IntroductionOral health is multi-faceted and influences a person's daily life, and numerous potential barriers and factors can challenge and pose barriers to good oral health. Shortages of healthcare professionals or incorrect care practices can be barriers to performing good oral healthcare. A knowledge gap has been identified in qualitative research on description of healthcare professionals' experiences of oral healthcare among older adults in municipal healthcare.AimTo describe healthcare professionals' experiences of oral healthcare among older adults in Swedish municipal healthcare.Design and methodsThe study employed a qualitative design guided by a secondary qualitative analysis method comprising inductive qualitative content analysis. Data were collected through semi-structured individual interviews with healthcare professionals.ResultsGood relationships and mutual trust create the conditions for delivering good oral healthcare. Knowledge provides confidence and trust in performing oral healthcare, experiences and strategies influence the individual adaptation of oral healthcare, and priorities and collaboration influence oral healthcare provision.Conclusion and implicationsThe performance of oral healthcare is complex and cannot be achieved without establishing a relationship with the older adult who needs care. Oral healthcare includes prerequisites such as routines, sufficient time, work-time planning, and collaboration between healthcare professionals. Registered nurses positively experience opportunities to collaborate with other healthcare professionals regarding oral healthcare and are seen as leaders in the Fundamentals of Care and are sharing good examples of oral healthcare in palliative care.

Oral health care is essential, and digital training may influence healthcare professionals’ attitudes to and knowledge of oral health. The aim, therefore, was to evaluate the impact on attitudes to and knowledge of oral health after using a digital training module among Swedish healthcare professionals working within a municipality-run healthcare service for older adults. A secondary aim was to explore the healthcare professionals’ experiences of using the digital module. The study comprised a survey of healthcare professionals (registered nurses (RNs), assistant nurses, and care assistants) caring for older adults in a municipality in Sweden. Pre-post-tests were conducted to evaluate the outcomes for attitudes to and knowledge of oral health and of their experiences of completing the digital training module in oral health. These were statistically explored by comparing differences between the pre-post-tests, while the open-ended questions were analysed with qualitative content analysis. The findings of this study indicate that healthcare professionals had similar perceptions of their attitudes to and knowledge of oral health both before and after the digital training module in oral health. The study also indicates that healthcare professionals experienced that it is easier to perform practical oral health care after completing the digital training. The results also show that healthcare professionals value oral health knowledge and that the digital training module was easy to use and to disseminate knowledge throughout the municipality. The findings have implications for developing, implementing, and promoting healthcare professionals’ attitudes to and knowledge of oral health and in using a digital training module in combination with practical exercises in oral health in municipality health care. 

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore the factors that are associated with posttraumatic growth among spouses of women diagnosed with gynaecological cancer.

Design: A cross-sectional descriptive study.

Methods: A convenience sample of 312 spouses of women diagnosed with gynaecological cancer was recruited from two comprehensive hospitals in China, from March 2018 to March 2020. Demographic characteristics, cancer-related characteristics, posttraumatic growth, perceived social support and coping were assessed using self-reported questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analysis were performed. The methods were guided by the STROBE checklist.

Results: The mean score of posttraumatic growth was 46.7 (standard deviation = 16.7). The associated factors of posttraumatic growth were spouses' age, perceived social support, problem-focused coping, dysfunctional coping (e.g. denial) and cancer treatment received by partners, which accounted for 34% of total posttraumatic growth score.

Patient or public contribution: All participants contributed to the conducting of this study by completing self-reported questionnaires.

Oral health is a complex issue associated with social and behavioral factors and general health. Therefore, this study aims to explore Swedish older adults’ perceptions of oral health and its influence on general health, based on the World Dental Federation's (FDI) definition and framework of oral health. The study adopted a descriptive qualitative design. Data were collected from semi-structured individual and focus group interviews with older adults (n = 23) and were analyzed with deductive direct content analysis. The study was evaluated using the COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research (COREQ) checklist. The older adults described the importance of good oral health in the physical, social, emotional, and mental aspects of their daily lives. The findings also indicate that older adults described oral health as multifaceted and agreed with the FDI's definition and framework of oral health. Therefore, the study findings might provide healthcare professionals with new knowledge and further insight into older adults’ perceptions of oral health and its influence on their well-being and general health.

Propose

Registered nurses (RNs) are considered to be a major source of professional supportive care for women diagnosed with gynecological cancer (GC). This study described the level of perceived professional benefits and explored association between perceived professional benefits, sense of coherence (SOC), and coping strategies in Chinese RNs caring for women diagnosed with GC.

Method

A cross-sectional survey was employed to collect data using the Nurses' Perceived Professional Benefits Questionnaire (NPPBQ), Sense of coherence scale (SOC-13), and Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (Brief COPE). The questionnaires were administered to 250 RNs in China. The correlations between NPPBQ, SOC-13, and Brief COPE were evaluated with Pearson's correlation coefficient. Multiple regression analysis was performed to assess the relative contribution of each possible factor in explaining variance in the increased NPPBQ.

Results

Total score for NPPBQ was 142.4 (range 33.0–165.0). SOC, dysfunctional coping strategies, and problem-focused coping strategies were recognized as predictors of RNs' perceived professional benefit, while, emotion-focused coping strategies were not significantly associated with RNs’ perceived professional benefits.

Conclusions

The findings indicate that RNs who have high levels of SOC, dysfunctional coping strategies, and problem-focused coping strategies tend to experience more perceived professional benefit. These findings propose new perspectives for nursing managers to promote RNs' perceived professional benefit by helping RNs to find meaningfulness when caring for women diagnosed with GC, increasing RNs’ communication skills to improve their relationship with patients, and training RNs to use coping strategies effectively.

BACKGROUND: Individuals undergoing radiation therapy for breast cancer frequently request information before, throughout and after the treatment as a means to reduce distress. Nevertheless, the provision of information to meet individuals needs from their level of health literacy is often overlooked. Thus, individuals information needs are often unmet, leading to reports of discontent. Internet and digital information technology has significantly augmented the available information and changed the way in which persons accesses and comprehends information. As health information is no longer explicitly obtained from healthcare professionals, it is essential to examine the sequences of the health information process in general, and in relation to health literacy. This paper reports on qualitative interviews, targeting women diagnosed with breast cancer who were given access to a health information technology tool, Digi-Do, before commencing radiation therapy, during, and after treatment. METHODS: A qualitative research design, inspired by the integrated health literacy model, was chosen to enable critical reflection by the participating women. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 women with access to a digital information tool, named Digi-Do, in addition to receiving standard information (oral and written) before commencing radiation therapy, during, and after treatment. A deductive thematic analysis process was conducted. RESULTS: The results demonstrate how knowledge, competence, and motivation influence women's experience of the health information process. Three main themes were found: Meeting interactive and personal needs by engaging with health information; Critical recognition of sources of information; and Capability to communicate comprehended health information. The findings reflect the women's experience of the four competencies: to access, understand, appraise, and apply, essential elements of the health information process. CONCLUSIONS: We can conclude that there is a need for tailored digital information tools, such as the Digi-Do, to enable iterative access and use of reliable health information before, during and after the radiation therapy process. The Digi-Do can be seen as a valuable complement to the interpersonal communication with health care professionals, facilitating a better understanding, and enabling iterative access and use of reliable health information before, during and after the radiotherapy treatment. This enhances a sense of preparedness before treatment starts.

Digital health interventions (DHIs) have become essential complementary solutions in health care to enhance support and communication at a distance, with evidence of improving patient outcomes. Improving clinical outcomes is a major determinant of success in any health intervention, influencing its funding, development, adoption and implementation in real-world practice. In this article we explore our experiences of developing and testing DHIs to identify and discuss complexity challenges along their intervention research lifecycle. Informed by the case study research approach, we selected three individual DHIs aimed at satisfying the supportive and educational needs of people living with cancer. The Care Expert, the Digi-Do and the Gatapp were underpinned on different complexity frameworks i.e., the Medical Research Council framework and the Non-adoption, Abandonment, Scale-up, Spread and Sustainability framework. This variance on the methodological underpinning was expected to prompt a multifaceted discussion on the complexity dimensions endorsed by each of the frameworks. Our discussion endorses the adoption of mixed-methods research designs, to gather the perspectives of stakeholders and end-users, as well as pragmatic evaluation approaches that value effectiveness outcomes as much as process outcomes. Furthermore, the dissemination and sustainability agenda of DHIs needs to be considered from early-stage development with the inclusion of a business model. This business plan should be worked in partnership with healthcare services, regulatory bodies and industry, aiming to assure the management of the DHI throughout time.

Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) technology is increasingly used with radiation therapy to protect healthy organs from unwanted absorbed dose. Using deep breaths, this technique creates as larger distance between the heart and the chest wall. DIBH has shown good results, but requires a well-prepared, involved patient who has learned the correct breathing technique so that optimal position and breathing patterns can be reproduced during each treatment session. There is no evidence regarding which type of inhalation is optimal or how to best train this. However, a person-centered model for DIBH training has been developed in co-design with relevant stakeholders, and this will be integrated into a digital information and instruction tool enabling training undertaken at home. The purpose of this project is to describe and evaluate a person-centered model to train the most optimal breathing technique for breath-adapted postoperative radiotherapy of women affected by left-sided breast cancer.

The ageing population is increasing worldwide, with older people often having multimorbidity and a need for help with activities and personal care. Home Care Assistants (HCAs) are central to the provision of care in the home. They meet older people approaching the end of life and their relatives. Little is known about HCAs attitudes towards caring for a dying person and how aspects such as education, age, earlier care experiences, care education and experience of caring for dying older people affect their attitudes. The aim was to describe HCAs' attitudes towards the care of dying persons living in their ordinary homes. This cross-sectional study used the Frommelt Attitude Toward Care of the Dying Scale (FATCOD) for data collection during December 2017 and January 2018, and descriptive statistics and regression analysis for data analysis. The participants were HCAs (n = 127, 96% of those eligible) in a municipality in central Sweden. An overall positive attitude was reported. About 32% lacked formal HCA education although 93% had experience of interacting with a dying person. Age, HCA education, internal palliative care education, number of years? experience and previous experience of caring for a dying person were independently associated with HCAs? attitudes. In the multivariate regression analysis, age and years of experience were the only significant predictors of HCAs? attitudes towards caring for dying care recipients. Young employees without HCA education and experience of a dying person might be vulnerable in situations involving caring for a dying person. Communicating about death and dying, forming a relationship with the care recipient and the family, and providing care when a person is dying can be challenging.

Implications: Young employees without HCA education and experience of interacting with a dying person needs to be prepared for the situation. This needs to be considered by stakeholders and social and healthcare organisations.