and mentoring arrangements and the methods of recruitment and support for peer supporters; with these differences largely related to the size, funding, multidisciplinary involvement, and level of integration of peer support within healthcare pathways and contexts. Despite challenges, promising strategies were reported across the different services to inform macro (e.g. to facilitate management and leadership support), meso (e.g. to help embed peer support in practice) and micro (e.g. to improve training, supervision and support of peer supporters) recommendations to underpin the operationalisation and delivery of PS provision.

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  • 38.
    Tistad, Malin
    et al.
    Dalarna University, School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Medical Science.
    von Koch, Lena
    Karolinska institutet.
    Usual clinical practice for early supported discharge after stroke with continued rehabilitation at home: an observational comparative study2015In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 10, no 7, article id e0133536Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Introduction: Based on randomised controlled trials, evidence exists that early supported discharge (ESD) from the hospital with continued rehabilitation at home has beneficial effects after stroke; however, the effects of ESD service in regular clinical practice have not been investigated. The purpose of the current study was to compare ESD service with conventional rehabilitation in terms of patient outcomes, caregiver burden at 3 and 12 months and the use and costs of healthcare during the first year after stroke.

    Material and methods: This study was a subgroup analysis of a longitudinal observational study of patients who received care in the stroke unit at Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden. Patients who met the inclusion criteria for ESD in previous experimental studies were included. The patients were referred to available rehabilitation services at discharge, and comparisons between those who received ESD service (the ESD group, n = 40) and those who received conventional rehabilitation (the NoESD group, n = 110) were performed with regard to independence in activities of daily living (ADL), the frequency of social activities, life satisfaction, and caregiver burden and the use and costs of healthcare during the first year after stroke.

    Results: At 3 and 12 months, no differences were observed with regard to patient outcomes; however, ESD was associated with a lower caregiver burden (p = 0.01) at 12 months. The initial length of stay (LOS) at the hospital was 8 days for the ESD group and 15 days for the NoESD group (p = 0.02). The median number of outpatient rehabilitation contacts was 20.5 for the ESD group (81% constituting ESD service) and 3 for the NoESD group (p<0.001). There was no difference between the groups with regard to overall healthcare costs.

    Conclusions: ESD service in usual clinical practice renders similar health benefits as conventional rehabilitation but a different pattern of resource use and with released capacity in acute stroke care.

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  • 39.
    Tseli, Elena
    et al.
    Dalarna University, School of Health and Welfare, Medical Science. Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Physiotherapy, Karolinska Institutet.
    Sjöberg, Veronica
    Dalarna University, School of Health and Welfare, Medical Science. Dalarna University, School of Health and Welfare, Care Sciences.
    Björk, Mathilda
    Pain and Rehabilitation Center, and Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linko¨ping University.
    Äng, Björn
    Dalarna University, School of Health and Welfare, Medical Science. Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Physiotherapy, Karolinska Institutet; Center for Clinical Research Dalarna—Uppsala University, Falun; The Administration of Regional Board, Department of Research and Higher Education, Region Dalarna, Falun.
    Vixner, Linda
    Dalarna University, School of Health and Welfare, Medical Science. The Administration of Regional Board, Department of Research and Higher Education, Region Dalarna, Falun.
    Evaluation of content validity and feasibility of the eVISualisation of physical activity and pain (eVIS) intervention for patients with chronic pain participating in interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation programs2023In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 18, no 3, p. e0282780-e0282780Article in journal (Refereed)
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  • 40. Täljedal, T.
    et al.
    Granlund, M.
    Almqvist, L.
    Osman, Fatumo
    Dalarna University, School of Health and Welfare, Caring Science/Nursing. CHAP, Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University.
    Norén Selinus, E.
    Fängström, K.
    Patterns of mental health problems and well-being in children with disabilities in Sweden: A cross-sectional survey and cluster analysis2023In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 18, no 7Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    BACKGROUND: Children with disabilities have an increased risk of mental health problems. Patterns of mental health problems and well-being may vary. AIMS: To identify patterns of mental health problems and well-being in children with disabilities in Sweden, and investigate the influence of parental background (migration, education), and child cognitive level. METHOD: In this cross-sectional study, cluster analysis was used to analyse parents' ratings of conduct problems, emotional symptoms, and prosocial behaviour on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in children with disabilities (n = 136). The influence of parental background (migration, education) and child cognitive level on cluster membership was explored through multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: Five clusters of mental health patterns emerged. Three clusters had mean ratings near or past clinical cut-off for one each of the SDQ-subscales. One cluster had difficulties on all three subscales. Greater child cognitive difficulties increased the likelihood of low prosocial behaviour (OR 2.501, p < .001) and of difficulties on all three subscales (OR 2.155, p = .006). Parental background did not influence cluster membership. CONCLUSION: Children with disabilities display varying mental health patterns. Awareness of the complexity of mental health patterns among children with disabilities is important. Screening and support for emotional symptoms and prosocial behaviour deficits should be considered for children with conduct problems. Copyright: © 2023 Täljedal et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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  • 41. Törnbom, K.
    et al.
    Larsson, A.
    Sunnerhagen, K. S.
    Palstam, Annie
    Dalarna University, School of Health and Welfare, Medical Science. Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg; Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg; .
    Persson, H. C.
    Understanding concerns after severe COVID-19: A self-imposed lockdown guarded by anxiety?2023In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 18, no 7Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    OBJECTIVE: Many people are struggling to get back to their lives after severe COVID-19. To facilitate their reintegration into everyday life, we need to understand how the process is experienced. We aimed to gain deeper knowledge about this process by interviewing persons one year after hospitalisation due to COVID-19. METHODS: The study is based on a qualitative design, with eleven in-depth interviews conducted one year after discharge for COVID-19. Participants were recruited to form a heterogeneous sample with respect to age, gender and socioeconomic background. All interviews were analysed utilising inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: From the participants' narratives four themes were identified: 'Concerns and worries in everyday life', 'Supportive and concerned relatives', 'A new way of life-sorrows and advantages' and 'Seize the day-a greater awareness of one´s mortality'. Participants described how they tried to create a functioning everyday life. They were generally afraid of getting COVID-19 again and concerned about future life, where their lack of energy played a major role. Narratives were diverse regarding to what extent the struggle to cope was experienced as emotionally challenging or not. CONCLUSIONS: Participants described an unpredictable recovery after COVID-19, characterised by ups and downs, which created worries concerning their future. In some cases, the worry of getting COVID-19 again was strong enough to keep participants in their homes, as a self-imposed lockdown guarded by anxiety. However, the narratives also revealed gratitude towards being alive and having coped so well. This led to a more positive outlook on life with a greater focus on intrinsic values, close social relations and the deeper meaning of life. Copyright: © 2023 Törnbom et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

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  • 42.
    Törnbom, Karin
    et al.
    University of Gothenburg.
    Lundälv, Jörgen
    University of Gothenburg.
    Palstam, Annie
    University of Gothenburg.
    Sunnerhagen, Katharina S
    University of Gothenburg.
    "My life after stroke through a camera lens"- A photovoice study on participation in Sweden.2019In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 14, no 9, article id e0222099Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    BACKGROUND: An increasing number of people with stroke live in their communities, yet the understanding of how their reintegration into society can best be facilitated is incomplete. If needs are not sufficiently met and difficulties overcome, it may result in limited participation and decreased life satisfaction for this group. We aimed to understand life after stroke through the lens of participants' cameras, and hence their views and experiences guided this study.

    METHODS: By the means of photovoice, an action research method, this study was conducted in a collaborative format with six women and five men after stroke. Participants photographed in everyday life for up to four weeks and then met to discuss all images in a focus group setting. Subsequently, participants gave feedback on the method and discussed the upcoming photography exhibition. All photos and the three focus group discussions were analyzed using a thematic analysis with an inductive approach.

    RESULTS: In the focus group discussions, life after stroke were conceptualized through five main themes: a driving force to participate in society; managing everyday life through inventiveness and persistent training; insufficient healthcare and rehabilitation in the long-term perspective; finding meaningful relationships and activities in daily life. Participants' voices are made clear through selected photos, which aim to present each theme and make results easier to understand.

    CONCLUSIONS: Participants found new ways to approach everyday life situations and had thereby regained a sense of control in life. However, it was evident that psychological processes towards adaptation were hindered by depression and that some individuals felt alone in an ongoing struggle. Additionally, available interventions a long time after stroke were not flexible enough to address all participants' needs.

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  • 43.
    Ursing, Johan
    et al.
    Projecto de Saúde de Bandim, Indepth Network, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, Malaria Research Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
    Eksborg, Staffan
    Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
    Rombo, Lars
    Malaria Research Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, Centre for Clinical Research, Sörmland, Uppsala University, Sweden.
    Bergqvist, Yngve
    Dalarna University, School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Medical Science.
    Blessborn, Daniel
    Mahidol Oxford Research Unit, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, Centre for Tropical Medicine, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
    Rodrigues, Amabelia
    Projecto de Saúde de Bandim, Indepth Network, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.
    Kofoed, Poul-Erik
    Projecto de Saúde de Bandim, Indepth Network, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, Department of Paediatrics, Kolding Hospital, Kolding, Denmark.
    Chloroquine is grossly under dosed in young children with malaria: implications for drug resistance2014In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 9, no 1, article id e86801Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    Background: Plasmodium falciparum malaria is treated with 25 mg/kg of chloroquine (CQ) irrespective of age. Theoretically, CQ should be dosed according to body surface area (BSA). The effect of dosing CQ according to BSA has not been determined but doubling the dose per kg doubled the efficacy of CQ in children aged <15 years infected with P. falciparum carrying CQ resistance causing genes typical for Africa. The study aim was to determine the effect of age on CQ concentrations.

    Methods and Findings: Day 7 whole blood CQ concentrations were determined in 150 and 302 children treated with 25 and 50 mg/kg, respectively, in previously conducted clinical trials. CQ concentrations normalised for the dose taken in mg/kg of CQ decreased with decreasing age (p<0.001). CQ concentrations normalised for dose taken in mg/m(2) were unaffected by age. The median CQ concentration in children aged <2 years taking 50 mg/kg and in children aged 10-14 years taking 25 mg/kg were 825 (95% confidence interval [CI] 662-988) and 758 (95% CI 640-876) nmol/l, respectively (p = 0.67). The median CQ concentration in children aged 10-14 taking 50 mg/kg and children aged 0-2 taking 25 mg/kg were 1521 and 549 nmol/l. Adverse events were not age/concentration dependent.

    Conclusions: CQ is under-dosed in children and should ideally be dosed according to BSA. Children aged <2 years need approximately double the dose per kg to attain CQ concentrations found in children aged 10-14 years. Clinical trials assessing the efficacy of CQ in Africa are typically performed in children aged <5 years. Thus the efficacy of CQ is typically assessed in children in whom CQ is under dosed. Approximately 3 fold higher drug concentrations can probably be safely given to the youngest children. As CQ resistance is concentration dependent an alternative dosing of CQ may overcome resistance in Africa.

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  • 44. Vegsund, Hilde Kristin
    et al.
    Reinfjell, Trude
    Moksnes, Unni Karin
    Eilegård Wallin, Alexandra
    Dalarna University, School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Caring Science/Nursing.
    Hjemdal, Odin
    Eilertsen, Mary-Elizabeth Bradley
    Resilience as a predictive factor towards a healthy adjustment to grief after the loss of a child to cancer2019In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 14, no 3, article id e0214138Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    INTRODUCTION: Grief among bereaved parents is known to cause psychological distress and physical illness, but knowledge concerning factors that can contribute to health promotion after bereavement is scarce. Childhood cancer remains the most common non-accidental cause of death among children in Norway. The aim of the present study was to explore if resilience factors among cancer-bereaved parents could predict whether they will be able to come to terms with their grief 2-8 years following the loss.

    METHODS: A Norwegian cross-sectional national survey was conducted among 161 cancer-bereaved parents using a study-specific questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to explore whether resilience factors predicted parents' grief outcome 2-8 years after their loss.

    RESULTS: On the Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA), three of the resilience factors contributed significantly in predicting whether the parents in the present study would come to terms with their grief 2-8 years after the loss their child: "Perception of self "(OR 2.08, p = .048), "Social resources" (OR 2.83, p = .008) and "Family cohesion" (OR .41, p = .025). The results showed a negative relationship between time since loss (2-6 years) and whether the parents answered that they had come to terms with their grief (p = < .05). The loss of a parent (OR .30, p = .030) combined with the loss of their child had a negative and significant effect on whether they indicated that they had processed their grief.

    CONCLUSION: The total score of RSA and three of the six resilient factors contributed significantly in predicting whether cancer-bereaved parents in the present study indicated that they had come to terms with their grief to a great extent. The present study supports hypotheses that regard resilience as an important contribution in predicting healthy outcomes in people exposed to adverse life events.

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  • 45.
    Vicente, Joana
    et al.
    Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden.
    McKee, Kevin
    Dalarna University, School of Health and Welfare, Social Work.
    Magnusson, Lennart
    Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden; The Swedish Family Care Competence Centre, Kalmar, Sweden.
    Johansson, Pauline
    The Swedish Family Care Competence Centre, Kalmar, Sweden; Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Department of Medicine and Optometry, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden.
    Ekman, Björn
    Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
    Hanson, Elizabeth
    Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden; The Swedish Family Care Competence Centre, Kalmar, Sweden.
    Informal care provision among male and female working carers: Findings from a Swedish national survey2022In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 17, no 3, article id e0263396Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    INTRODUCTION: Informal carers in paid employment-working carers (WKCs)-have complex support needs. However, little is known about WKCs' pattern of informal care provision, the support they receive, the impact providing care has on their employment, and how these vary between male and female WKCs. This study describes the pattern of informal care provision and received support among Swedish WKCs.

    RESEARCH METHOD/DESIGN: The study was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey of a stratified random sample of the Swedish population aged 18 or over. The questionnaire addressed the type and extent of informal care provided, support received and the impact of care provision on employment. Of the 30,009 people who received the questionnaire, 11,168 (37.3%) responded, providing an analytic sample of 818 (7.32% of respondents) employed or self-employed informal carers.

    FINDINGS: A typical Swedish WKC was a middle-aged female, providing weekly or daily care to a non-cohabitant parent, who experiences care as sometimes demanding and receives no formal support as a carer. Female WKCs were more likely than males to care alone and with higher intensity, to report a need for help in meeting their care-recipient's needs, and to experience care as demanding. Approximately 17% of WKCs reported their employment had been affected due to caring, 40% their ability to work, and 31% their career development opportunities. Female WKCs' ability to work was affected more than males', and they were more commonly prevented from applying for work.

    CONCLUSION: Swedish female WKCs compared to males provide more hours of informal care, across more care domains, more often alone. This places them in a challenging situation when combining paid work and care. Greater recognition of the challenges faced by WKCs is required in Sweden and other countries, as are policies to reduce gender inequalities in informal care provision in this group.

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  • 46. Willers, Carl
    et al.
    Iderberg, Hanna
    Axelsen, Mette
    Dahlström, Tobias
    Julin, Bettina
    Leksell, Janeth
    Dalarna University, School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Caring Science/Nursing. Uppsala universitet.
    Lindberg, Agneta
    Lindgren, Peter
    Looström Muth, Karin
    Lilja, Mikael
    Sociodemographic determinants and health outcome variation in individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus: A register-based study2018In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 13, no 6, article id e0199170Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    BACKGROUND: Socioeconomic status, origin or demographic attributes shall not determine the quality of healthcare delivery, according to e.g. United Nations and European Union rules. Health equity has been defined as the absence of systematic disparities and unwarranted differences between groups defined by differences in social advantages. A study was performed to investigate whether this was applicable to type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) care in a setting with universal, tax-funded healthcare.

    METHODS: This retrospective registry-study was based on patient-level data from individuals diagnosed with T1D during 2010-2011 (n = 16,367) in any of seven Swedish county councils (covering ~65% of the Swedish population). Health equity in T1D care was analysed through multivariate regression analyses on absolute HbA1c level at one-year follow-up, one-year change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and one-year change in cardiovascular risk score, using selected sociodemographic dimensions as case-mix factors.

    RESULTS: Higher educational level was consistently associated with lower levels of HbA1c, and so was being married. Never married was associated with worse eGFR development, and lower educational level was associated with higher cardiovascular risk. Women had higher HbA1c levels than men, and glucose control was significantly worse in patients below the age of 25.

    CONCLUSION: Patients' sociodemographic profile was strongly associated with absolute levels of risk factor control in T1D, but also with an increased annual deterioration in eGFR. Whether these systematic differences stem from patient-related problems or healthcare organisational shortcomings is a matter for further research. The results, though, highlight the need for intensified diabetes management education and secondary prevention directed towards T1D patients, taking sociodemographic characteristics into account.

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  • 47. Ytterberg, Charlotte
    et al.
    Kristensen, Hanne Kaae
    Tistad, Malin
    Dalarna University, School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Medical Science. Karolinska Institutet.
    von Koch, Lena
    Factors related to met needs for rehabilitation 6 years after stroke2020In: PLOS ONE, E-ISSN 1932-6203, Vol. 15, no 1, article id e0227867Article in journal (Refereed)
    Abstract [en]

    INTRODUCTION: Research on stroke rehabilitation mainly concerns the first year of recovery, and there is a lack of knowledge regarding long-term rehabilitation needs and associated factors.

    AIM: The aim was to explore the perceived needs for rehabilitation services of people six years after stroke and factors associated with having rehabilitation services needs met.

    METHODS: The study was a 6-year follow up of a prospective study on the rehabilitation process after stroke. Data on perceived needs for rehabilitation, personal factors, disease specific factors, and patient-reported disability were collected through face-to-face interviews in the participants' homes. Logistic regression models were created to explore associations between having rehabilitation services needs met in 11 problem areas (dependent variable) and the independent variables: involvement in decisions regarding care and treatment, sex, age, sense of coherence, self-defined level of private financing, stroke severity, frequency of social everyday activities, perceived impact of stroke, and life satisfaction.

    RESULTS: The 121 participants had a mean age of 63 years at stroke onset and 58% were men. In all problem areas the majority (53-88%) reported having needs met at six years after stroke, however 47% reported unmet needs regarding fatigue and 45% regarding mobility. A lower perceived impact on participation was found to be associated with having rehabilitation services needs met in seven problem areas: mobility, falls, pain, fatigue, concentration, memory, and sight. The strongest association for having needs met was found for the independent variable, involvement in care and treatment, within the three problem areas mobility, falls, and speaking.

    CONCLUSION: In a long-term perspective, there were several modifiable factors associated with having rehabilitation services needs met. The most prominent were perceived involvement in care and treatment, and perceived participation. These factors had a stronger association with having rehabilitation services needs met than disease specific factors six years after stroke.

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