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BACKGROUND: Technology is widely used in school to assist students with visual impairments. Drawing with traditional methods is still difficult for those users. In this paper, we present and discuss an evaluation of a haptic and sound interactive drawing program (HIPP). OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to identify what aspects of the technological aid support the drawing skill development in children with visual impairment. METHODS: Interviews, observations and video recordings of use situations were used for data gathering. Our analysis is based on cultural-historical activity theory, and examines the mediation between the child and the object of their activity, their drawings, as well as the roles of teachers, classmates, assistants, and family. RESULTS: The haptic and audio drawing program supports the steps (doodling, interpretation, planning, and more intentional drawing) observed in visually-acquired drawing, although possible improvements have also been identified. Observations of the drawing program in use showed that its mix of dynamic multimodal interaction and a stable drawing feedback, enable visually impaired students and sighted teachers to jointly access a shared representation. CONCLUSIONS: Successful long-term use, together with the presented results of our analysis show how multimodal dynamic and stable interaction can successfully support drawing activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: As guardians of the public interest, auditors represent a unique occupational group. The group that has shown to experience high level of stress and overload is often being associated with environmentally imposed responsibility as well as organizationally imposed performance demands. It is the latter aspects, represented by the concept of organizational culture, that is being highlighted in this paper and its relationship to auditor's well-being OBJECTIVES: The paper aims to explore organizational culture as an antecedent of auditors' well-being, which is assumed to have important consequences for the quality of auditors' work. METHODS: This study is based on a survey of 207 Swedish auditors. Using established and validated instruments measuring aspects of organizational culture and personal well-being, the study employed correlations and multiple regression analysis in testing the relationship between the two. RESULTS: The results of the study suggest that an increasing degree of collectivistic organizational culture has a positive relationship with three aspects of well-being: Job satisfaction, life balance and life satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first attempt to explore well-being of auditors and its antecedents represented by organizational culture. Contrary to the expectation that auditors take an individualistic approach to their work, this study establishes that auditors feel best in a work environment characterized by a collectivist organizational culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Despite an increase in work-life balance literature, the development of successful support to help employees manage their work -life balance is slow. Moreover, there are few interventions with a comprehensive approach to workplace health promotion focusing on work-life balance. OBJECTIVE: This paper aims to present the development and building blocks of a holistic interdisciplinary health-promoting program, the BELE program, to enhance female employees working in human service organizations health and well-being with a focus on work-life balance. METHODS: The planning and development of the program was done through an intervention mapping and research circles methodology. RESULTS: The planning- and development process of the program resulted in a theoretical framework, and a program structure with a program content. The intervention program was named "The Balance in Everyday Life Empowerment program" (BELE program). CONCLUSIONS: The BELE program adds to the existing body of work-life balance knowledge, so far often based on a conflict approach. Interventions focusing on a comprehensive approach to health and work-life balance with a salutogenic approach are rare. Furthermore, the integration with occupational therapy and health promotion in a workplace health promotion framework is innovative. In a previous study, the BELE program has shown that it enhances women's well-being and balance in their everyday life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to describe and reflect on an interactive research approach used to address the challenges on how to improve product introductions, the part of the product realization process associated with the transfer of a product from product development to serial production. In the interactive research approach, research results as well as improvement of practice are given equal importance. The collaboration between researchers and practitioners therefore addresses both the focus and the process of the change. The approach includes four main iterative steps: 1) mapping/diagnosis, 2) feedback of results, 3) participation in development activities, and 4) follow-up/evaluation. The paper reports findings from interactive research in one company within office product industry and one company group, consisting of three company units within the engine industry. Preliminary findings indicate that the participating companies afterwards work in a more structured way with product introductions and that the employees have gained deeper knowledge about product introductions as well as experienced the advantages of working across functional boundaries. Furthermore, the interactive research approach is suitable to run projects from an ergonomics perspective as it focuses on developing both practice and theory, it is human-centered, and it emphasizes broad participation from practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world is currently in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic which has halted the tourism sector and created an unprecedented global economic crisis. This paper will outline economics pertaining to COVID-19 lockdown, recovery and the inevitable competition that will occur between countries for tourists who will be scarcer and therefore more valuable. Countries are competing with a variety of incentives in order to lure visitors. However, persistent first waves that extend into July will put off tourists, further reducing tourism revenues and accelerate job losses and bankruptcies in affected countries. The example of Sweden's response to COVID-19 in this regard will be described. Countries that have COVID-19 relatively under control but experience second waves will also manifest negative tourism effects. Governments and public health must act in unison so as to exit lockdown as speedily and as safely as feasible, with COVID-19 rises that are as low and brief as possible in order to better compete in the tourism sector with other countries. Websites are already online comparing not only safety for travellers vis-à-vis COVID-19 but also the incentives offered by different countries in their attempts to woo tourists in this difficult market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is argued here that Electronic Government (E-Gov) research to date has misconceived humans and technology, tending to give primacy to one or the other, but failing to grapple with their interaction. The present paper tries to remedy this by introducing an Actor-Network Theory (ANT) inspired approach in which the principle of symmetry is applied to an empirical case. This perspective emphasizes agency as a combination of actions of humans and technology, both separately and in conjunction (a "hybrid"). The research context is a computerized decision support (DSS) for portfolio management in the premium pension system in Sweden. The study shows that a system incorporating humans in conjunction with the DSS (a "hybrid") is able to make advanced economic decisions in line with pension policy by incorporating the preferences and characteristics of humans as well as the capabilities of technology. From a more general perspective, E-Gov is discussed today as a way of extending the hybridization of society, which is becoming an increasingly important component of the state's relationship with its citizens. The paper also discusses methodological implications, most importantly how to represent technology in a symmetrical analysis and how to avoid excessive detail in reporting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An emergency management tool developed for training police, fire and ambulance teams in Norway and Sweden provided the data for this paper. The teams communicated with representatives of the local power companies and county and municipality officials in responding to various emergency scenarios in a web-based training tool. The project generated rich textual data of the content of the communications as well as a range of quantitative data on who communicated with whom, how often and with what type of information. The author analyzed the qualitative data using the NVivo software package and the quantitative analysis used the R statistics package and the social network analysis (SNA) module. The textual analysis shows distinct patterns of concepts and terms used by the various emergency response agencies. The quantitative analysis illustrates the flow of communication among the participants of the emergency management training (EMT). Visual representation of both the qualitative and quantitative data from the project provides a thorough insight into processes of communication among emergency response personnel in role-playing training sessions. The data visualization enhances the debriefing session following emergency response training. The research group at Mid Sweden University and NORD University recently received funding for a three-year continuation of the project. The new project will emphasize the demand side (community stakeholders) in addition to the supply side (the emergency personnel). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the third KES Symposium on Agent and Multi- Agent Systems:Technologies and Applications held at Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden from June 3-5, 2009. The symposium organized by Uppsala University aimed to provide an international forum for scientific research into the technologies and applications of agent and multi-agent systems which are innovative type of modern software systems. The symposium also attracted several scientists.

In this paper we give an overview of the development of institutional repositories in Sweden, by addressing the criticism raised in the Finch report. In contrast to how the use and development of institutional repositories in the UK is described we show the ever-increasing importance repositories take in Sweden, with DiVA as our particular example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aimed at summarizing the knowledge of the relationship between Lean and work related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSD), and WMSD risk factors, in manufacturing companies. Literature search processes identified 23 publications studying this, in scientific journals. Eight included measurements of WMSD; three were mostly negative, two showed mixed results, one showed no results and two were mostly positive. Eighteen publications included measurements of WMSD risk factors; seven showed mostly negative results, eight snowed mixed results, two showed mostly positive results and one was inconclusive. Three literature reviews were identified, which studied this question; two were mostly negative, while the third was inconclusive. Also, 12 publications of grey literature studying Lean and WMSD risk factors in Swedish organizations were identified; nine showed mixed results, two showed mostly positive results and one showed mostly negative results. Due to the varying quality and study design of the publications, together with the few identified studies, it is difficult to compare them. The context and the implementation also likely affect the results. The general conclusion was that a Lean implementation may increase the risk of WMSD and risk factors for WMSD, if it is not accompanied with an ergonomic intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Learning from incidents is important for improving safety. Many companies spend a great deal of time and money on such learning procedures. The objectives of this paper are to present some early results from a project aimed at revealing weaknesses in the procedures for learning from incidents and to discuss improvements in these procedures, especially in chemical process industries. The empirical base comes from a project assessing organizational learning and the effectiveness of the different steps of the learning cycle for safety and studying relations between safety-specific transformational leadership, safety climate, trust, safety-related behavior and learning from incidents. The results point at common weaknesses in the organizational learning, both in the horizontal learning (geographical spread) and in vertical learning (double-loop learning). Furthermore, the effectiveness in the different steps of the learning cycle is low due to insufficient information in incident reports, very shallow analyses of reports, decisions that focus at solving the problem only at the place where the incident took place, late implementations and weak solutions. Strong correlations with learning from incidents were found for all safety climate variables as well as for safety-related behaviors and trust. The relationships were very strong for trust, safety knowledge, safety participation and safety compliance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) is a shore-side service implemented by a 'Competent Authority to improve the safety and efficiency of vessel traffic and to protect the environment'. It is a service that operates through VTS centers, from which VTS operators monitor traffic, assist in navigational matters and provide information to all ships in a designated area. As VTS is provided by operators located on shore, they usually make use of several decision support systems to be able to monitor the traffic and to provide information to the vessels. Although several new tools and approaches have been introduced in the VTS domain, there is still room for improvements. This paper summarizes the results from three studies conducted within the EfficienSea project to approach user needs for dynamic risk management in the VTS domain. Data was collected by conducting study visits and observations at VTS centers, a focus group interview as well as several semi-structured interviews. The paper summarizes the results and presents technical and organizational user needs for dynamic risk management within the VTS domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This paper was based on case study research at the Swedish Mail Service Division and it addresses learning time to sort mail at new districts and means to support the learning process on an individual as well as organizational level. Participants: The study population consisted of 46 postmen and one team leader in the Swedish Mail Service Division. Methods: Data were collected through measurements of time for mail sorting, interviews and a focus group. Results: The study showed that learning to sort mail was a much more complex process and took more time than expected by management. Means to support the learning process included clarification of the relationship between sorting and the topology of the district, a good work environment, increased support from colleagues and management, and a thorough introduction for new postmen. Conclusions: The identified means to support the learning process require an integration of human, technological and organizational aspects. The study further showed that increased operations flexibility cannot be reinforced without a systems perspective and thorough knowledge about real work activities and that ergonomists can aid businesses to acquire this knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the perspective of e-government practitioners at a government agency in Sweden, this article analyses the design-process with the aim of unearthing the design-principles of a Digital Index (DI). The DI is developed to address challenges of how to: understand; appraise; learn from and develop e-government – by combining digital technologies with the context of public administration. This study applies a design-science research method and analyses the initial steps of the design-process: awareness of the problem, suggestion, and development. The results show how the abstract artefact – the DI – is constructed and how it is based on three main design-principles. Firstly e-government should be contextualised with the nature of public administration – which means relating digital technologies vis-a-vis core-businesses of a public authority. Secondly: digital technologies support administrative processes and must be premised on the classification of information and law. Thirdly, apply a process view of e-government that highlights the relationship between internal administrative procedures, the interaction with citizens/companies and the sharing of government data. The discussion highlights how the DI is relevant for research on e-government by offering some concrete as well as general perspectives on how to combine e-government and public administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of information technology (IT) in health care has the potential to facilitate care over distance in almost any clinical specialties, reducing time to diagnosis, improve equity of access for patients in remote areas, and improve quality of life and patient satisfaction. In particular, electronic health records (EHRs) offer the possibility of accessing fast and updated patients' information. With the potential of making easier for individuals to be more concern in their own health and care, by increasing contact between individuals and health care providers; but also by providing more efficient support systems for medical staff. In this paper, we present the Swedish current experience and future development in the use of EHRs, in order draw upon such example to apply this methodology for data sharing and collection in other European countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The construction industry is heavily affected by occupational accidents, and it is important to investigate how leadership behaviors promoting safety on construction sites are fostered among construction-site managers. OBJECTIVE: The overall aim of this study was to investigate how safety-leadership behaviors can be developed in the construction industry, specifically focusing on managerial role modeling. METHODS: A two-wave longitudinal cohort study with approximately four months between measurement occasions was conducted among construction-site supervisors in Sweden (n = 51). Supervisors' ratings of their site managers' and their own generic and safety-specific contingent reward (CR) leadership behaviors were obtained by means of questionnaires. Cross-lagged panel models were tested within a path model framework to test the hypothesis that site managers' leadership behaviors prospectively influence supervisors' leadership behaviors. RESULTS: Site managers' CR behaviors prospectively influenced supervisors' CR behaviors, both generic CR behaviors (β= 0.29, p = 0.01) and safety-specific CR behaviors (β= 0.22, p = 0.04). For safety-specific CR behaviors, a reversed effect (β= 0.26, p = 0.03) was also found, implying that supervisors' behaviors prospectively influenced site managers' behaviors. CONCLUSION: Site managers act as role models for supervisors when it comes to developing safety-leadership behaviors on construction sites. The results also indicate that site managers are influenced by their subordinate supervisors' safety-leadership behaviors. Hence, there seems to be reciprocal interaction between site managers and supervisors in which they influence each other and together shape safety-leadership practices at their construction sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND:Work and employees are often marginalized in studies on community-based psychiatric care and support systems. This paper highlights the role of the worker at congregated supported housing for people with severe mental illness (SMI). Housing support workers (HSW) are a fairly new professional role and have developed as a result of major changes in Swedish mental health care and services. The development of new roles is not unproblematic and raises intriguing questions. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to describe housing support workers' experiences of meaning in their work, and in addition illuminate how the work identity of HSWs can be negotiated and constructed. METHODS: Four focus group interviews were conducted with a total of 25 participants. Additionally, three follow up sessions were conducted with the same participants. The material consists of employees from four different sites. The intepretation of the material was inspired by a constructionist approach. RESULTS: The analysis generated three themes: to do a good job, everyday needs and the formal role. The work identity for HSWs is complex and not easily interpreted. CONCLUSIONS: The experience of an unclear assignment affects the description of what is meaningful and important-the work identity and significant affiliations for HSWs. In the long run, this fragmented world can have negative implications for the HSW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Occupational health services (OHS) are often described as an important resource to reduce work-related diseases and improve the workplace. OBJECTIVE: This paper identifies key factors for successful collaboration between Swedish OHS providers and their client companies. METHODS: Interviews were carried out with representatives of 15 companies and their OHS providers. The interviews were transcribed and their content analyzed. RESULTS: The results revealed that successful collaboration was highly correlated with six factors. First, the collaboration depends on both parties; "it takes two to tango". Second, the company and the OHS provider have a joint commitment to a long-term collaboration. Third, the collaboration is built on frequent contact at different organizational levels. Fourth, the company has a well-structured work environment for occupational health and safety management. Fifth, the OHS provider uses a consultative approach in its prevention and promotion activities. Finally, OHS providers seek to treat the company, not the individual. CONCLUSIONS: Our research indicates that a successful collaboration requires both occupational health and safety management (OHSM) within the company and the assistance of a competent OHS provider. A change toward more promotion and prevention services benefits the company, since the occupational health services are better tailored to the company's needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in income inequality, due to a shift in favor of the upper end in the United States and other countries, has become a public policy concern. This paper shows that the Gini index, G, underestimates the rate of increase in inequality because a shift of income towards the top incomes increases both the numerator and denominator of G. A modified index (G_2), which replaces the mean in the denominator by the median, indicates that income inequality in the United States grew at about twice the rate as the Gini index from 1967 to 2012. The analysis accounts for the effect of the changes made in the survey collection process in 1994. In contrast with the United States, while income inequality increased in Sweden, the shift in favor of the upper income region was less pronounced. The index G_2 is readily computed from the mean, median and Gini index, published by many national statistical agencies. Although G_2 may not be appropriate for some analytic purposes, it is an easily calculated summary descriptive measure that is more sensitive to important changes in the income distribution than the Gini index. Most other indices placing greater weight on the upper end of the income distribution must be calculated from micro-data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper gives a brief description of the service delivery system for assistive technology used in daily life (AT) in Sweden, and includes discussion on present changes and trends. In Sweden the responsibility for provision of AT is shared between counties/regions and municipalities. The greater part of the cost for prescribed AT is paid by taxes. Each county/region and municipality decides on its fees and assortment of AT; there are no national guidelines or coordination. The prescription process is part of the rehabilitation process, where assessment of needs precedes prescription. In 2007 the Swedish government commissioned a programme in which trials with a voucher system were conducted in three counties and eight municipalities. The trials were evaluated and interviewed users expressed that the voucher system increased their participation in the process and that they experienced more satisfaction when they had purchased the AT on their own. The voucher system has been criticized by some users; notably by the main user organisation for persons with hearing impairments. During the past ten years, the range of AT that can be prescribed has been reduced and users have to buy some types of AT as consumer products on the private market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) of Indonesia in the Paris Agreement targeted emission reductions of 29% on its own and 41% with international cooperation in 2030, followed by Net Zero Emissions (NZE) in 2060. To achieve NZE, Indonesia enacted a carbon tax policy on April 1, 2022. The 2022–2024 carbon tax is limited to Steam Power Plants and will be imposed on other sectors by 2030. This research examines the ratio legis of carbon cost policies in Indonesia and compares the core of carbon tax policies in Indonesia with Sweden and Finland. Indonesia is starting to implement a Carbon Pricing policy under the 'Cap-and-Tax' scheme. The Cap scheme will be a means to force changes in the business culture in Indonesia, so the companies will pay attention to and reduce the carbon emission produced to avoid paying penalties for carbon exceeding the limits. Meanwhile, the Carbon Tax will provide economic resources to Indonesia to develop environmentally friendly technologies, fund research on renewable energy, and provide incentives for environmentally friendly businesses during the transition process to a carbon culture in Indonesia. Referring to the results of the comparison of carbon pricing policies in Finland and Sweden, Indonesia can gradually increase the cost of carbon taxes starting from Rp30,000/US$2 per ton CO2 equivalent to US$10 per ton CO2 equivalent. Meanwhile, for the imposition of high carbon tax rates, such as in Finland (US$73.02 per ton CO2 equivalent) and Sweden (US$137 per ton CO2 equivalent), Indonesia must carry out tax reforms, so the applied carbon tax is able to reduce carbon emissions without causing adverse impacts for the Indonesian economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Despite numerous regulatory initiatives to improve health and safety in the construction industry, it still ranks as one of the most accident-prone industries worldwide. A dedicated focus on safety culture has been suggested as a complement to laws, regulations and management systems. OBJECTIVE: This article explores safety culture research conducted in the construction industry, with the aim to provide insight into the specific themes that tend to be in focus as well as what theoretical and methodological approaches that tend to be favored. METHODS: Searches in scientific databases were conducted twice. In a first attempt, searches resulted in 54 hits but only two articles fit the scope of the study. A revision of the search phrase resulted in 124 hits. Ultimately, 17 articles fit the scope of the study and were included. The content of the articles was analyzed and sorted thematically. RESULTS: The results show that four themes are prevalent in the existing literature: 1) unique challenges entail a need for situated applications, 2) models developed to operationalize safety culture, 3) measuring safety culture, and 4) safety management and leadership as key factors. CONCLUSION: Although research focusing on the construction industry has come to favor certain study designs and definitions of safety culture, further research may be enriched by broadening the theoretical and methodological perspectives. Specifically, researchers should conduct more in-depth qualitative studies that take the complexity of the industry into account, including the interpersonal relations between the actors involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To access and maintain paid employment is of importance for all people in our society. Today a large number of people are more or less excluded from the open labour market. One of these disadvantaged groups is people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This paper presents the project KVAS - Assessment and Validation Asperger Syndrome, that took place in the municipality of Botkyrka in Sweden during the years 2007-2010. The Empowerment network in the Autism and Asperger Association in Sweden initiated the project aiming to develop ways to visualize the abilities of individuals with Asperger Syndrome to increase their chances to permanent paid employment. The outcome of the project The Validation Process is introduced together with the Barometer and My Profile, self-assessment tools that were developed in the project to assist people with ASD in assessing their own resources and support needs to increase self-advocacy. The Validation Process consists of 4 modules that concern work in different ways. The model was originally developed for group sessions in combination with individual work, but can also be used individually. It can be used in the Supported Employment process for work preparation, vocational profiling or as job support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses various reports within the issue including the aging agriculture workforce, musculoskeletal disorder risk factors and the Swedish agricultural health and safety.

OBJECTIVES: This paper explores factors important for return to work (RTW) in people who have sustained a serious hand injury. PARTICIPANTS: Forty people aged 19-64, with a severe or major hand injury were recruited consecutively during 2005-2007. METHODS: A self-administered and study specific questionnaire, including demographic data and standardised questionnaires for function, disability, daily occupations, health, quality of life, sense of coherence and several open questions was sent out by mail twelve months after injury. Open questions regarding RTW were also included. RESULTS: The results showed that 27 people had returned to work within twelve months and 13 had not. Factors related to RTW and general work motivations were divided into individual factors, and factors related to the work environment and rehabilitation. The most prominent differences between the groups were individual factors, such as higher perceived disability, reduced hand function, and dissatisfaction with daily occupations resulting in a lower physical quality of life. The no RTW group had also more ward days (inpatient care) and lower sense of coherence. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the idea that the RTW process can be more dependent on the person's own ability and motivation than on the severity of the hand injury. Suggestions for intervention and further studies are presented in the discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents findings on the role of online traveller information services in regional public transport for older people and people with functional limitations. An explanatory mixed methods design was used. A quantitative questionnaire study of the target group's need of traveller information and use of online traveller information services provided the basis for a qualitative focus group study of their attitudes towards online traveller information services in public transport and their perceptions of traveller information's role in their travel habits. The key findings suggest that the essential influence of access to traveller information through online traveller information services on the travel of older people and people with functional limitations is the reassurance that these services offer. This results in confidence that enables secure travel which in turn enables the older traveller or traveller with functional limitations to cope with possible difficulties during the journey. Thus there is a point in offering high quality traveller information to such people through online traveller information services. The point however, is not necessarily that they should undertake more journeys by public transport, but rather that when they travel they can do so confidently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several researchers stress the importance of listening to autistic adults' own experiences of work and related issues. This paper critically explores an ambivalent discourse of empowerment using notions of employment and work life in the Swedish autistic self-advocacy movement. The discourse analysis is based on articles from the Swedish autistic self-advocacy magazine Empowerment. In the data, three key themes linked to the notion of work are identified: alternative meanings of a 'real job', formulations of work-related problems, and solutions to these problems. We identify two storylines. The first, more dominant one, we call the recreated norm storyline. This storyline, in line with an individual/medical perspective on autism as deficit, represents autism as causing people with autism to have difficulties finding and keeping jobs in the open labour market and as entailing employment support. The second, counter narrative we call the challenged norm storyline. In line with the social model of disability, it focuses on structural barriers and discrimination against people with autism on the labour market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ACTION (Assisting Carers using Telematics Interventions to meet Older people's Needs) stemmed from an EU-funded project (1997-2000). It is an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) based support service designed together with frail older people and their family carers to help empower them in their daily lives by providing access to web-based educational programmes, support from other ACTION families and dedicated care practitioners via the use of an integrated videophone system. It is currently running as a mainstream service in Borås municipality in West Sweden and as implementation projects in an additional twenty-five municipalities across Sweden. It is well recognised that there are relatively few examples of telecare projects that have successfully managed the transfer to a mainstream service. Based on our fourteen years of experience with the design and implementation of ACTION, we reflect on the major lessons learned. This paper highlights the user centred design model developed and refined during this period, including the range of methods for working in partnership with a variety of stakeholder groups at all stages of the technology transfer process of the ACTION service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A development programme was carried out by the Swedish government and the Swedish Labour Market Board (AF) over a period of more than twenty years. The paper describes a case history of a single national programme. Some significant conclusions from it are given. The rationale for the effort was the advent of micro-computers in the early 1980s and the ICT development in general. It was realised that people with disabilities would struggle in the job market if active measures were not taken. Within the AF expertise on different impairments and functional disorder was employed, often highly-skilled with many years of experience of helping people with workplace adaptations. In five years some 4000 jobs for disabled jobseekers were established by applying public procurement, partly on a pre-competitive basis. After these first five years the programme was regularised but still only as a development tool for another fifteen years, with a yearly budget of 0,5-1,0 M\psfig{figure=eur.eps,width=1.9mm}. The ICT technology offered successively a range of generative options, often pre-empting application to solutions beneficial for people having a variety of functional difficulties in their jobs. The projects were intended to include a potential to result in products or services on the open market. If new technology could be transferred into regular business, it would benefit the chief target groups and their procurers in the long run. One success case was Comfort Audio AB. The company was started in 1994 by two young entrepreneurs. Fifteen years later it employs some 60 people and finds its market all over the world with its cutting edge technology for hearing impaired persons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several digital human modelling (DHM) tools have been developed for simulation and visualisation of human postures and motions. In 2010 the DHM tool IMMA (Intelligently Moving Manikins) was introduced as a DHM tool that uses advanced path planning techniques to generate collision free and biomechanically acceptable motions for digital human models (as well as parts) in complex assembly situations. The aim of the paper is to illustrate how the IPS/IMMA tool is used at Scania CV AB in a digital test assembly process, and to compare the tool with other DHM tools on the market. The illustrated case of using the IMMA tool, here combined with the path planner tool IPS, indicates that the tool is promising. The major strengths of the tool are its user friendly interface, the motion generation algorithms, the batch simulation of manikins and the ergonomics assessment methods that consider time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to describe an ongoing project with the aim of improving safety in an organization working with maintenance and development of the railway infrastructure in Sweden. The first sub goal was to investigate the Genta method, with 62 employees resulted in a description of these latent errors in the organization.eral Failure Types in the organization. Seminars and interviews, based on the Tripod Del Recommendations for an improvement toward a safety culture was suggested, action plans were formulated and, in some cases, implemented. A follow up study is planned in a two year perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The actors in charge of an emergency response are confronted with severe difficulties in coordination and decision making, especially in major accidents. To facilitate coordination, various decision support systems (DSS) integrated in communication systems have been developed. However, many DSS in the rescue service organizations are afflicted with under-use and other usability problems. Drawing on both a literature review and an analysis of recently obtained survey data from rescue personnel concerning usability of common communication system in Swedish emergency organizations, this paper addresses the issue of usability of DSS. It is concluded that the impetus for developing DSS in many cases has been the technological possibilities per se, not taking the decision makers task structure and contextual factors into account. It is argued that priority should be given to functions that provide a visual overview of the event and facilitate storing of the series of decisions made during the response [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a project with the aim of reducing the risk of injury when using precast concrete shells in the Swedish construction industry by identifying injury risks, developing and implementing solutions. An interactive research approach was used. Three major injury risks were identified and a system consisting of three tools and a handbook was developed, evaluated, and implemented at one company and made available to the construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there are many naturalistic driving projects have been conducted, such as the 100-Car Project (Naturalistic Driving study in United State), EuroFOT(European Large-Scale Field Operational Tests on Vehicle Systems), SeMi- FOT(Sweden Michigan Naturalistic Field Operational Test and etc. However, those valuable naturalistic driving data hasn't been applied into Human-machine Interaction (HMI) design for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), a good HMI design for ADAS requires a deep understanding of drive environment and the interactions between the driving car and other road users in different situations. The results demonstrated the benefits of using naturalistic driving films as a mean for enhancing focus group discussion for better understanding driver's needs and traffic environment constraints. It provided an efficient tool for designers to have inside knowledge about drive and the needs for information presentation; The recommendations for how to apply this method is discussed in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to describe policies, laws and regulations regarding the procurement of assistive technology and home modifications for individuals with disabilities in Sweden. Children up to ages 17-21 are entitled to free access to assistive technology. For adults the access is substantially subsidized with public funding. We will discuss the issues and implications of new technology, with an emphasis on assistive technology for cognitive impairment. Today, the social security system is financially burdened due to increasing demands and limited economic growth. However, the basic doctrine of the "Swedish model" remains, evoking structural and ethical issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article seeks to test propositions about innovation in e-government inspired by innovation theory. The tests are carried out on data from a survey of municipal web pages in the four Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. The research question is concerned with explaining variations among Nordic municipalities as to the features of their respective web pages. A model of innovation is developed, aiming at capturing typical features of local government as a setting for innovations in e-governance. Web pages were analyzed according to their information and communication features. Sources of innovation investigated include motivating, enabling and predisposing factors. All of these sources are important for innovation; one of the enabling factors stood out most of all – national context. Surprisingly though, it was the Danish context that explained the most of the variance, not the Finnish setting, as expected. The last part of the paper is devoted to a discussion of the factors that may account for the Danish preeminence in this respect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bridge planning and management require precise and continuous information on how the age and condition of various types of bridges evolve. A main objective for a bridge manager is to keep the bridge stock in a good and safe condition. A research question is how many new bridges need to be constructed and old bridges demolished per year to maintain the average age and condition of the bridge stock. In the current study, indicators to give guidance on the replacement ratio were developed from real data. This paper calculates the construction and demolition rates required to maintain the average age for a population of 1800 bridges in a Swedish region. Annual investment and demolition rates, the major reasons to demolish bridges, the resulting actual service life, costs associated with construction, maintenance and repair and the Swedish Road Administration's condition quantifier, lack of capital value (LCV), are addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes an ongoing project developing an innovative approach to the introduction of assistive technology to the homes of elderly people with acquired cognitive impairment in Sweden. The project is client driven with the key objective being to assist people to achieve quality of life and empowerment. The emphasis is on the processes involved and inter-agency co-operation which is shown to be of key importance. Preliminary findings are discussed and key issues for future research are identified, indicating that introduction of technology is an interdisciplinary issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a theoretical model on how flows of energy and space of action generate health and ill health in a local community work. Local community work was assessed through a case study of women's networks in a peripheral region of northern Sweden. The aim of the study was to analyse what participation in women's networks can mean for the members health perceptions. A purposeful selection of women's networks was made for the purpose of carrying out a qualitative follow-up study. Grounded theory was used to analyse the data and to generate a theoretical model. The meaning of participation in networks proved to be plural, as both health-deteriorating and health-promotive mechanisms were found. Two core categories "flows of energy" and "a space of action" as well as the four ancillary categories: social relations within the network; increased awareness of gender and power; becoming visible; and material prerequisites for networking were grounded in the data. We suggest that under certain circumstances local community work can be of crucial importance for health promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper gives an overview of the functioning of the official statistical system in Sweden with particular emphasis on coordination tools. The Swedish statistical system was decentralised in 1994. Today Statistics Sweden is responsible for about 40 percent of the number of products but for slightly more than 80 percent of the production of official statistics. The approach Statistics Sweden has chosen in its coordinating function is to encourage "soft" coordination. This means encouraging discussions and trying to reach consensus before decisions rather than issuing regulations. So far, this approach to coordination of Swedish official statistics has been successful. The cooperation between the authorities responsible for official statistics and the transparency and efficiency of the system has improved. However, there are still many problems to solve and many possibilities for improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses how a practically used index for the cost of owner occupied housing can be interpreted and understood in a theoretical framework of user cost. The considerations particularly apply to the present treatment of owner occupied housing in the Swedish Consumer Price Index, and they show how the present method can be conceptually interpreted in comparison to a new recently proposed approach. The view suggested here may on the one hand explore possible motivations for the present Swedish method, and on the other hand highlight some of its deficiencies. In particular it is seen that the present index theoretically depends somewhat artificially on the duration of ownership of homes, but that under present practical conditions it appears to provide a reasonable approximation of the cost change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research investigated the situation of 143 unemployed sick leavers at the start of vocational rehabilitation in Sweden. It is argued in this paper that in order to gain a meaningful picture of the vocational rehabilitation process it is necessary to know and understand something of individual differences and status at the onset. In doing so, assessment was carried out of the possible influence of one contextual factor and five individual factors on health, duration of sick leave and unemployment. Findings suggest that individual differences exist in health status, length of sick leave and unemployment, at the upstart of vocational rehabilitating. Locus of control was found to exert important influence on the differences between the individuals in the study sample, with persons of external locus of control having a less favourable point of departure at the start of vocational rehabilitation compared to other groups. It is therefore assumed that these persons will be in greater need of support during the vocational rehabilitation process. The level of unemployment within a geographical area was also found to influence the length of sick leave. Conclusions: Our suggestion is for rehabilitation programs to be developed and selected to match the special needs and differences whether they are of individual or of social nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the issues relating to the needs of citizens with reduced functional capacity, accessibility problems throughout society are gaining interest. The focus of this paper is on methodology for assessment of urban public bus transport accessibility. The aims are to describe the development of a pilot version of a new instrument, the Travel Chain Enabler, and to identify problems to target for further research. Based on the previously developed Housing Enabler instrument and a literature review, the development of a pilot instrument was initiated. In several steps, three different raters recorded accessibility on site while traveling by public bus transport in a Swedish city. The results showed the relevance of the assessment approach, but definition problems, difficulties as regards reliable measurements, and/or paucity of administration instructions were demonstrated in 32% inter-rater reliability analysis indicated moderate agreement. The detailed specification of the different kinds of problems and assessment difficulties is of the outermost importance for further research in the field. With current results as a new point of departure, major methodological challenges will be more constructively dealt with. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Common mental disorders (CMDs) are currently a major cause of long-term sick leave, with women being most affected. OBJECTIVE: Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), we aimed to describe the development and psychometric evaluation of a new questionnaire to measure women's beliefs about return to work (RTW) after long-term sick leave for CMDs. METHODS: Data were collected in central Sweden from women on long-term sick leave (2– 24 months) for CMDs. The questionnaire was developed by conducting an elicitation study with 20 women and included both direct and indirect measures. Subsequently, 282 women participated in a psychometric evaluation and 35 of them in a test-retest procedure. Psychometric properties were evaluated by determining reliability (internal consistency [Cronbach's alpha] and test-retest stability [intraclass correlation coefficient]), construct validity (exploratory factor analysis) and content validity. RESULTS: The development resulted in 60 questionnaire items. Content validity assessment showed that the women overall found it easy to complete the questionnaire. Reliability analyses showed satisfactory results for both direct and indirect measures, with a few exceptions. Factor analyses of the indirect scales showed that items were generally in line with the TPB, but that items related to life as a whole/personal life and items related to work were separated into two different factors. CONCLUSION: The questionnaire, called the RTW Beliefs Questionnaire, showed promising results and can among women with CMDs be considered useful, especially the scales for direct measures. This questionnaire gives opportunity to identify new potential predictors for RTW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Research indicates that good organizational and psychosocial environments are vital to well-functioning workplaces and employee health. Working in the municipal sector and in the rural context may contribute to more health problems, poorer organizational and psychosocial work environments, and higher sick-leave rates. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore organizational and psychosocial environmental work factors among municipal employees with or without self-rated exhaustion disorder (s-ED) in rural northern Sweden. METHODS: The Modern Work Life Questionnaire and the Self-Rated Exhaustion Disorder Scale were used among 1093 municipal employees. RESULTS: The results showed that there were significant differences between the s-ED and the non–s-ED group in all but one of the organizational and psychosocial environmental work factors. Various demands, i.e. quantitative, emotional, intellectual, and IT demands were some factors associated with the s-ED group. Social support, resources, and time for work and reflection were some factors associated with the non–s-ED group. Both the s-ED and the non–s-ED groups assessed significantly higher emotional demands and less resources compared to national reference values. CONCLUSION: Findings from this study are relevant to a better understanding what organizational and psychosocial work environmental work factor the employer need to pay extra attention to. Addressing risk and protective factors in the work environment could tribute to promote occupational well-being, preventing exhaustion disorder and long-term sick leave among municipal employees in rural northern Sweden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. This paper describes the Swedish Register System and the linkage between the different registers. It contains a few examples of register statistics where the links have been utilised and gives an overview of methodological problems. To meet our users' needs we must continue to improve the system, must achieve better linkage, greater consistency and better documentation. We must also develop a common methodology for the statistical work behind a system of statistical registers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, AHP and FAHP models are carried out to comprehensively evaluate the social benefits of the occupational health and safety management systems of a mine located in the southwest of Hubei Province, China and a mine located in Lule°a, Sweden. Reasonable factor sets, decision sets, weight sets, and experience in consistency are utilized in order to empirically analyze on a case-by-case basis. The results demonstrate that the social benefit of the mine occupational health and safety management system for the mine in China is of the "general" rank; thus, it needs to be further improved. In contrast, the system for the mine in Sweden is of the "relatively good" rank. The fundamental difference lies in the degree of emphasis placed on people. The results of this study provide a direction for improving the further development of mine occupational health and safety management systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Growing evidence show that long term exposure to air pollution increases the risk of dementia. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate associations between PM2.5 exposure and dementia in a low exposure area, and to investigate the role of olfaction and the APOE ɛ4 allele in these associations. Methods: Data were drawn from the Betula project, a longitudinal study on aging, memory, and dementia in Sweden. Odor identification ability was assessed using the Scandinavian Odor Identification Test (SOIT). Annual mean PM2.5 concentrations were obtained from a dispersion-model and matched at the participants' residential address. Proportional hazard regression was used to calculate hazard ratios. Results: Of 1,846 participants, 348 developed dementia during the 21-year follow-up period. The average annual mean PM2.5 exposure at baseline was 6.77μg/m3, which is 1.77μg/m3 above the WHO definition of clean air. In a fully adjusted model (adjusted for age, sex, APOE, SOIT, cardiovascular diseases and risk factors, and education) each 1μg/m3 difference in annual mean PM2.5-concentration was associated with a hazard ratio of 1.23 for dementia (95% CI: 1.01–1.50). Analyses stratified by APOE status (ɛ4 carriers versus non-carriers), and odor identification ability (high versus low), showed associations only for ɛ4 carriers, and for low performance on odor identification ability. Conclusion: PM2.5 was associated with an increased risk of dementia in this low pollution setting. The associations between PM2.5 and dementia seemed stronger in APOE carriers and those with below average odor identification ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]