NAVET's Boxes - an Evaluation of the Post-Visit Loan Service at a Science Centre in Bor��s

Many pedagogues believe science centres to be a good complement to the more formal school teaching. For a visit to a science centre to be as educational as possible, there is a need for pre-visit information of some sort, a guided visit, and post-visit work. Many science centres offer loan services of different kinds. At Navet, a science centre in Bor��s, teachers can borrow boxes with experiments connected to the different themes they provide. The experiments are supposed to be a continuation of the visit and help settle the knowledge gained during the visit. This thesis is an evaluation of how the boxes function in the schools, and what the teachers think of them. The study was conducted through questionnaires and interviews with both teachers and the staff at Navet. The results of the study are very positive. Many teachers have been involved with Navet from the very beginning and they see a visit to Navet as an integrated part of their teaching. Some boxes work better than others and some might need clearer information, but overall the teachers see the boxes as timesavers, as a way to vary their teaching more easily, and as a help for teachers not specialized in mathematics and science.

The effectiveness of proactive telephone support provided to breastfeeding mothers of preterm infants : study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Although breast milk has numerous benefits for infants' development, with greater effects in those born preterm (at < 37 gestational weeks), mothers of preterm infants have shorter breastfeeding duration than mothers of term infants. One of the explanations proposed is the difficulties in the transition from a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to the home environment. A person-centred proactive telephone support intervention after discharge from NICU is expected to promote mothers' sense of trust in their own capacity and thereby facilitate breastfeeding. Methods/design: A multicentre randomized controlled trial has been designed to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of person-centred proactive telephone support on breastfeeding outcomes for mothers of preterm infants. Participating mothers will be randomized to either an intervention group or control group. In the intervention group person-centred proactive telephone support will be provided, in which the support team phones the mother daily for up to 14 days after hospital discharge. In the control group, mothers are offered a person-centred reactive support where mothers can phone the breastfeeding support team up to day 14 after hospital discharge. The intervention group will also be offered the same reactive telephone support as the control group. A stratified block randomization will be used; group allocation will be by high or low socioeconomic status and by NICU. Recruitment will be performed continuously until 1116 mothers (I: 558 C: 558) have been included. Primary outcome: proportion of mothers exclusively breastfeeding at eight weeks after discharge. Secondary outcomes: proportion of breastfeeding (exclusive, partial, none and method of feeding), mothers satisfaction with breastfeeding, attachment, stress and quality of life in mothers/partners at eight weeks after hospital discharge and at six months postnatal age. Data will be collected by researchers blind to group allocation for the primary outcome. A qualitative evaluation of experiences of receiving/providing the intervention will also be undertaken with mothers and staff. Discussion: This paper presents the rationale, study design and protocol for a RCT providing person-centred proactive telephone support to mothers of preterm infants. Furthermore, with a health economic evaluation, the cost-effectiveness of the intervention will be assessed. Trial registration: NCT01806480

���Being in a womb��� or ���playing musical chairs��� : the impact of place and space on infant feeding in NICUs

Background: Becoming a parent of a preterm baby requiring neonatal care constitutes an extraordinary life situation in which parenting begins and evolves in a medical and unfamiliar setting. Although there is increasing emphasis within maternity and neonatal care on the influence of place and space upon the experiences of staff and service users, there is a lack of research on how space and place influence relationships and care in the neonatal environment. The aim of this study was to explore, in-depth, the impact of place and space on parents��� experiences and practices related to feeding their preterm babies in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) in Sweden and England. Methods: An ethnographic approach was utilised in two NICUs in Sweden and two comparable units in England, UK. Over an eleven month period, a total of 52 mothers, 19 fathers and 102 staff were observed and interviewed. A grounded theory approach was utilised throughout data collection and analysis. Results: The core category of ���the room as a conveyance for an attuned feeding��� was underpinned by four categories: the level of ���ownership��� of space and place; the feeling of ���at-homeness���; the experience of ���the door or a shield��� against people entering, for privacy, for enabling a focus within, and for regulating socialising and the; ���window of opportunity���. Findings showed that the construction and design of space and place was strongly influential on the developing parent-infant relationship and for experiencing a sense of connectedness and a shared awareness with the baby during feeding, an attuned feeding. Conclusions: If our proposed model is valid, it is vital that these findings are considered when developing or reconfiguring NICUs so that account is taken of the influences of spatiality upon parent���s experiences. Even without redesign there are measures that may be taken to make a positive difference for parents and their preterm babies.

Ladnaan - att m�� bra : En utv��rdering av ett riktat st��d till somaliska f��r��ldrar i Borl��nge Kommun

Folkh��lsomyndigheten har finansierat ett samarbetsprojekt mellan Borl��nge kommun och H��gskolan Dalarna f��r att anpassa och implementera ett f��r��ldrast��dsprogram till somaliska f��r��ldrar, samt att m��ta effekten av denna intervention avseende f��r��ldrars och barns psykiska h��lsa. Studien b��rjade med en explorativ delstudie med syfte att samla kunskap om vad somaliska f��r��ldrar upplever som utmanande i sitt f��r��ldraskap i Sverige, vilket behov av f��r��ldrast��d de beh��ver samt hur ett s��dant st��d ska vara utformat. Studien genomf��rdes med hj��lp av fokusgruppsintervjuer med 23 f��r��ldrar (15 mammor och 8 pappor) boende i Borl��nge. Resultatet visade att f��r��ldrarna upplevde en rad utmaningar i sin nya livssituation och i sitt f��r��ldraskap i nya landet. De beskrev skillnader i syns��tt p�� barnuppfostran och f��r��ldraskap mellan hemlandet och Sverige och efterstr��vade d��rf��r att kulturanpassa sitt f��r��ldraskap. Resultaten fr��n denna studie samt en genomg��ng av forskning kring f��r��ldrast��d l��g till grund f��r valet av f��r��ldrast��dsprogram samt ett samh��llsorienterande till��gg till programmet. �� M��lgrupp f��r studien var f��r��ldrar med barn i ��ldrarna 11-16 ��r och som upplevde stress i sitt f��r��ldraskap. F��r��ldrarna erbj��ds sammanlagt 16 timmars utbildning f��rdelat p�� 12 tr��ffar (10 timmar Connect f��r��ldrast��d + 6 timmar samh��llsorienterande till��gg). Effekten av f��r��ldrast��det unders��ktes genom en randomiserad kontrollerad studie d��r totalt 120 f��r��ldrar ingick. De prelimin��ra resultaten visar att deltagande f��r��ldrars barn har f��rb��ttrats signifikant i subskalorna ���socialt��� och ���skola���. Dessutom minskade barnens oro, somatiska problem, sociala problem och brytande av regler. �� F��r��ldrarna var n��jda med interventionen. De upplevde att de f��tt en ��kad kunskap om hur socialtj��nstens arbete fungerar och f��tt f��rtroende f��r deras arbete kring barn och unga. ��ver h��lften av f��r��ldrarna upplevde sig mer s��kra i sin f��r��ldraroll och att deras relation med barnen hade f��rb��ttrats. �� Genom en processutv��rdering av implementeringen av f��r��ldrast��det har framg��ngsfaktorer f��r genomf��randet avf��r��ldrast��dsprogrammet studerats. Resultatet visade att de olika strategier som vidtagits vid rekrytering av f��r��ldrar och implementering av interventionen har varit lyckade. Exempel p�� s��dana strategier har varit att projektmedarbetarna som rekryterat till f��r��ldrast��det har varit av Somaliskt ursprung, kursen har getts p�� somaliska men framf��rallt att f��r��ldrast��det utgick ifr��n f��r��ldrarnas upplevda behov.

Exploring self-rated health among adolescents : a think-aloud study

BACKGROUND: Despite extensive use of self-rated health questions in youth studies, little is known about what such questions capture among adolescents. Hence, the aim of this study was to explore how adolescents interpret and reason when answering a question about self-rated health. METHODS: A qualitative study using think-aloud interviews explored the question, "How do you feel most of the time?", using five response options ("Very good", "Rather good", "Neither good, nor bad", "Rather bad", and "Very bad"). The study involved 58 adolescents (29 boys and 29 girls) in lower secondary school (7th grade) and upper secondary school (12th grade) in Sweden. RESULTS: Respondents' interpretations of the question about how they felt included social, mental, and physical aspects. Gender differences were found primarily in that girls emphasized stressors, while age differences were reflected mainly in the older respondents' inclusion of a wider variety of influences on their assessments. The five response options all demonstrated differences in self-rated health, and the respondents' understanding of the middle option, "Neither good, nor bad", varied widely. In the answering of potential sensitive survey questions, rationales for providing honest or biased answers were described. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a self-rated health question including the word 'feel' captured a holistic view of health among adolescents. Differences amongst response options should be acknowledged when analyzing self-rated health questions. If anonymity is not feasible when answering questions on self-rated health, a high level of privacy is recommended to increase the likelihood of reliability.

Integrating a sense of coherence into the neonatal environment

Background: Family centred care (FCC) is currently a valued philosophy within neonatal care; an approach that places the parents at the heart of all decision-making and engagement in the care of their infant. However, to date, there is a lack of clarity regarding the definition of FCC and limited evidence of FCCs effectiveness in relation to parental, infant or staff outcomes. Discussion: In this paper we present a new perspective to neonatal care based on Aaron Antonovksy's Sense of Coherence (SOC) theory of well-being and positive health. Whilst the SOC was originally conceptualised as a psychological-based construct, the SOCs three underpinning concepts of comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness provide a theoretical lens through which to consider and reflect upon meaningful care provision in this particular care environment. By drawing on available FCC research, we consider how the SOC concepts considered from both a parental and professional perspective need to be addressed. The debate offered in this paper is not presented to reduce the importance or significance of FCC within neonatal care, but, rather, how consideration of the SOC offers the basis through which meaningful and effective FCC may be delivered. Practice based implications contextualised within the SOC constructs are also detailed. Summary: Consideration of the SOC constructs from both a parental and professional perspective need to be addressed in FCC provision. Service delivery and care practices need to be comprehensible, meaningful and manageable in order to achieve and promote positive well-being and health for all concerned.

Parenthood in transition : Somali-born parents' experiences of and needs for parenting support programmes

BACKGROUND: Pre- and post-migration trauma due to forced migration may impact negatively on parents' ability to care for their children. Little qualitative work has examined Somali-born refugees' experiences. The aim of this study is to explore Somali-born refugees' experiences and challenges of being parents in Sweden, and the support they need in their parenting. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive study was undertaken. Data were collected from four focus group discussions (FGDs) among 23 Somali-born mothers and fathers living in a county in central Sweden. Qualitative content analysis has been applied. RESULTS: A main category, Parenthood in Transition, emerged as a description of a process of parenthood in transition. Two generic categories were identified: Challenges, and Improved parenting. Challenges emerged from leaving the home country and being new and feeling alienated in the new country. In Improved parenting, an awareness of opportunities in the new country and ways to improve their parenting was described, which includes how to improve their communication and relationship with their children. The parents described a need for information on how to culturally adapt their parenting and obtain support from the authorities. CONCLUSIONS: Parents experienced a process of parenthood in transition. They were looking to the future and for ways to improve their parenting. Schools and social services can overcome barriers that prevent lack of knowledge about the new country's systems related to parenthood. Leaving the home country often means separation from the family and losing the social network. We suggest that staff in schools and social services offer parent training classes for these parents throughout their children's childhood, with benefits for the child and family.

Tough, sensitive and sincere : how adolescent boys manage masculinities and emotions

This study aimed to explore adolescent boys��� views of masculinity and emotion management and their potential effects on well-being. Interviews with 33 adolescent boys aged 16���17��years in Sweden were analysed using grounded theory. We found two main categories of masculine conceptions in adolescent boys: gender-normative masculinity with emphasis on group-based values, and non-gender-normative masculinity based on personal values. Gender-normative masculinity comprised two seemingly opposite emotional masculinity orientations, one towards toughness and the other towards sensitivity, both of which were highly influenced by contextual and situational group norms and demands, despite their expressions contrasting each other. Non-gender-normative masculinity included an orientation towards sincerity emphasising the personal values of the boys; emotions were expressed more independently of peer group norms. Our findings suggest that different masculinities and the expression of emotions are strongly intertwined and that managing emotions is vital for well-being.