Högskolan i Skövde

Background: It has been suggested that the university environment, to improve students’ health status and educational outcomes, should be based on a health promoting approach. More knowledge is needed about health promoting resources and lifestyle factors that may be of value for students in higher education and their future work-life balance. The aim of this study was to explore health-promoting resources, general health and wellbeing, and health promoting lifestyle factors among fourth and final semester students in higher education in healthcare and social work.

Methods: This longitudinal study is based on self-reported data collected through a web-based questionnaire that included questions about general health, wellbeing, and healthy lifestyle factors and made use of instruments: the Sense of Coherence (SOC) scale, the Salutogenic Health Indicator Scale (SHIS), and five questions from the General Nordic Questionnaire (QPS Nordic). The questionnaire was distributed among students enrolled in seven different healthcare and social work programmes at six universities in Sweden. Data was collected when students were in their fourth (2019/2020) and final (2020/2021) semesters analysed with multiple linear and logistic regressions.

Results: The survey included responses from students during the fourth (n = 498) and the final (n = 343) semester of higher education programmes in health and social work. Total SOC scores decreased between the fourth semester and the final semester. The prevalence of the health promoting lifestyle factor of physical exercise decreased between the fourth and final semesters. Students in their final semester reported valuing group work more highly than did students in their fourth semester. Despite this, students in both the fourth and the final semester reported high SOC, low levels of good general health and perceived wellbeing, and sleeping problems.

Conclusions: Students’ report of good general health were associated with wellbeing, high-intensity physical training, and no sleeping problems A high SOC level was associated with good general health, perceived wellbeing, and no sleeping problems. A higher SHIS level was also associated with wellbeing and no sleeping problems. Therefore, we suggest further research focusing on how to prepare students in healthcare and social work during higher education for a future work-life in balance targeting effects on sleep quality. 

Objective The aim was to explore whether occupational balance is associated with health, health-promoting resources, healthy lifestyle and social study factors among students during higher education within healthcare and social work.

Design The study has a multicentre repeated cross-sectional design. Data were collected via a self-reported, web-based questionnaire based on the validated instruments: the 11-item Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ11), the Sense of Coherence (SOC) Scale, the Salutogenic Health Indicator Scale (SHIS) and five questions from the General Nordic Questionnaire (QPS Nordic) together with questions about general health and lifestyle factors.

Setting Students at six universities in western Sweden at one of the following healthcare or social work programmes: biomedical scientists, dental hygienists, nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, radiology nurses and social workers.

Participants Of 2283 students, 851 (37.3%) participated.

Results The students experienced that occupational balance increased during education. The total OBQ11 score was higher among students in semesters 4 and 6/7, compared with semester 1 students. Students with higher OBQ11 also reported higher SOC throughout their education, while health seemed to decrease. Students who reported higher levels of OBQ11 reported lower levels of health and well-being in semesters 4 and 6/7, compared with semester 1. There was an opposite pattern for students reporting lower levels of OBQ11.

Conclusions The association between higher levels of OBQ11 and lower levels of health and well-being is remarkable. There is a need for more research on this contradiction and what it means for students’ health and well-being in the long run.

BACKGROUND: To effectively utilize available healthcare resources, integrated care models are recommended. According to such model's, registered nurses have the potential to increase patient access to health care services and alleviate organizational workload. Studies on acute home consultation assessments by registered nurses are sparse. The aim was to describe the reasons and actions for unscheduled same-day face-to-face registered nurse consultation at home offered to patients calling the national telephone helpline for healthcare in Sweden (SHD 1177), according to the integrated Collaborative Health Care model. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was designed. Data from registered nurses (n = 259) working within the Collaborative Health Care model, who performed unscheduled consultations at home (n = 615) using a data collection tool from 2017 to 2018 were collected. RESULTS: Among the 615 unscheduled home consultations performed by registered nurses, > 50% of the patients were managed at home as their health problems were not deemed as requiring a same-day referral to a clinic when assessed by the registered nurses. The most frequent health problems and reasons for contact were urinary tract problems, followed by medical and surgical conditions. Social factors, including living alone, impacted referral. Those living with a partner received care at home to a greater extent than those who lived alone. CONCLUSION: An integrated model for healthcare involving registered nurses direct assessment, action and accountability seems to be an efficient option for providing integrated care at home and reducing acute clinic visits. 

Aim

To describe and compare the clinical learning environment in community-based home care and primary health care in postgraduate district nursing students' education.

Design

Cross-sectional study design.

Methods

A convenience sample of postgraduate district nursing students was derived from five Swedish universities in 2016 and 2017.

Results

The postgraduate district nursing students were generally satisfied with the clinical learning environment in their clinical placement. In clinical placement, several factors affected the students' opportunities to learn, such as sufficiently meaningful learning situations with multidimensional content. A working environment that imposed psychosocial strain and high levels of stress among the staff negatively affected the students' learning. To further improve their learning from clinical practices, the students need preceptors who have the skills and competence required to support more advanced reflections and critical thinking on caring situations.

Background

Educational environments are considered important in strengthening students’ health status and knowledge, which are associated with good educational outcomes. It has been suggested to establish healthy universities based on a salutogenic approach – namely, health promotion. The aim of this study was to describe health-promoting resources and factors among first-semester students in higher education in healthcare and social work.

Methods

This cross-sectional study is based on a survey distributed among all students in seven healthcare and social work programmes at six universities in southern Sweden. The survey was carried out in 2018 using a self-reported, web-based questionnaire focussing on general health and well-being, lifestyle factors together with three validated instruments measuring health-promoting factors and processes: the Sense of Coherence (SOC) scale, Salutogenic Health Indicator Scale (SHIS) and Occupational Balance Questionnaire (OBQ).

Results

Of 2283 students, 851 (37.3%) completed the survey, of whom 742 (87.1%) were women; 722 (84.8%) were enrolled on healthcare programmes, and 129 (15.2%) were enrolled on social work programmes. Most reported good general health and well-being (88.1% and 83.7%, respectively). The total mean scores for the SOC scale, SHIS and OBQ were, respectively, 59.09 (SD = 11.78), 44.04 (SD = 9.38) and 26.40 (SD = 7.07). Well-being and several healthy lifestyles were related to better general health and higher SOC, SHIS and OBQ scores. Multiple linear and logistic regressions showed that perceived well-being and no sleeping problems significantly predicted higher general health and higher SOC, SHIS and OBQ scores. Being less sedentary and non-smoking habits were significant predictors of higher SOC.

Conclusions

Swedish students in higher education within the healthcare and social work sector report good general health and well-being in the first semester, as well as health-promoting resources (i.e. SOC, SHIS and OBQ), and in some aspects, a healthy lifestyle. High-intensity exercise, no sleeping problems and non-smoking seem to be of importance to both general health and health-promotive resources. This study contributes to knowledge about the health promotive characteristics of students in the healthcare and social work fields, which is of importance for planning universities with a salutogenic approach.

Child abuse recognition and the protection of children is a global concern. In Sweden, the role of the school nurse (SN) is to promote schoolchildren’s health and development and to identify and prevent harm. The aim of this study was to describe Swedish SN experiences of suspecting, identifying, and reporting child abuse and to compare them with respect to (a) years of experience as SN, (b) age of SN, and (c) pupil population size. A descriptive design was used. Two-hundred and thirty-three SNs completed a survey detailing their experiences. Most SNs (96%) reported having suspected a child suffering from physical or psychological abuse. Approximately half of them reported occurrences of honor-related violence (54%) and of child sexual abuse (57%). SNs with less nursing experience reported significantly less recognition and reporting of child abuse. The findings indicate that experiences of child abuse are common. Thus, it is vital that SNs have the necessary competency and support to identify and report suspected child abuse. 

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization has highlighted the importance of health promotion for health service providers in order to ensure sustainable working life for individuals involved in providing health services. Such sustainability begins when students are preparing to manage their own future health and welfare in working life. It has been suggested that universities, employees and trainee health professionals should adopt or follow a salutogenic approach that not only complements the providing of information on known health risks but also favors health promotion strategies. This paper describes the study design and data collection methods in a planned study aiming to explore health-promoting factors for a sustainable working life among students in higher education within healthcare and social work. METHODS: This protocol describes a multicenter longitudinal study involving Swedish students on higher education programs in the healthcare and social work sectors. In 2018, the study invited students on seven education programs at six universities to participate. These programs were for qualification as: biomedical laboratory scientists (n = 121); dental hygienists (n = 87); nurses (n = 1411); occupational therapists (n = 111); physiotherapists (n = 48); radiographers (n = 60); and, social workers (n = 443). In total, 2283 students were invited to participate. Participants completed a baseline, a self-reported questionnaire including six validated instruments measuring health-promoting factors and processes. There are to be five follow-up questionnaires. Three while the students are studying, one a year after graduating, and one three years after graduating. Each questionnaire captures different health-promoting dimensions, namely: health-promoting resources (i.e. sense of coherence); occupational balance; emotional intelligence; health and welfare; social interaction; and work and workplace experiences/perceptions. DISCUSSION: This study focuses on the vastly important aspect of promoting a sustainable working life for healthcare and social work employees. In contrast to previous studies in this area, the present study uses different, validated instruments in health promotion, taking a salutogenic approach. It is hoped that, by stimulating the implementation of new strategies, the study's findings will lead to education programs that prepare students better for a sustainable working life in healthcare and social work.

Background: The importance of the clinical learning environment in nurse education has gained increasing attention over the last decades. However, there is a lack of research on the learning environment, its significance and meaning in specialist nurse education. Objective: The objectives of the study were to investigate specialised nursing students' experiences of supervision during clinical practice and to compare students who were satisfied with the supervision with those who were dissatisfied with respect to a)organisation of supervision and number of preceptors, as well as time allocated by preceptors for b)supervision, c)reflection, d)discussion of intended learning outcomes, and e)assessments of students' performance by preceptors. Design: This study used a cross-sectional design. Sample and settings: A convenience sample of specialised nursing students was derived from five Swedish universities in the years 2016 and 2017. Methods: Data were collected using a questionnaire. Statistical analyses and a qualitative conventional content analysis were performed. Results: While almost all specialised nursing students reported that there had been time for discussion on their performance assessment, almost half of the students reported not getting time for supervision, or time for reflections and discussions on intended learning outcomes with the preceptor. Students reporting having time allocated for supervision by preceptors were found to be more satisfied with supervision. It was described as important that the preceptor(s)acknowledged the students previous work experiences. Even though being a registered nurse, reflections and feedback were described as valuable for the students learning. Several preceptors were described as positive allowing a broader picture and different views regarding working as a specialist nurse. Conclusions: This study indicates that supervision, in terms of discussions and reflections, of specialised nursing students is significant for learning experiences and satisfaction during clinical placement. © 2019 Elsevier Ltd

Background

Human rights incorporate children and maltreatment against children is a violation of children's fundamental human rights. The Children's Convention states that children should be protected from all forms of physical and mental violence, as well as neglect and sexual abuse. Long-term effects of child maltreatment influence children’s health and academic achievement. School nurses are responsible for the identification of school age children at risk of or subjected to maltreatment, thus enforcing children’s rights.

Aim

The aim was to explore school nurses experiences of recognizing maltreatment against children.

Method

A questionnaire survey with a descriptive design was conducted. A convenience sample of 233 school nurses attending the Swedish school nursing conference in 2018 answered the questionnaire. The questionnaire contained nine questions of child maltreatment, regarding domestic violence, sexual abuse and honor related violence.

Result

The vast majority of school nurses, 96%, reported experiences of child maltreatment within the family. Approximately half of them, 54 %, had experiences of honor related violence to the child and 57% had experiences of child sexual abuse. Experiences of a child admitting sexual abuse in the past year were less common, 14%, but only 8 % of the nurses had made a mandatory report regarding sexual abuse during that time. Overall, the number of nurses mandatorily reporting child maltreatment is less than the number suspecting the same. 

Conclusion

The findings indicate that experiences of child maltreatment among school nurses are common. However, not all suspected cases, particularly in relation to child sexual abuse, were reported. More research is needed to further explore mandatory reporting and why all suspected cases are not reported.

Aims and objectives: To describe the experiences of school nurses working with overweight schoolchildren. 

Background: School nurses play an important role in health promotion of overweight children. Lifestyle changes and interventions to address being overweight can improve health outcomes and decrease the risk for future health problems. 

Design: A descriptive and qualitative design with a phenomenological approach was used. Data were gathered through interviews with school nurses working with overweight schoolchildren in Swedish elementary school; the data were subsequently analysed for meanings. 

Results:Working with overweight children was perceived as demanding and challenging by the school nurses who found conversations on this topic emotionally loaded and complex. In addition, the school nurses needed to be sensitive and supportive to succeed in their support for a healthier everyday life for the schoolchildren. It was stated as important to find ways to break the child ’s weight gain and to cooperate with the parents in this work. The children ’s decrease in weight was experienced to be more successful when making small, step-by-step changes together with the child and his or her parents.

Conclusions: This study concludes that health talks about being overweight may be a challenge for school nurses. Strategies used to manage and succeed in this work included engaging in motivational conversations, working step by step and cooperating with the child’s parents. Furthermore, the nurses experienced that they needed to provide emotional support for overweight children during school time. 

Relevance to clinical practice: The school nurses’ health promotion needs to focus on how to break weight gain in overweight children. In this work, the nurses’ sensitiveness seems pivotal. Further research is needed on school nurses’ work with health promotion and support of overweight children concerning how to perform efficient communication and cooperation with the children and their parents.