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BackgroundPeople in homelessness have an increased risk of substance use disorders (SUDs) and poor health outcomes. This cohort study aimed to investigate the association between homelessness and mortality in people with SUDs, adjusting for age, sex, narcotic use, intravenous drug use and inpatient care for SUDs.MethodsData from the Swedish National Addiction Care Quality Register in the Stockholm region were used to analyse mortality risk in people with SUDs (n=8397), including 637 in homelessness, 1135 in precarious housing and 6625 in stable housing, at baseline. HRs and CIs were calculated using Cox regression.ResultsMortality was increased for people in homelessness (HR 2.30; 95% CI 1.70 to 3.12) and precarious housing (HR 1.23; 95% CI 0.86 to 1.75) compared with those in stable housing. The association between homelessness and mortality decreased (HR 1.27; 95% CI 0.91 to 1.78) after adjusting for narcotic use (HR 1.28; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.63), intravenous drug use (HR 1.98; 95% CI 1.52 to 2.58) and inpatient care for SUDs (HR 1.96; 95% CI 1.57 to 2.45). Standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) showed that mortality among people in homelessness with SUDs was 13.6 times higher than the general population (SMR=13.6; 95% CI 10.2 to 17.9), and 3.7 times higher in people in stable housing with SUDs (SMR=3.7; 95% CI 3.2 to 4.1).ConclusionHomelessness increased mortality, but the risk decreased after adjusting for narcotic use, intravenous drug use and inpatient care for SUDs. Interventions are needed to reduce excess mortality among people in homelessness with SUDs.

Support from health care professionals (HCPs) with good knowledge and positive attitudes toward breastfeeding has been associated with better breastfeeding outcomes in the mothers of preterm infants. The aim of the study was to describe HCPs' experiences of a breastfeeding training program. A total of 48 specialist registered nurses, registered nurses, assistant nurses and physicians working at a neonatal intensive care unit attended a breastfeeding training program and answered a questionnaire including Likert scales and open-ended questions. The participants reported that their interest in breastfeeding had increased as a median (range) of 10 (8–10) on a 10-point scale and rated to what extent they had received new tools for breastfeeding support as a median of 10 (8–10) after training. There were no differences in the median between different professions' ratings. Qualitative content analysis of the open-ended questions resulted in two categories: Discussions of the case scenarios in the groupand Knowledge regarding breastfeeding. The results showed that discussions based on breastfeeding scenarios were perceived as valuable; the health care professionals reported receiving new knowledge and useful practical skills. This program was shown to increase health care professionals’ interest in breastfeeding and is useful for different health care professions.