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Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka och analysera den nationella policy-diskursen kring välfärdsteknik och digitalisering i äldreomsorgen i Sverige. Studien har utgått ifrån ett socialkonstruktivistiskt ramverk och använder kritisk diskursanalys för att utföra en dokumentanalys, med målet att undersöka maktförhållanden och värderingar i svensk välfärdspolicy. Som analysmaterial har en undersökning av Statens Offentliga Utredningar samt en proposition för lagändring gällande användandet av välfärdsteknik inom äldreomsorgen använts. 

De centrala resultaten från analysen pekar på förekomsten av en tydlig åldrande-och-innovationsdiskurs i texterna, där välfärdstekniken lyfts som en lösning för de utmaningar texterna identifierar i framtida demografiska förändringar. Vi problematiserar detta genom att belysa motsättningar i texten samt genom att lyfta perspektiv som saknas för att ge en mer komplett bild av välfärdsteknikens användningsområden, och även dess brister. Vi lyfter även diskursens inneboende problematik gällande ålderism och teknikoptimism. 

Studien avslutas med några förslag på framtida forskningsområden utifrån de brister vi identifierat, och vi gör även en koppling till den roll som vi menar att socialarbetare - framförallt socionomer - bör ta för att motverka de problem vi ser i texten. 

Introduction: With correct diagnosis and treatment, women with bleeding disorders can live their lives without the pressure of having heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) and the concern of postpartum bleeding, thus improving quality of life (QoL). As health care professionals (HCPs), we have the opportunity to advise, support and educate our patients, guiding them to optimal treatment and care.

Aim: Our aim was to gain insight into the experience of HMB and concerns around reproductive issues for women with bleeding disorders treated in the Coagulation Unit at Karolinska University Hospital.

Method: We conducted a questionnaire regarding lifestyle and suspected challenges facing women with bleeding disorders. Women aged 16 or above with a diagnosed bleeding disorder, registered with the Coagulation Unit, and able to read and understand Swedish were included. The questionnaire was self-administered during clinic attendance.

Results: Sixty-seven women were invited to answer the questionnaire; all agreed to do so. Mean age was 32.5 years. Twenty-five experience HMB frequently; 51 experienced HMB during their teenage years. Most take some form of treatment during menstruation, the most common being tranexamic acid. Thirty-one experience HMB to some extent despite taking treatment. More than half have required blood transfusion/s at some stage. Most feel or have felt anxiety regarding future family planning/childbirth due to their bleeding disorder.

Conclusions: Many women who responded to our questionnaire experience HMB, despite most of them often or sometimes taking some form of treatment. A number have had blood transfusion(s), and more than half feel or have felt anxiety regarding future family planning and childbirth. This clearly suggests that we need to incorporate routines that offer support, guidance and education, and which involve gynaecology, obstetrics and genetic counselling.

Conifers pose challenges for breeding programs due to their extended vegetative phases. Despite the critical role of APETALA2 (AP2) in regulating phase transitions, the AP2/ERF superfamily remains largely unexplored in gymnosperms. Here, the first genome-wide analysis of the AP2/ERF superfamily in a conifer, Larix kaempferi (Japanese larch) is presented, and 374 members were identified. Among all eight paralogs, four euAP2 lineage genes, TARGET OF EATs (TOEs), exhibit age-decreased expression patterns. Functional characterization of LkTOE1-2 demonstrates its involvement in somatic embryogenesis and seed germination. Importantly, the RUBY reporter system confirmed an enhanced promoter activity in somatic embryo maturation. Over-expression of LkTOE1-2 in Arabidopsis accelerates seed germination by 23.77%, bolting by 6.93%, and flowering by 5.92%. This study provides not only an expanded genomic resource for gymnosperms but also a candidate gene (LkTOE1-2) to shorten the juvenile phase of larch via molecular breeding.

Purpose: Self-transcendence and self-enhancement motives often coexist in green consumer behavior. Customers may engage with green brands to reconcile possible tensions arising from these two conflicting motives. Using dual concern theory, we investigate how customers’ altruistic, biospheric and egoistic values drive desired self-identity and perceived life-meaning rewards, as mediated by their post-purchase green brand engagement (GBE). We also test whether perceived effort worthiness moderates these associations.

Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected via survey from 368 electric/hybrid vehicle owners and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM).

Findings: Results reveal that customers’ altruistic and egoistic values impact desired self-identity and perceived life-meaning rewards through their engagement with green brands. While perceived effort worthiness had no bearing on desired self-identity, it was found to strengthen the indirect effects of altruistic and egoistic values on perceived life-meaning rewards through post-purchase customer engagement with green brands.

Originality/value: We identify customer brand engagement following purchase as an instrumental mechanism for managing potential inner tensions created by dueling motives in green post-purchase customer reactions. Additionally, we respond to calls for engagement-based boundary conditions by highlighting the moderating role of perceived effort worthiness between customer engagement and perceived life-meaning rewards.

Mental ill health is a growing phenomenon in society and is particularly widespread among professionals in emotionally demanding contact-oriented occupations, such as social workers and psychologists. There was a clear rationale for studying this group, as the transition from studies to working life is often characterized by high stress. Mental health and wellbeing are influenced not only by work-related factors, but also by circumstances in one’s home life, such as parenthood. The purpose of this study was to examine how mental health and life satisfaction could be predicted by various demographic variables, work-related and home-related factors, as well as aspects of work-life balance in a Swedish context. For all these factors, the aim was also to investigate gender differences. The study employed a repeated cross-sectional approach and is based on previously collected data from 2017, 2018, and 2019, gathered through postal questionnaires administered by SCB. The number of participants in this study was N=1002, 833 women and 164 men. For women, two multiple hierarchical regression analyses showed that family-work conflict, workload, recovery, and social support from colleagues were the most important predictors of mental health, while work-family conflict, family-work conflict, and work pace were most significant for life satisfaction. Due to the insufficient male sample for certain variables, the regression analyses for men were not performed. Despite this, the results indicate that work-life balance is valuable for both mental health and well-being among newly graduated female social workers and psychologists.

Introduktion: Sex minuters gångtest (6MWT) är en enkel, säker och kostnadseffektiv metod för att utvärdera funktionell fysisk kapacitet hos äldre ochpersoner med flera olika sjukdomstillstånd. Utfallsmåttet för 6MWT är gångsträcka påsex minuter (6MWD) och det finns referensekvationer för att jämföra uppmättgångsträcka med förväntad. Det finns ingen referensekvation för sex minutersgångsträcka (6MWD) skapad för en svensk population för personer 40 år och äldre.

Syfte: Syftet med studien var att 1) samla in information om personliga faktorer,deltagarkaraktäristika och testresultat på 6MWT för att analysera vilka variabler som kan påverka 6MWD i en svensk population, 2) undersöka om uppmätt gångsträckaskiljer sig från förväntad gångsträcka från tidigare referensekvationer, 3) skapa en referensekvation för 6MWD samt undersöka om förklaringsgraden ökar med ett tilläggav variabeln aktivitetsminuter. 

Metod: Antroprometrisk data och testresultat på 6MWT för svenskar mellan 40-90 år samlades prospektivt in med ett standardiseratprotokoll. Deltagarna fick lämna muntligt och skriftligt informerat samtycke. Varjedeltagare genomförde ett 6MWT. 

Resultat: 51 deltagare (32 kvinnor och 19 män)genomförde 6MWT med en medel gångsträcka på 563 ± 103 m. Det fanns ingen signifikant skillnad i gångsträcka mellan kvinnor och män (559 " 92,1 m jämfört med 570 " 121 m; p = 0,738). Pearson´s korrelationskoofficient visade att 6MWD och deltagarnas antropometri och visa variabler på 6MWT korrelerade så som ålder (r =-0,456 p= <0,001), längd (r = 0,323 p = 0,021), puls (HR) före (r = - 0,323 p = 0,021) och efter 6MWT (r = 0,335 p = 0,016) Däremot fanns ingen korrelation mellan aktivitetsminuter och 6MWD (r = 0,194 p = 0,172). Tidigare referensekvationer skilde sig från uppmätt gångsträcka där referensekvationen från Kanada av Hill et al överskattade 6MWD (101,5 m 95 % CI 75,4 -125,58 m p = <0,001) hos studiedeltagarna medan en referensekvation från Sydamerika av Cassanova et al. underskattade 6MWD (-42,203 m 95 % CI 65,3 till -19,07 m p = <0,001). En referensekvation från en Italiensk population framtagen av Cazzoletti et al skilde sig inte från den uppmätta gångsträckan (0,167 m 95%CI –25,1 till 25,48 p 0,989). En linjär regressionsmodell skapades och inkluderade prediktorerna kön, ålder, BMI, HR före, HR efter vilket gav följande referensekvation 6MWD = 1036,77+(19,2*kön)-(2,79*ålder)-(11,74*BMI)- (3,9*HR inför)+(2,77*HR efter) där 6MWD är i meter, ålder i år, kvinnor = 0, män = 1, BMI i kg/m2 , och HR i slag/minut. (adj R2 = 0,6561 p = < 0,001). Ett tillägg av aktivitetsminuter ökade inte förklaringsgraden (adj R2 = 0,6534 p = 0,422). 

Slutsats: Det fanns en svagt samband mellan 6MWD och ålder, längd, puls före och puls efter 6MWT. Denna studien skapade den första svenska referensekvationen för 6MWD som kan användas för att ta fram normativa värden på 6MWD i en svensk population.

Background: Although emergency call centre operators are not physically present at the scene of emergencies, they are still significantly impacted by these events. They are exposed to distressed individuals who express feelings of fear, desperation, and helplessness. Emergency call centre operators must endure this emotional exposure while simultaneously collecting crucial information from callers, relaying this information to responding units, and potentially instructing callers in critical first aid.

Motive: Limited research exists on the work environment and health conditions of emergency call centre operators. The motive of this study is to enhance understanding of the work environment and challenges faced by emergency call operators. The findings are relevant for employers and other professionals within the emergency care chain.

Aim: This study aims to describe the experiences of work-related psychosocial health among emergency call centre operators.

Methods: This study employed a qualitative approach, with data collected through 16 semi-structured interviews. The analysis was conducted using qualitative content analysis.

Result: The analysis revealed one main theme, four themes, and 12 subthemes. The main theme was “Having oneself as a stake,” built on the themes “Facing challenges,” “Being affected as a person,” “Feeling ignored by organisational conditions,” and “Drawing strength from rewarding conditions.”

Conclusion: The workplace environment of emergency call centre operators can have a negative impact on their psychosocial health. This can lead to decreased quality of emergency call responses and less accurate assessments of critical situations. Further research is needed to identify improvements in operational conditions for emergency call centre operators and establish goals for enhancing work-related health.