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BACKGROUND: Schools are important arenas for the promotion of critical health literacy (CHL) among adolescents. Key domains of CHL are information appraisal, understanding social determinants of health, and abilities to act on determinants of health. In this paper, we examine the psychometric properties of the Critical Health Literacy for Adolescents Questionnaire (CHLA‐Q). METHODS: A cross‐sectional survey study was performed at 5 schools in Norway. Respondents included 522 pupils aged 13‐15 years old. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to examine the structural validity. Internal reliability was assessed using ordinal Cronbach's alpha. RESULTS: The estimated model had acceptable closeness of fit. Five of 6 scales displayed adequate internal reliability. CONCLUSION: The results indicate acceptable fit of the CHLA‐Q framework and that 5 of the 6 scales are applicable to inform future research and interventions. More research is needed on measurement of the second domain of CHL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown has had a profound impact on physical and mental well-being throughout the world. Previous studies have revealed that complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is frequently used for, and can be potential beneficial for strengthening physical mental resilience. The aims of this study were therefore to determine the prevalence and reasons for use of CAM during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic among a representative sample of the Norwegian population, and further determine self-reported effects and adverse effects of the CAM modalities used. Methods: Computer assisted telephone interviews using a COVID-adapted I-CAM-Q questionnaire were conducted with 1008 randomly selected Norwegians aged 16 and above using multistage sampling during April and May 2020 applying age and sex quotas for each area. Frequencies, Pearson's chi-square tests, Fisher exact tests, and independent sample t-test were used to identify the users of CAM, what they used, why they used it and whether they experienced effect and/or adverse effects of the modalities used, and further to describe differences in sociodemographic factors associated with CAM use. Cronbach's alpha tests were used to test for internal consistency in the different groups of CAM. Significance level was set to p < 0.05. Results: The study revealed that two thirds of the respondents (67%) had used CAM within the first 3 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular CAM modalities that did not involve a provider. Most used were natural remedies and dietary supplement (57%, mainly vitamins and minerals), but self-help practices like yoga and meditation were also widely used (24%). Women used CAM modalities significantly more than men (77% vs. 58%). Most of the respondents found the modalities they used beneficial, and few reported adverse effects of the treatments. Conclusions: A large proportion of the Norwegian population used CAM during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic with high satisfaction and few reported adverse effects. CAM was rarely used to prevent or treat COVID-19, but rather to treat a long-term health condition, and to improve well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent clinical practice guidelines recommend analgosedation in intensive care unit patients, where the patients' pain first is relieved, followed by sedatives only on indication. The aims of the present study was to examine sedation practice today, to evaluate the degree to which there is a difference in sedation practice between units, and to investigate the associations between nurses' demographic characteristics and their perception of sedation practice. A cross sectional survey was conducted to the nurses in three intensive care units in Norway. The results indicated that light sedation was implemented in the three intensive care unit studied. Continuous infusion of propofol and dexmedetomidine were used most frequently, and continuous infusion of midazolam was used occasionally. However, the sedation practices varied significantly between the units. Subjective scoring systems, physician's prescriptions, and prescription follow-up were reported to be most frequently used as guidelines and directives, and Richmond Agitation–Sedation Scale was reported to be the most frequently used sedation assessment tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The aim of this study was to describe and compare perceptions of critical thinking, attitudes to and availability of research, research utilization and barriers to this among nursing students in Scandinavia and Indonesia. Data were collected at the beginning, middle and end of education from nursing students in Norway, Sweden (bachelor’s diploma) and Banda Aceh (bachelor’s diploma). Critical Thinking and Research Utilization Questionnaires were used along with the Barrier Scale. Descriptive analyses, comparisons between and within groups were performed. At the end of education, all samples exhibited positive attitudes to research and the main barrier was related to the setting. Scandinavian students reported higher critical thinking. Indonesian students perceived greater barriers on two Barrier subscales. No differences were found between the samples regarding research utilization. Significant changes over time varied among the samples except for the Norwegian sample. Indonesian students (diploma) exhibited most changes over time. Teachers must support nursing students to strengthen their critical thinking ability and develop professional competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Resilience is seen as a vital resource for coping and mental health in adolescents. However, there is no universally accepted theory or definition of resilience, leading to considerable challenges regarding how to operationalise and measure this construct. The study aimed at providing further knowledge of the psychometric properties (dimensionality, construct validity and internal consistency) of the 28‐item version of the Resilience Scale for Adolescents (READ) in N = 1183 Norwegian adolescents, 13–18 years old. Methods: Dimensionality of READ was tested using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Convergent validity and reliability were tested using Pearson's correlation analysis, Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability. Results: The CFA supported a modified, 20‐item, five‐factor structure with high reliability, supporting the dimensionality and internal consistency of the instrument. Convergent validity was confirmed where all factors correlated in expected directions with measures of sense of coherence, self‐esteem, stress and depression. Conclusion: The psychometric properties of the READ need to be further evaluated in adolescents; however, the results indicate that a modified 20‐item version of READ is adequate for assessing resilience in the present sample of Norwegian adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose:The aim of this study was to test the validity and reliability of the translated Norwegian version of the Chronic Pain Acceptance Questionnaire (CPAQ-20) and the shorter version CPAQ-8 based on the same data. Method:The sample consisted of 120 women with chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain (CWP). The respondents completed CPAQ-20 and visual analogue scales (pain, fatigue, sleep problems and depression), General Health Questionnaire-12, The Pain Catastrophizing Scale, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and SF-8. Confirmatory factor analyses were performed on a one-factor baseline model, the previous validated CPAQ-20 and CPAQ-8 models, as well as an exploratory generated model based on the current sample. Results:The two-factor model of CPAQ-20 and a two-factor model of CPAQ-8 obtained adequate model fit and outperformed the baseline model. The exploratory factor, analysis-generated two-factor model obtained only a marginally better fit, supporting the two-dimensional model of CPAQ-20. CPAQ-20 and CPAQ-8 had Cronbach’s alphas between 0.75 (Pain Willingness subscales both versions) and 0.85. Both scales correlated significantly in the hypothesised direction with all the other scales. Conclusion:The Norwegian versions of CPAQ-20 and CPAQ-8 are reliable assessment tools with good construct validity for measurement of acceptance. Future studies should validate the scales in other Norwegian samples.Implication for RehabilitationCPAQ-20 and CPAQ-8 are valid Norwegian instruments for measuring acceptance of pain.Acceptance of pain is an important process in the rehabilitation of persons with chronic widespread pain.Treatment models supporting acceptance can now be developed and measured further in Norway. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The aim of the present study was to explore occupational differences in the experience of engagement both with regard to differences in the level of work engagement as well as in the predicting value of different antecedent variables. Multigroup latent mean analysis was performed on eight different occupational groups in Norway (lawyers, physicians, nurses, teachers, church ministers, bus drivers, and people working in advertising and information technology; N = 3,475). Tests for factorial invariance supported the use of the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory scale across occupational groups and that the latent means were comparable across the groups. Results indicated significant occupational differences in the experience of vigor and dedication. The lawyers reported the most vigor and the church ministers the most dedication. Least vigor was reported among the teachers and the advertising group reported to be least dedicated. Cross-lagged multigroup structural equation modeling ( SEM) analysis suggested there are different processes behind the development of engagement across occupations. Visualization of how some occupations cluster or differ from each other is important as it might engender theory building and further hypotheses testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. This study is designed to provide an empirical conceptualization of daily hassles among unaccompanied refugees, and whether they might affect mental health of young refugees after resettlement. First, we examined the underlying structure of daily hassles conceptualized as measuring general and acculturation-specific hassles. Second, we examined whether these two distinct categories of daily hassles significantly contribute to depression above and beyond the impact of premigration trauma. Design. The study was based on self-report questionnaire data collected from 895 unaccompanied refugees who had been granted residence in Norway. Results. Using structural equation modeling, the results confirmed the grouping of hassles in two general categories, which explained 43% of the variance in depression. Conclusion. The findings underscore the importance of current life conditions for unaccompanied refugees' mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A number of studies have examined dietary patterns in various populations. However, to study to what extent such patterns capture meaningful differences in consumption of foods is of interest. In the present study, we identified important dietary patterns in Norwegian postmenopausal women (age 50–69 years, n 361), and evaluated these patterns by examining their associations with plasma carotenoids. Diet was assessed by a 253-item FFQ. These 253 food items were categorised into forty-six food groups, and dietary patterns were identified using principal component analysis. We used the partial correlation coefficient (radj) and multiple linear regression analysis to examine the associations between the dietary patterns and the plasma carotenoids α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, lycopene and zeaxanthin. Overall, four dietary patterns were identified: the ‘Western’; ‘Vegetarian’; ‘Continental’; ‘High-protein’. The ‘Western’ dietary pattern scores were significantly inversely correlated with plasma lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene and total carotenoids ( − 0·25 ≤ radj≤ − 0·13). The ‘Vegetarian’ dietary pattern scores were significantly positively correlated with all the plasma carotenoids (0·15 ≤ radj≤ 0·24). The ‘Continental’ dietary pattern scores were significantly inversely correlated with plasma lutein and α-carotene (radj= − 0·13). No significant association between the ‘High-protein’ dietary pattern scores and the plasma carotenoids was found. In conclusion, the healthy dietary pattern, the ‘Vegetarian’ pattern, is associated with a more favourable profile of the plasma carotenoids than our unhealthy dietary patterns, the ‘Western’ and ‘Continental’ patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aims and objectives To investigate the experiences of home care nurses with electronic messaging (e-messaging) and to determine how it influenced their communication with general practitioners. Background Nurses in home care services must collaborate with general practitioners to care for homebound patients. Studies have shown that communication and collaboration are often constrained because they are organised separately and are dispersed. The use of information and communication technology is expected to support communication and to be a tool for increased patient safety and higher-quality care. Design Cross-sectional study with group comparisons Methods The data were collected with a mailed questionnaire that was answered by home care nurses ( n = 425) who had implemented e-messaging and by home care nurses in a comparison group who had not implemented e-messaging ( n = 364). The data were analysed using descriptive analyses, chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U-test and multilevel analysis. Results The home care nurses who used e-messages reported to a greater extent that they had communication procedures with general practitioners compared to what the home care nurses in the comparison group reported. The implementation of e-messaging did not result in timelier communication or differences between the two groups in the use of nonelectronic communication, except for a lower use of faxes in the e-messaging group. However, the home care nurses who used e-messaging reported more frequent contacts with general practitioners. Conclusion The results demonstrate that even if e-messaging was implemented, the home care nurses and the general practitioners continued to use nonelectronic communication methods. Relevance to clinical practice E-messaging did not replace but rather complemented the communication methods and thereby transformed clinical communication and collaboration. This should be considered when planning and implementing new information technology in primary care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives To assess patients' symptoms, quality of life and satisfaction with information three to four years after radical prostatectomy, radical external beam radiotherapy and postoperative radiotherapy and to analyse differences between treatment groups and the relationship between disease-specific, health-related and overall quality of life and satisfaction with information. Background Radical prostate cancer treatments are associated with changes in quality of life. Differences between patients undergoing different treatments in symptoms and quality of life have been reported, but there are limited long-term data comparing radical prostatectomy with radical external beam radiotherapy and postoperative radiotherapy. Design A cross-sectional survey design was used. Methods The study sample included 143 men treated with radical prostatectomy and/or radical external beam radiotherapy. Quality of life was measured using the 12-item Short Form Health Survey and the 50-item Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite Instrument. Questions assessing overall Quality of life and satisfaction with information were included. Descriptive statistics and interference statistical methods were applied to analyse the data. Results Radical external beam radiotherapy was associated with less urinary incontinence and better urinary function. There were no differences between the groups for disease-specific quality of life sum scores. Sexual quality of life was reported very low in all groups. Disease-specific quality of life and health-related quality of life were associated with overall quality of life. Patients having undergone surgery were more satisfied with information, and there was a positive correlation between quality of life and patient satisfaction. Conclusion Pretreatment information and patient education lead to better quality of life and satisfaction. This study indicates a need for structured, pretreatment information and follow-up for all men going through radical prostate cancer treatment. Relevance to clinical practice Long-term quality of life effects should be considered when planning follow-up and information for men after radical prostate cancer treatment. Structured and organised information/education may increase preparedness for symptoms and bother after the treatment, improve symptom management strategies and result in improved quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary objective: To evaluate longitudinal trajectories of emotional distress symptoms after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Research design: Longitudinal study. Methods and procedures: Patients with mild-to-severe TBI, 118 patients participated at 3 months, 109 attended at 1-year and 89 attended the 5-year follow-up. Emotional distress was measured with the Impact of Event Scale-Revised. Patients were also assessed for coping style, anxiety, depression, substance abuse and trauma severity. Main outcomes and results: Based on growth mixture modelling, four trajectories of emotional distress symptoms were identified: 73.5% of patients were characterized by a pattern of resilience, 6.8% by a pattern of delayed distress, 14.6% by recovery and 5.1% by chronic distress. Relative to the resilience trajectory, avoidant-coping style and psychiatric problems were related to recovery and chronic trajectories. The delayed trajectory was similar to the resilience trajectory, except for elevated depressive and anxiety symptoms at 1- and 5-years. Demographics and injury-related variables were not significantly associated with emotional distress trajectories. Conclusions: Resilience was the most common trajectory following TBI. Patients characterized by recovery and chronic trajectories required attention and long-term clinical monitoring of their symptoms. Future research would benefit from longitudinal studies to analyse emotional distress symptoms and the strength of resilience over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]