Hälsans grund kan bara hjärtat förstå : ett sökande efter kunskap om hälsa i ljuset av Blaise Pascals tänkande

The aim of this thesis is to gain new understanding of health based on the work Penseés (Thoughts) by Blaise Pascal. The research interest originates from the motive of the heart for the greatness of man in conjunction with his baseness. The study is hermeneutic and the purpose is to describe health formulated as new abductive theses based on the assumption that caring science and caring theology can be conjoined in the same ontology. The work Penseés is, in Gadamer’s sense, alive since the text is constantly being made use of and is in this occurence interpreted through the requirements made by caring science. Pascal’s arguments continue through the historically effected consciousness while the interpretation is confronted with the ontological model of health. In the initial horizon we find the understanding of the motion of health and the extension towards text materials which is undertaken by Pascal’s Penseés. to open up the perspective and be able to project the horizon of the text. In the encounter with the text, the core content will first be discussed in an interpretative part after which the understanding gained will be summarized into new abductive assumptions. On the basis of Gadamer’s emphasis on the applications of the interpretations, the merging of the horizons will identify health as something desired by man, what he is and what he wants to accomplish. The creation of health is the reason of the heart, and on the basis of what man wants to confide in, the rise of health will be established. The totality of greatness and baseness of man is achieved by the accomplishment of health. That man owns spiritual devotedness means health whereas unhealthy means that he is insecure of his character and leads a life with ill-considered amusements. When according to Pascal, man’s desires and thoughts are joined in the heart, a connecting relation will arise. Hence the spiritual edification that man will fail to secure if he puts too much of his confidence in transient reason is included, something that is insufficient when it comes to understand the meaning of health.

Savnets tone i ensomhetens melodi : ensomhet hos aleneboende personer med alvorlig psykisk lidelse

Studiens overordnede hensikt er å bestemme begrepet ensomhet i et vårdvitenskapelig perspektiv. Avhandlingen er en monografisk eksplorativ hermeneutisk studie og oppbygget i fire større helheter, der første hoveddel starter med en inntreden i den hermeneutiske spiral, og hvor paradigme, ontologiske, epistemologiske og metodologiske overveielser angir studiens videre retning. Andre hoveddel anses som studiens teoretiske substans og belyser ensomhetens `Hva´ gjennom ulike teoretiske perspektiv og begrepsanalyse av ensom. I belysningen framkommer ensomhet både som lidelse og som meningsfullt for eksistensen. Første hoveddel avsluttes med en bestemmelse av ensomhet som substanskunnskap innenfor vårdvitenskapens helse-og lidelsesforhold som utgjør ulike nivåer av gjørende, værende og vardende. Tredje hoveddel er en empiriskstudie med deltagende observasjon, forskersamtaler og kvalitative intervjuer i samtaleform. Informantene var åtte aleneboende personer med alvorlig psykisk lidelse i en storby og foregikk over ca. ett år. I tolkningsprosessen søkes en gradvis fordypende forståelse av den enkelte informants ensomhet i relasjon til vårdvitenskapens livs-, sykdoms- og vårdlidelse. Tolkningsrammen er i det vesentligefra første teoridel, samtidig som nye tolkningsteoretikere innlemmes som opplysende "lamper". Forståelsens tolkningsresultater framkommer gjennom en sammenfattende diskusjon, der livsberettelsens felles skjebne synliggjør savn som ideografisk invarians. Fjerde hoveddel er en vårdvitenskapelig filosofisk belysning av forholdet ensomhet og savn, hvor Levinas' fundamentaletikk utgjør tolkningsrammen. Studien avsluttes med en horisontsammensmeltning av forholdet ensomhet og savngjennom fellesskap og oppfyllelse i tid og rom. Horisontsammensmeltningen viserat ensomhet og savn i sin dybdestruktur forholder seg til hverandre i en dialektikk til motsetningene: fellesskap og oppfyllelse. Det nedfelles fem teser som ansatser til vårdvitenskapelig teori. Resultatene får implikasjoner for så vel pedagogikk som vårdpraksis.

Kroppen som bärare av hälsa och lidande

The overall aim of this study is to seek new knowledge and deeper understanding of the body as a phenomenon from a caring science point of view. By means of a hermeneutic definition, the body is studied on a contextual as well as an ontological level in order to create a deeper understanding for human beings in relation to health and suffering. The study focuses of the body as a perspective of human beings. It is important for the knowledge growth in caring science to create a deeper understanding for the body, thus making it possible to understand patients in nursing care. The overall methodology is a hermeneutic definition which covers a contextual and an ontological concept definition. In the three empirical studies, Giorgi’s phenomenological method was used. The first empirical study comprises twelve students’ statements about experiences of their body in different situatons in life. The second study is composed of interviews with fifteen patients who had been afflicted by illness and been subjected to surgical treatment. In the third empirical study, ten patients who had been cared for in perioperative nursing care were interviewed. In the data analysis, the essential meaning of the body as a phenomenon is described, along with its variations and nuances. In the ontological determination of the body, an etymologic and semantic analysis is carried out, as well as a qualitative analysis of ideas, where the material is comprised of chosen texts on the body from different perspectives. In the concluding analysis the results were synthesized. The result of the first empirical study shows that a body is expressive and manifests movement in its striving for dignity. The body harbours language and inherent powers to cope with the unexpected, as well as feelings of anxiety, fear and powerlessness. The second study shows that the body is experienced as mysterious when it is afflicted by illness, but it is also found mysterious as an opponent to man and life. A battle is fought between the illness that breaks down the body, and human beings fighting to keep their unity whole. The body appears as a prison and a host for a threatening illness. The body bears a feeling of powerlessness when it is changed by illness and suffering. In a care and treatment context, the body is objectified by the patient and the caregiver. It is the illness that forces the patient to sacrifice parts of the body in order to once again become whole in the unity. The third study shows that the patient in a perioperative nursing context delivers him-/herself over to the hands of the caregiver, who defends and protects body and life. The patient experiences a sense of well-being when the caretaker receives him/her and protects the body from dangers. Suffering is alleviated when the patients are allowed to talk about what has happened in their body. The result of the semantic analysis shows that the body as a concept is described as bending around the human soul and spirit. Linguistically, dimensions like corporeal, shape, totality, unity and mortal clay, are described. Different ideas about the body described it as: a material animate part of man, active and demanding, something that perceives its surrounding world and as a subjective body of senses, thoughts and language. Ideas about the body also describe it as a biological and physiological, living organism, submitted to the laws of nature, a passive apparatus and a socially constructed gender. The results of the different studies were synthesized and reflected against a caring science perspective. The research has created a deeper understanding for the body as a material abode and as an entity of body, soul and spirit.

Hälsa i vårdande gemenskap : gemenskapens betydelse för äldre

The aim of the study and research questions: The aim of this study is to illuminate how caring communion can aid in promoting health as becoming in elderly people in the context of natural caring. The target group of the study consists of elderly citizens living at home. The focus of this thesis is on the concept of communion and how caring communion can affect the inner health resources in a patient’s inner health domain, as well as how caring communion can support health as becoming and inner health resources in the elderly. The main research questions of this study are the following: 1) what does communion mean? 2) what does caring communion mean? 3) what is the connection between caring communion and health? Theoretical perspective: The theoretical perspective of this qualitative study relies on the caritative caring theory as developed by scholars of caring sciences at the Åbo Academi University’s Vasa unit. The caritas motive is based on an ethos built on a consideration of togetherness, i.e. caring communion, a place where one feels at home and where one can be the person one was meant to be. Methodology: A hermeneutic research approach based on Gadamer (1997) permeates the study. This entails that understanding and interpretation become central. The study conducted in the thesis is divided into three sub-studies. Sub-study one and two are based on ontological determination whereas the third sub-study is carried out by contextual determination. The first sub-study is conducted by etymological and semantic analysis of the concept of communion (gemenskap) based on Koort (1975) and the second sub-study by determining the basic epistemological category of the concept based on Eriksson (2010b). Sub-study three is conducted through content analysis of 18 multidisciplinary and 13 caring science articles and dissertations based on Kvale (2009). The aim in the third sub-study is to define caring communions in various contexts of meaning based on Eriksson´s model of conceptual determination (2010b). All studies are interpreted through hermeneutic interpretation where the continuous movement from a part of a whole, to the whole, to part again, leads to new understanding. Finally, the findings from all the three sub-studies are compared to the concepts of pre-understanding and the inner-health-domain model of Wärnås (2002). Results: The results of the study offer a description of the dimensions of caring communion and a model that illuminates how caring communion can further health as becoming. The fundamentals of caring communion rest on the idea of a human being’s absolute right to dignity as a base for communion. The concept of communion contains a moral, an ethical, and a spiritual component. In communion, there exists a moral and ethical responsibility and a willingness to commit oneself. The individual is part of a connection or relation and knows the aim and course for the communion. A caring connection, a caring culture, a caring atmosphere and caring listening are characteristics of caring communion. In caring communion, the elderly feel trusting and see themselves as unique, powerful, and valuable. The model demonstrates that when the elderly are able to rest in caring communion, the virtues of courage and faith become strong and desire for life awaken within the elderly and health as becoming becomes possible. Conclusions: The outcome of the study is that all communion is not necessarily caring communion. In order for communion to be caring and for the elderly to achieve health as becoming, there are certain criteria that must be met. This is especially important when designing activities for the elderly in the context of natural caring.

Kost och hälsa i skolan : En studie av uppfattningar hos rektorer, statliga skolmyndigheter och kommunala kostchefer

Syftet med arbetet var att undersöka hur skolan ser på kost och hälsa, samt elevers matvanor. Hur viktiga är dessa frågor för skolan, finns strategier för ett arbete kring detta? För att nå syftet har intervjuer gjorts med representanter för statliga skolmyndigheter – Myndigheten för skol-utveckling (MSU) och Nationellt centrum för främjandet av god hälsa hos barn och ungdom (NCFF). Även kommunala kostchefer och gymnasierektorer från två olika kommuner (Leksand och Gävle) har intervjuats. Resultatet av undersökningen är att det råder skilda uppfattningar om kost- och hälsofrågorna hos dessa ansvariga för skolan. Mest engagerade är de statliga skolmyndigheterna, som också efterlyser mer konkreta formuleringar om kosten i läroplanen. De intervjuade rektorerna delar inte denna uppfattning. Kostcheferna vill ha in mer kostkunskap i skolans undervisning. Det råder oenighet även om godis- och läskförsäljning i skolan. Satsningen på ekologiska alternativ går dåligt: Ingen skola serverar ekologiska livsmedel; ingen av kommun-erna gör för närvarande en satsning på detta, trots de statliga direktiven. Helhetsbilden är ändå att skolorna arbetar med kost- och hälsofrågorna i ett bredare, större (mer abstrakt) perspektiv, t.ex. inom ämnen som Livskunskap och Samhällskunskap, där de globala miljöfrågorna diskuteras.

De som inte är med : Elevers skäl till att inte delta i undervisningen i Idrott och hälsa samt deras förslag på vilka förändringar som behövs inom ämnet

Denna uppsats behandlar elever med lågt deltagande i ämnet Idrott och hälsa. Tio elever på två gymnasieskolor har intervjuats om varför de har låg närvaro vid idrottslektionerna. Syftet med arbetet är att undersöka vad i ämnet Idrott och hälsa som gör att vissa elever väljer att inte delta. Fokus ligger på vilka skäl eleverna anger för att inte delta, samt hur dessa elever skulle vilja förändra undervisningen i Idrott och hälsa för att deras deltagande ska öka. Resultatet pekar på att de skäl eleverna anger för läraren inte alltid stämmer överens med de faktiska skäl som eleverna har. Anledningarna till att eleverna inte vill vara med varierar, men i stora drag handlar det om att eleverna tycker att de traditionella föreningsidrotterna och tävlingsmomenten tar för stor plats. När det gäller förändringar så är det mest frekventa att eleverna vill vara mer delaktiga i att forma sin egen undervisning. De vill också se att de traditionella boll- och lagsporterna får stå tillbaka för fler alternativ i undervisningen. Om företrädarna för ämnet Idrott och hälsa i större utsträckning vill nå alla elever bör ämnet förändras. Kanske behöver ämnets popularitet sättas på spel och ämnets fokus flyttas längre bort från den traditionella föreningsidrotten än vad som idag är fallet.

Kvinnors psykiska hälsa under menstruationscykeln

Under menstruationscykeln påverkas kvinnan av flera hormonstimulerande signalsubstanser och hormoner som i sin tur kan ha olika effekt på den psykiska och fysiska hälsan som PMS – premenstruellt syndrom eller PMDD – premenstruell dysforisk dysfunktion. Syftet med studien var att undersöka variationer i allmänt mående, irritationsnivå och energi under en menstruationscykel. I undersökningen deltog 2 grupper av kvinnor, de som inte använder, respektive de som använder hormonpreparat. Tjugofem undersökningsdeltagare (udd) ingick i undersökningen som pågick under 30 dagar. Undersökningen, som var webbaserad, bestod av att kvinnan dagligen fyllde i frågor om sitt mående. Resultatet visade inte på signifikanta medelvärdesskillnader mellan olika dagar i menscykeln eller mellan kvinnorna i gruppen oavsett grupp. Resultatet signalerade även att kvinnor som inte använder sig av något hormonpreparat svänger mer i sin psykiska hälsa.

Psykosocial arbetsmiljö och dess effekter på den nyutexaminerade sjuksköterskans hälsa och arbetstillfredsställelse : En litteraturstudie rörande nyutexaminerade sjuksköterskors första tid i arbetslivet

Denna studie genomfördes som en litteraturstudie där syftet var att undersöka vad det kan innebära att vara nyutexaminerad sjuksköterska, samt vilka faktorer i arbetsmiljön som påverkade deras hälsa och arbetstillfredsställelse den första tiden i arbetslivet. Vetenskapliga artiklar söktes med hjälp av sökmotorerna CINAHL, PubMed och Medline. Artiklar med kvantitativ ansats (n= 12) och kvalitativ ansats (n=6) inkluderades i studien. Efter att materialet granskats med hjälp av granskningsmallar som erhölls från Högskolan Dalarna, inkluderades totalt 18 vetenskapliga artiklar med medelhög (n=3) och hög (n= 15) kvalitet i resultatet i litteraturstudien. Resultatet delades upp i 9 underrubriker som ansågs svara på studiens syfte och frågeställningar. Resultatet påvisade att mobbing, verbala övergrepp och stress var faktorer som påverkade de nyutexaminerade sjuksköterskornas hälsa och arbetstillfredsställelse negativt medan en trevlig och stödjande psykosocial arbetsmiljö och tillgång till handledare och/eller mentor var något som påverkade de nyutexaminerade sjuksköterskorna positivt. Konklusion: den psykiska och sociala arbetsmiljön som de nyutexaminerade sjuksköterskorna mötte var en viktig faktor för deras förmåga att anpassa sig till den nya rollen som sjuksköterska. Det fanns faktorer i den psykosociala arbetsmiljön som visade sig påverka kvaliteten på det arbete de nyutexaminerade sjuksköterskorna utförde samt även påverkade deras hälsa och arbetstillfredsställelse.

Elevers uppfattningar av vad man bör uppnå efter avslutad kurs i Idrott och Hälsa A : En studie av två gymnasieskolor i årskurs 2 – ett elevperspektiv

The purpose of this work is to see if the students, on two separate high schools, understand what skills you should achieve after completing the course in physical education and health A 100 points. The entire study is based on a student perspective. In order to best answer the purpose, the questionnaire used in the "available groups" in schools. The questions for the work are: To what extent and how students perceive what they should achieve after completing the course in Sport and Health A?, Which is the goal, based on the curriculum in Physical Education, that students feel are important to achieve? and how do a comparison like between these two schools on the basis of what students perceive that they must achieve in Sport and Health A?The result shows that the main goal that finds support in the course objectives is an assertion; Has knowledge of what to eat to maintain or improve health, which over 90% of students had checked in. The least important goal was the claim 14; Know woods and fields and carry out outdoor activities, as 30% of students had checked in. The most important goal that does not find support in the course objectives is claim 10; to be reversed to the lessons, which was 88% in response rate among students. Here was the least important goal, claim 6; to be skilled in various ball games, which received 17% of student responses. The findings revealed that there is a clear health perspective in physical education in the studied groups at the two schools, one can also see that there is an uneven distribution of the elements included in the curriculum of Sport and Health A, and the outdoor life and dance is rare in the teaching of the groups studied at the two schools. Finally, it appeared that the lesson content and teaching are likely to have a significant role in student perceptions of course goals.

Samband mellan mammans BMI relaterat till amningsduration och mammans skattning av barnets hälsa : En enkätstudie

I ett internationellt perspektiv har Sverige hög amningsfrekvens, men under 2000-talet har amningsfrekvensen sjunkit och stora regionala skillnader ses. Kvinnorna rekommenderas att helamma sex månader. Mödravårdcentralen (MVC) informerar om bröstmjölkens hälsoeffekter som till exempel att bröstmjölken skyddar barn mot allergier. Forskning visar att överviktiga och feta kvinnor har kortare amningsduration, men få studier behandlar svenska förhållanden. Syfte: Syfte med fördjupningsarbetet är att studera samband mellan mammans BMI relaterat till amningsduration och mammans skattning av barnets hälsa de tre första levnadsåren. Metod: Studien är en kvantitativ retrospektiv tvärsnittstudie. Data insamlades via enkäter, 418 deltagare inkluderades. Data har analyserats med Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). För deskriptiv och jämförande analys har parametriska och icke-parametriska analyser genomförts. Resultat: De kvinnor som inte ammade skattade sitt barns hälsa sämre vid tre års ålder i jämförelse med kvinnor som ammat någon period. Vid tre års ålder skattade kvinnor med övervikt och fetma sitt barns hälsa sämre. Slutsats: Det är viktigt att kunna identifiera kvinnor som är behov av stöd för att initiera amning och kunna bidra till anpassat stöd till dem. AbstractSweden reports high duration of breastfeeding compared to international findings. During the last century, the frequency of breastfeeding duration has decreased in Sweden, with large regional differences. Recommendation for exclusive breastfeeding is six months. Midwives provide information about healthy benefits of breast milk, such as breast milk protecting baby´s against allergies. Research has presented associations between obesity and short duration of breastfeeding. However, there is a lack of knowledge regarding women in a Swedish context. Aim: To investigate the relation between mothers BMI, duration of breastfeeding and maternal valuation of the baby´s health during the first three year of life. Method: The study is a quantitative retrospective cross-sectional study. Data was collected through questionnaires, 418 participants were included. Data was analyzed using the SPSS. For descriptive and comparative analysis parametric and nonparamateric statistics have been used.Results: Women who did not breastfed perceived their baby´s health worse at three years compared with women who did breastfeed. Women with overweight and obesity also perceived the health of their three year old worse than the other maternal group. Conclusions: It´s important to identify women who need support to initiate breastfeeding and give them customized support.