The aim with this literature review was to describe content, objectives, design, and outcomes of support groups for parentally bereaved children three to twelve years of age. In a support group with children in similar situation the children's thoughts, experiences and feelings will be normalised through different activities. Pedagogical methods include creative activities of different kinds, e.g. painting, writing letters and poems, reading stories, play and games. The purposes of the methods are to accept and understand the reality of the loss, to understand and work through the grieving, to enhance family communication, and to keep the memory of the death and go on living. Organisation and structure are described in relation to development levels and ages of children and youths. Outcomes of groups are characterized by clinical observations and a dearth of evaluative studies. All bereaved children should have the opportunity to participate in a support group when a parent, sibling or other relative dies. Well developed services for bereaved children should be a matter of health care policy and quality.
Aim The aim of this study was to explore experiences with overnight respite care (ORC) of Norwegian carers who provided care to frail elderly awaiting nursing home placement.
Background In many Western countries respite care has become part of health care service provision, and various types of respite care are available. The intent with respite care can be twofold; caring for the care receiver and supporting the carer.
Methods This was a descriptive qualitative study. Interviews were conducted with 15 carers, transcribed and analysed by qualitative content analysis.
Findings The carers described various experiences with ORC. If ORC supported the family unit, it was welcomed by carers and experienced as supportive. If ORC did not support the family unit, many carers rejected ORC, and it was experienced as non-supportive. Two categories were constructed: 'experiencing ORC as supportive for the family as a unit' and 'not experiencing ORC as supportive for the family as a unit'.
Conclusion To support more carers, nurses have to listen to carers’ experiences about ORC. Nurses need to take responsibility for the family as a unit and provide more flexible ORC services based on both carers’ and elderly’s needs.
There are comparable as well as non comparable factors for personnel involved in ambulance and emergency services. The aim of this study was to describe and compare the ambulance and emergency personnel-rated health, physical activity, diet and work-related stress factors and some physiological measurements. The groups were recruited through convenience sampling. Questionnaire was used as data collection method. In addition, physiological measurements of all participants were measured at one occasion. Important relationships emerged regarding health status, perceived fatigue and workload of ambulance personnel. Emergency services of physical activity showed a major difference in relation to ambulance personnel. Job satisfaction was perceived as good in both occupational groups, however, experienced ambulance personnel more psychologically stress. Significant difference was seen between the groups regarding fatigue after a session. Obese and those with high waistlines was over-represented in the ambulance. There were more ambulance personnel staffs that were treated for hypertension and /or diabetes. Differences were found between the groups regarding hypertension, diabetes and physical activity. It was concluded, the lifestyle factors that can prevent the risk of cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome, are the ones, were not overweight, exercise regularly, had a good diet and experienced a good job satisfaction.
Aim: The aim of this study was to describe how comforters of one dying child were comforted, described by the child's mother and nurse.
Background: The death of a child is one of the greatest losses parents can sustain and a stressful experience for nurses. Those who provide comfort may also need comfort, yet little is known about how comforters are comforted.
Method: The interviews with mother and nurse were analysed using content analysis. Persons and activities mentioned as comforting were outlined in a sociogram.
Findings: The findings show that the mother received comfort from her child and family, the nurse, extended family and others close to the family. She found comfort in being involved in the care and sharing worries with the nurse and in self-comfort. She described that siblings found comfort in each other, in living everyday life, in music and in expressing their feelings in drawings. The nurse gained comfort from sharing hardships with colleagues and a relative and from making a difference to the child.
Conclusion: The findings provide a picture of interacting comforting social networks surrounding one dying child.