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This paper investigates different uses of the Journal Impact Factor (JIF) in national journal rankings and discusses the merits of supplementing metrics with expert assessment. Our focus is national journal rankings used as evidence to support decisions about the distribution of institutional funding or career advancement. The seven countries under comparison are China, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Norway, Poland, and Turkey—and the region of Flanders in Belgium. With the exception of Italy, top‐tier journals used in national rankings include those classified at the highest level, or according to tier, or points implemented. A total of 3,565 (75.8%) out of 4,701 unique top‐tier journals were identified as having a JIF, with 55.7% belonging to the first Journal Impact Factor quartile. Journal rankings in China, Flanders, Poland, and Turkey classify journals with a JIF as being top‐tier, but only when they are in the first quartile of the Average Journal Impact Factor Percentile. Journal rankings that result from expert assessment in Denmark, Finland, and Norway regularly classify journals as top‐tier outside the first quartile, particularly in the social sciences and humanities. We conclude that experts, when tasked with metric‐informed journal rankings, take into account quality dimensions that are not covered by JIFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The Nordic countries represent a unique case study for the COVID-19 pandemic due to socioeconomic and cultural similarities, high-quality comparable administrative register data and notable differences in mitigation policies during the pandemic. We aimed to compare weekly excess mortality in the Nordic countries across the three full pandemic years 2020–2022. Methods Using data on weekly all-cause mortality from official administrative registers in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, we employed time series regression models to assess mortality developments within each pandemic year, with the period 2010–2019 used as reference period. We then compared excess mortality across the countries in 2020–2022, taking differences in population size and age- and sex-distribution into account. Results were age- and sex-standardized to the Danish population of 2020. Robustness was examined with a variety of sensitivity analyses. Results While Sweden experienced excess mortality in 2020 [75 excess deaths per 100 000 population (95% prediction interval 29–122)], Denmark, Finland and Norway experienced excess mortality in 2022 [52 (14–90), 130 (83–177) and 88 (48–128), respectively]. Weekly death data reveal how mortality started to increase in mid-2021 in Denmark, Finland and Norway, and continued above the expected level through 2022. Conclusion Although the Nordic countries experienced relatively low pandemic excess mortality, the impact and timing of excess mortality differed substantially. These estimates—arguably the most accurate available for any region in capturing pandemic-related excess deaths—may inform future research and policy regarding the complex mortality dynamics in times of a health crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the expectations of and experiences with the public healthcare system of domestic partners of people with Parkinson's disease (PD) in Denmark and Norway. Methods: A qualitative exploratory design was applied. The sample consisted of 14 people from Denmark (n = 9) and Norway (n = 5) living with a partner with PD. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted between June and September 2020, digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis approach combining inductive and deductive approaches. Results: The main themes were 'negotiating systems of support' and 'balancing being both a partner and a family carer'. Partners take responsibility for the people with whom they live and attempt to fill gaps in the public healthcare system. The most frequently described needs were more information, service coordination as the illness progressed and acknowledgement of the complex role. Discussion: A recommendation for practice is recognition of the complex roles of partners to people with PD and reaching out to both regularly to determine needs. This may enhance the collaboration between partner carers, people with PD and healthcare providers, ensure sustainability of the system and optimise living with PD in the family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the Nordic municipal health and care services' ability to promote principal goals within care for older people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Two surveys were conducted among managers of municipal health care services for older people in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden; the first around 6 months into the pandemic (survey 1), and the second around 12 months later (survey 2). Data were analysed through descriptive statistics, and multiple regression (OLS). 1470 (survey 1, 2020) and 745 (survey 2, 2021) managers. 32% in home care, 51% in nursing homes, 17% combined. In all countries the pandemic seems to have had more negative impact on eldercare services' ability to promote an active and social life, than on the ability to promote or enhance older people's mental and physical health. The regression analysis indicates that different factors influence the ability to promote these goals. Managers within nursing homes reported reduced ability to promote mental and physical health and an active social life to a significantly lower degree than managers of home care. The effect of three prevention strategies (lock down, testing, and/or organisational change), were explored. Organisational change (reorganize staff and practice, restrict use of substitutes) tended to impact the units' ability to promote a social life in a positive direction, while lock down (areas, buffets etc) tended to impact both the ability to promote mental/physical health and a social life in a negative direction. Measures that can improve opportunities for an active and social life during a pandemic should have high priority, particularily within home care. It is important to learn from how the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 affected the municipal health and care services' ability to achieve principal goals within care for older people. The pandemic had a more negative impact on the services' ability to promote an active and social life, than on their ability to promote or enhance mental and physical health. Measures that can improve opportunities for an active and social life during a pandemic situation should have high priority, particularily within home-based care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wood dust is an established carcinogen also linked to several non malignant respiratory disorders. A major limitation in research on wood dust and its health effects is the lack of (historical) quantitative estimates of occupational exposure for use in general population-based case-control or cohort studies. The present study aimed to develop a multinational quantitative Job Exposure Matrix (JEM) for wood dust exposure using exposure data from several Northern and Central European countries. For this, an occupational exposure database containing 12653 personal wood dust measurements collected between 1978 and 2007 in Denmark, Finland, France, The Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom (UK) was established. Measurement data were adjusted for differences in inhalable dust sampling efficiency resulting from the use of different dust samplers and analysed using linear mixed effect regression with job codes (ISCO-88) and country treated as random effects. Fixed effects were the year of measurement, the expert assessment of exposure intensity (no, low, and high exposure) for every ISCO-88 job code from an existing wood dust JEM and sampling duration. The results of the models suggest that wood dust exposure has declined annually by approximately 8%. Substantial differences in exposure levels between countries were observed with the highest levels in the United Kingdom and the lowest in Denmark and Norway, albeit with similar job rankings across countries. The jobs with the highest predicted exposure are floor layers and tile setters, wood-products machine operators, and building construction labourers with geometric mean levels for the year 1997 between 1.7 and 1.9 mg/m3. The predicted exposure estimates by the model are compared with the results of wood dust measurement data reported in the literature. The model predicted estimates for full-shift exposures were used to develop a time-dependent quantitative JEM for exposure to wood dust that can be used to estimate exposure for participants of general population studies in Northern European countries on the health effects from occupational exposure to wood dust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Income poverty is one of the most common problems of old age. It varies among older adults living in different societies. This study aims to investigate the predictors of income poverty in older adults based on the data from Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. Methods: The secondary data analysis method was used in the present study. The income poverty rate and its associated variables were extracted from 36 members of OECD countries and entered into the SPSS software, version 22. For data analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics, including the Pearson correlation coefficient test and multiple linear regression analysis were employed. Results: The results showed that in the studied countries, the mean of income poverty among older adults was higher in women (11.48±16.2), and the elderly aged 75 years or above (12.57±16.1). The income poverty of older adults was significantly correlated with older adults' share in the gross domestic product (r=-0.376, P=024), targeted pension coverage (r=-0.505, P=0.003), income sources based on public transfers (r=-0.460, P=0.005), income sources from work (r=0.697, P=0.000), mandatory pension contribution rate (r=-0.343, P=0.040), and net pension replacement rate (r=-0.424, P=0.010). The results of regression analysis also revealed that variables of income sources from work and targeted pension coverage explained 66% of the variance in income poverty among older adults. Discussion: It is important to pay attention to the variables of age and gender of older people to overcome economic vulnerability in social policies. It is also necessary to consider the role of the share of public transfers and basic old-age pensions to reduce older adults' poverty. The lessons to be learned from OECD countries in this research are useful for the social rehabilitation of older adults in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In this sub‐study from the 'PACCS' study, we explored the psychosocial experiences of children and adolescents in everyday life post‐cancer treatment and the possible factors that can moderate these experiences. Methods: This is a qualitative explorative study using semi‐structured interviews with 43 childhood cancer survivors between the ages of nine and 18 from Norway and Denmark. We conducted a secondary thematic analysis using Malterud's systematic text condensation. Results: Two main themes were identified: 'The post‐treatment gap between expectations and reality' comprised two subthemes: (1) lack of mastery and feeling different and (2) lack of understanding and acceptance. The second main theme, 'Managing the gap', comprised three subthemes: (1) information and knowledge, (2) adjustments and adaptions and (3) social support and openness. The findings reveal that the psychosocial challenges resulted from the remaining ability gap(s). Measures such as tailored information, school adjustments and social support were potential dynamic factors affecting the gap(s) positively or negatively. Psychosocial challenges post‐treatment are experiences of lack of acceptance and understanding from others. Conclusion: To safeguard a positive transition back to everyday life, health care providers should support the survivors' psychosocial care, including getting back to school and re‐entering social interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common reasons for disability globally. Digital interventions are a promising means of supporting people to self-manage LBP, but implementation of digital interventions has been suboptimal. An artificial intelligence-driven app, selfBACK, was developed to support self-management of LBP as an adjunct to usual care. To better understand the process of implementation from a participant perspective, we qualitatively explored factors influencing embedding, integrating, and sustaining engagement with the selfBACK app, and the self-perceived effects, acceptability, and satisfaction with the selfBACK app. Methods: Using a qualitative interview study and an analytic framework approach underpinned by Normalization Process Theory (NPT), we investigated the experiences of patients who participated in the selfBACK randomized controlled trial (RCT). Interviews focused on the motivation to participate in the RCT, experiences of using the selfBACK app, and views about future intended use and potential of using digital health interventions for self-management of LBP. Participants were purposively sampled to represent diversity in age, sex, and implementation reflected by a proxy measure of number of app-generated self-management plans during the first three months of RCT participation. Results: Twenty-six participants aged 21–78, eleven females and fifteen men, with two to fourteen self-management plans, were interviewed between August 2019 and April 2020. A broad range of factors influencing implementation of selfBACK within all constructs of NPT were identified. Key facilitating factors were preferences and beliefs favoring self-management, a friendly, motivational, and reassuring supporter, tailoring and personalization, convenience and ease of use, trustworthiness, perceiving benefits, and tracking achievements. Key impeding factors were preferences and beliefs not favoring self-management, functionality issues, suboptimal tailoring and personalization, insufficient time or conflicting life circumstances, not perceiving benefits, and insufficient involvement of health care practitioners. Self-perceived effects on pain and health, behavior/attitude, and gaining useful knowledge varied by participant. Conclusions: The high prevalence of LBP globally coupled with the advantages of providing help through an app offers opportunities to help countless people. A range of factors should be considered to facilitate implementation of self-management of LBP or similar pain conditions using digital health tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare stroke-specific health related quality of life in two country-regions with organisational differences in subacute rehabilitation services, and to reveal whether organisational factors or individual factors impact outcome. A prospective multicentre study with one-year follow-up of 369 first-ever stroke survivors with ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke, recruited from stroke units in North Norway (n = 208) and Central Denmark (n = 161). The 12-domain Stroke-Specific Quality of Life scale was the primary outcome-measure. The Norwegian participants were older than the Danish (Mage= 69.8 vs. 66.7 years, respectively), had higher initial stroke severity, and longer stroke unit stays. Both cohorts reported more problems with cognitive, social, and emotional functioning compared to physical functioning. Two scale components were revealed. Between-country differences in the cognitive-social-mental component showed slightly better function in the Norwegian participants. Depression, anxiety, pre-stroke dependency, initial stroke severity, and older age were substantially associated to scale scores. Successful improvements in one-year functioning in both country-regions may result from optimising long-term rehabilitation services to address cognitive, emotional, and social functioning. Stroke-Specific Quality of Life one-year post-stroke could be explained by individual factors, such as pre-stroke dependency and mental health, rather than differences in the organisation of subacute rehabilitation services. The stroke-specific health related quality of life (SS-QOL) assessment tool captures multidimensional effects of a stroke from the perspective of the patient, which is clinically important information for the rehabilitation services. The cognitive-social-mental component and the physical health component, indicate specific functional problems which may vary across and within countries and regions with different organisation of rehabilitation services. For persons with mild to moderate stroke, longer-term functional improvements may be better optimised if the rehabilitation services particularly address cognitive, emotional, and social functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]