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Background: Living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease stage III or IV means living an everyday life, severely restricted by breathlessness. Aim: The aim of this study was to elucidate meanings of feeling well for women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease stage III or IV. Method: The study has used a phenomenological hermeneutical design. Individual narrative interviews were conducted with 14 women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at stages III or IV. Results: The results revealed one theme: striving for moments of easier breathing despite being trapped in breathlessness with four subthemes: acting in rhythm with breathing, taking care of oneself, taking advantage of better moments, and being in togetherness in everyday life. Conclusion: This study shows that women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at stages III or IV strived for moments of feeling well despite living with a severe illness. Feeling well meant that when connected to nature, they felt alive, free, and less trapped in breathlessness, which provided a sense of being unconscious of their breathing rhythm. They could do what healthy people tend to take for granted during everyday life. To feel well, the women found it important to receive tailored support from their close relatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease stage III or IV is a progressive and incurable disease. The hallmark of the disease is breathlessness, and it is graded into four different stages, from mild to severe. Living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease impacts almost every aspect of everyday life for an affected person. As the illness progresses to stages III and IV, the need for support from close relatives increases. The aim of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of close relatives of women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease stage III or IV and it used qualitative content analysis of individual, semi-structured interviews. Close relatives (n = 9) were interviewed about their experience of being close to a woman with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease stage III or IV. They experienced stress and uncertainty in an unpredictable everyday life. Close relatives supported the women both practically and emotionally and they called for tailored information about the illness, considering it as an essential tool for support. The results highlighted that healthy close relatives had difficulty in understanding the experience of living with chronic obstructive pulmonary, as they take the simple fact of breathing for granted most of the time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we aimed to explore and describe the experiences of parents whose children have been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and the transitions of daily life. T1D is a long‐term illness, and parents of children with T1D often become informal caregivers and face many challenges in their daily lives. A qualitative study design, in line with interpretive description, was used, and a sample of 10 parents of children with T1D participated in individual interviews. The COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist was used. The interviews were analyzed using interpretive descriptions. The analysis resulted in one main theme: "The realization of having taken 'daily life' for granted and having to accept a new reality," with six themes showing different transitions in the parents' daily lives, including transitions in daily life patterns, parenthood, in relationships with family and friends, relationships with school personnel, relationships with healthcare personnel, and in knowledge and learning about the illness. Parents experienced multifaceted changes that affected their lives, as shown by the six identified transitions. Being the parent of a child with T1D implies a new reality with complex, irreversible life changes that may be unknown and unspoken to healthcare professionals and society. Healthcare systems, school personnel, and society at large need to improve their knowledge regarding parents' situations to better support them in embracing a new reality for themselves and their children long after the onset of T1D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease stage III or IV has a major impact on a person's everyday life. This qualitative study focuses on women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease stage III or IV. Aim: The aim of this study was to describe women's experiences of living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease stage III or IV. Method: A purposive sample of fifteen women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease stage III or IV participated in the study. Data were collected through individual semi‐structured interviews that were subjected to qualitative content analysis. Findings: One theme was identified, stabilizing an ever‐present breathlessness by restoring strength, and three categories are as follows: managing a restricted everyday life as an expert of their illness, being afraid of contracting infections leading to suffocation and suffering and importance of continuous help and support from significant others and digital media. Breathlessness restricted women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, living with a body they have to wait for. Managing everyday life was adapted to their limited abilities and energy. This required detailed planning, good knowledge of their breathing and body. Women were afraid of contracting life‐threatening infections that caused suffering, especially COVID‐19. The fear leads to isolation and digital media was described as an important means of communication. Significant others gave support and help that was practical and emotional. Women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease experienced lack of continuous help and support from healthcare professionals. Conclusion: Stabilizing an ever‐present breathlessness by restoring strength required women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease stage III or IV to conduct detailed planning to manage everyday life. Being afraid of contracting infections and the consequences of suffocation had increased since the pandemic COVID‐19 outbreak, which led to self‐isolation and an inactive everyday life. To get help, support and socialize, women used digital media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When an older person suffers an acute event, such as a hip fracture, it influences the whole family. Research shows that while close relatives want to be a part of the older person's life during recovery it is associated with a high perceived level of stress and burden. To provide in-depth knowledge of close relatives' experiences in this situation, the aim of this study was to elucidate meanings of being a close relative to an older person recovering from hip fracture surgery. This study has a qualitative descriptive phenomenological hermeneutical design. Narrative interviews were conducted with ten close relatives. Analysis was conducted using phenomenological hermeneutical interpretation which provided a deeper understanding of the close relatives' lived experiences of their older person's recovery from hip fracture surgery. The structural analysis revealed two themes; "Participating in the illness journey", which was constructed of the subthemes of facing the unimaginable yet expected, encountering healthcare personnel, and noticing recovery and "Putting oneself aside", which was constructed of the subthemes of placing daily life on hold, giving support, and feeling concern and fear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim of this hermeneutic study was to explore and elucidate the lived experiences of young people living with type 1 diabetes in terms of their everyday life and school in Sweden. Design: A qualitative interview study with a hermeneutic approach inspired by Gadamer's thinking. Methods: Interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of seven girls and three boys with type 1 diabetes between January and September 2017 and analysed with a hermeneutic method. Results: Young peoples' everyday lives were transformed and re‐organized by their illness and they parodically live a double‐edged everyday life. To support young people's healthcare personnel, headmasters and teachers must understand this double‐edged situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to elucidate meanings of participation in care for older people after hip fracture surgery and nurses working in an orthopaedic ward. A qualitative phenomenological hermeneutical design was used. We conducted personal interviews with a narrative approach with 11 older people recovering from hip fracture surgery and 12 nurses working in an orthopaedic ward. The results show that for older people, participation meant being a co-creator in their own care, founded on being met with sensitivity and support, being told what is going to happen, taking responsibility and asking questions and being able to influence care. For nurses, patient participation meant meeting the patients' needs and requests by being open and allowing them to influence care while at the same time recognizing that the patients' possibility to influence care was limited. The study shows that for older people and nurses, the phenomenon of participation has similar meanings but also differences. When older people participate in their care, they become a co-creator in care and confirmed as a person. This highlights the importance of a nurse-patient relationship built on trust, connectedness and communication based on a shared understanding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sami are an indigenous population with multiple languages and dialects living in northern areas of Sweden, Norway, Finland, and the Kola Peninsula. The South Sami population lives in central regions of Sweden and Norway, and consist of about 2000 people. In this study, 56 older South Sami people from Sweden participated. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted over the telephone and analysed through qualitative content analysis. The main findings show that older South Sami people's expectations of having care providers with a South Sami background speaking South Sami in home nursing care contain contradictions in and between participants. Participants had different preferences regarding having care providers with a South Sami background speaking South Sami in the future. When providing care to older South Sami people, individual adjustments are of importance, and our study showed that participants had different expectations despite having similar backgrounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is part of a larger research project designed to examine the view of home nursing care from the perspective of older South Sami people in Sweden. In the present study, we present findings from the point of view of their expectations of home nursing care. The Sami are an indigenous population living in northern Sweden, Norway, Finland and the Kola Peninsula, and consist of different Sami people, of which the South Sami population is one. This population consists of approximately 2000 persons living in the central regions of Sweden and Norway. Fifty‐six older South Sami people participated in the study. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted over the telephone and were analysed using latent content analysis. The main findings show how older South Sami people's expectation for home nursing care contains the same care providers over time, individual adjustments and competent care providers and do not differ from the general Swedish population. Interpersonal interaction is a hallmark of nursing care and other healthcare disciplines. Ideally, interpersonal care is achieved when individual care providers have few care receivers, which promote continuity in care, individual adjustments based on the care receivers individual needs and care providers with professional and relational competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Living with whiplash‐associated disorders (WAD) means living every day under the influence of pain and limitations. As the incidence of WAD and the related intensity of pain are somewhat higher among women than men, the aim of the present study was to describe women's experiences of living with WAD. Methods: A purposive sample of seven women participated in individual in‐depth qualitative interviews, the transcripts of which were subjected to qualitative content analysis. Results: The results of the analysis suggested six themes of women's experiences with WAD: living with unpredictable pain; trying to manage the pain; living with limitations; being unable to work as before; needing support and understanding; and learning to live with limitations. The findings showed that unpredictable pain limited women's strength to engage in activities of daily life and be as active as before. Support and understanding were important for their ability to manage changes in their daily lives. Conclusions: Pain considerably affects the daily lives of women with WAD, particularly by limiting their ability to perform activities and to enjoy their professional and social lives. As women with WAD need support with managing their daily lives, nurses and other healthcare personnel should adopt a person‐centred approach, in order to support such women according to their individual needs and circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: A hip fracture is an unexpected, subjective, traumatic experience that affects the person in both physical and emotional ways. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe rural older people's experiences of recovering after hip fracture surgery. METHODS: Thirteen individual interviews were conducted with older people. The interview texts were analyzed with qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Patients described finding themselves in a new and vulnerable situation, dependent on others for simple everyday chores. They struggled to regain independence while staying positive, convinced that they would recover. Fear of another fall, as well as lack of information, made recovery at home difficult. CONCLUSION: Older people who experience hip fractures need support during the recovery process. Because recovery begins at the hospital, this study highlight patients' need to participate in recovery planning, as well as the need to have information about what it means to be affected by a hip fracture and how to prevent it from happening again. This study emphasizes that nurses' awareness of patients' need to participate in planning the recovery process is crucial for enabling patients' return to a daily life that is similar to their prefracture life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Encounters play an important role in the relationship between healthcare personnel and the close relatives of people with a long-term illness. Aim: The aim of this study was to elucidate the meanings of encounters for close relatives of people with a long-term illness within a primary healthcare setting. Methods: Interviews using a narrative approach were conducted with seven women and three men, and the phenomenological hermeneutic method was used to interpret the interview texts. Results: The structural analysis revealed three major themes: being confirmed as a family, being informed of the care, and being respected as a valuable person. Close relatives stated that they wanted to be confirmed as a family and have a familiar and trusting relationship with healthcare personnel. They valued being informed concerning the care of the ill person so that they could give support at home. It was also important to be compassionately viewed as an important person in a welcoming atmosphere based on respect and dignity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to elucidate meanings of balance in everyday life for people with long-term illnesses living at home. People living with long-term illnesses are in need of help and support to manage their daily lives. Twelve adults with extensive needs for help and support were interviewed. A phenomenological hermeneutic interpretation was used to analyse the interview texts. The findings show that balance in everyday life for people with long-term illnesses means striving for independence through care and support in their surroundings. It was also important to be able to choose how their lives would be and to be with others who listened and understood them for who they are. By building a relationship with patients at an early stage of their illnesses, nursing staff have an opportunity to understand what people who are living at home with longterm illnesses need in order to achieve balance in their everyday lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives The aim of this study was to elucidate meanings of encounters for patients with long-term illness within the primary healthcare setting. Background Good encounters can be crucial for patients in terms of how they view their quality of care. Therefore, it is important to understand meanings of interactions between patients and healthcare personnel. Design A phenomenological hermeneutic method was used to analyse the interviews. Methods Narrative interviews with ten patients with long-term illness were performed, with a focus on their encounters with healthcare personnel within the primary healthcare setting. A phenomenological hermeneutical approach was used to interpret the interview texts. Results The results demonstrated that patients felt well when they were seen as an important person and felt welcomed by healthcare personnel. Information and follow-ups regarding the need for care were essential. Continuity with the healthcare personnel was one way to establish a relationship, which contributed to patients' feelings of being seen and understood. Good encounters were important for patients' feelings of health and well-being. Being met with mistrust, ignorance and nonchalance had negative effects on patients' perceived health and well-being and led to feelings of lower confidence regarding the care received. Conclusions Patients described a great need to be confirmed and met with respect by healthcare personnel, which contributed to their sense of togetherness. Having a sense of togetherness strengthened patient well-being. Relevance to clinical practice By listening and responding to patients' needs and engaging in meetings with patients in a respectful manner, healthcare personnel can empower patients' feelings of health and well-being. Healthcare personnel need to be aware of the significance of these actions because they can make patients experience feelings of togetherness, even if patients meet with different care personnel at each visit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Fibromyalgia (FM) is a common pain syndrome that mostly affects women. Chronic pain and other symptoms often chalenge work for women with FM. This study aimed to explore how women with FM experience their work situations. Method A purposive sample of 15 women with FM was interviewed with in-depth qualitative interviews. Data were analysed using a hermeneutic approach. Results The results revealed that women with FM experienced incapacity to work as they had previously and eventually accepted that their work life had changed or reached its end. Since their work had great significance in their lives, feelings of loss and sorrow were common. Women who were working, unemployed, or on sick leave described feelings of fear for their future work situations. Conclusions Women with FM greatly value their work. Their wish to perform work as before is however, not consistent with their abilities. As such, women with FM need support in continuing to work for as long as possible, after which they need support in finding new values in life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parents of young adults with mental illness may face a continued demand for support, even though their children have reached the age of majority. The aim of this study was to explore relatives’ experiences of parenting a young adult with mental illness in transition to adulthood. Individual interviews were conducted and analysed according to Grounded Theory. The results showed that relatives experienced powerlessness and a sense of inescapable duty with limited possibilities to be relieved. With a family nursing approach, relatives can be supported and, when the young adults’ needs of care are met, they can be relieved from their burden of responsibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Good encounters are fundamental for good and professional nursing care, and can be described as treating patients with respect and protecting their integrity and autonomy. This study describes district nurses' views on quality of healthcare encounters in primary healthcare. A purposive sample of 27 district nurses participated in five focus group interviews. The focus groups interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. The interview texts were analysed using a thematic content analysis. The analysis resulted in four themes, including being aware of the importance and difficulties during encounters, being the patient's advocate, being attentive to the unique person and being informed when a meeting turned out poorly. The results show that district nurses believed that encounters formed the basis of their work and it was vital for them to be aware of any difficulties. District nurses found that acting in a professional manner during encounters is the most significant factor, but this type of interaction was sometimes difficult because of stress and lack of time. The district nurses considered themselves to be the patients' advocate in the healthcare system; in addition, the acts of seeing, listening, believing and treating the patient seriously were important for providing good quality care. If a poor encounter occurred between the district nurse and the patient, the district nurses found that it was necessary to arrange a meeting to properly communicate what problems arose during the interaction. The district nurses highlighted that providing an apology and explanation could improve future encounters and establish a better nurse-patient relationship. In conclusion, this study shows the importance of confirming and respecting patients' dignity as the fundamental basis for a good quality encounter in primary healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of young adults with mental illness and the need of psychiatric care has increased during the last decades. The aim of the study was to explore young adults' experiences of psychiatric care during transition to adulthood. Individual interviews were conducted with 11 young adults and analysed according to Grounded Theory. The analyses results showed that support was a prerequisite for transition to adulthood and striving to reach recovery. By being encountered as a person and with a supportive environment, young adults can be motivated to continue care and be encouraged to express feelings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives To describe people's experiences of suffering a lower limb fracture and undergoing surgery, from the time of injury through to the care given at the hospital and recovery following discharge. Background There is a lack of research on people's experiences of suffering a lower limb fracture and undergoing surgery - from injury to recovery. Design A qualitative approach was used. Methods Interviews with nine participants were subjected to thematic content analysis. Results One theme was expressed: from realising the seriousness of the injury to regaining autonomy. Participants described feelings of frustration and helplessness when realising the seriousness of their injury. The wait prior to surgery was a strain and painful experience, and participants needed orientation for the future. They expressed feelings of vulnerability about being in the hands of staff during surgery. After surgery, in the postanaesthesia unit, participants expressed a need to have control and to feel safe in their new situation. To mobilise and regain their autonomy was a struggle, and participants stated that their recovery was extended. Conclusions and relevance to clinical practice Participants found themselves in a new and unexpected situation and experienced pain, vulnerability and a striving for control during the process, that is, 'from realising the seriousness of the injury to regaining autonomy'. How this is managed depends on how the patient's needs are met by nurses. The nursing care received while suffering a lower limb fracture and undergoing surgery should be situation specific as well as individual specific. The safe performance of technical interventions and the nurse's comprehensive explanations of medical terms may help the patient to feel secure during the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The researchers' focus in this study was to elucidate meanings of feeling well for women with fibromyalgia (FM). We obtained narrative interviews with 13 women with FM and used a phenomenological-hermeneutic interpretation to analyze the interview texts. Our interpretation of the findings shows that for women with FM meanings of feeling well can be understood as having strength to be involved. The women's experiences of feeling well meant being in control, having power, finding one's own pace, and experiencing feelings of belonging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scand J Caring Sci; 2012; 26; 279-286 Complaints with encounters in healthcare - men's experiences Good encounters within healthcare are important for the manner in which ill people facilitate their health and their perception of quality of care. Research about quality of care are important, but point out that dissatisfaction with healthcare may in the future be even more common regarding the demands for a more effective healthcare. The aim of this study was therefore to describe experiences of dissatisfaction with encounters in healthcare among men who personally filed a complaint to the Patients' Advisory Committee in the county council. Qualitative data were collected in semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of nine men who have filed a complaint to the Patients' Advisory Committee. The analysis resulted in two categories: being met with a disrespectful manner and not receiving a personal apology. The results in the first category describe that the men were treated with disrespect and suspicions by healthcare professionals. This was related to lack of communication which made the men sensitive to negative attitudes on the part of professionals. The results in the second category show that the men expected amends to be made in form of a personal apology about the dissatisfaction. The men were given no opportunities to influence the encounters and the professionals were unconscious of their behaviour in form of bad treatment. In conclusion, the results indicate the importance of meeting patients and their relatives with respect and dignity, listening to their experiences and proceeding with the treatment without insulting anyone as a person. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scand J Caring Sci; 2012; 26; 144-150 A hidden kind of suffering: female patient's complaints to Patient's Advisory Committee The aim of this study was to describe female patients' experiences of dissatisfaction with healthcare. People who have been treated with dignity during healthcare encounters are more prone to report better adherence to treatment and higher satisfaction with their care. Good quality care is commonly described as individualized and related to individual needs. This study has a qualitative approach, as the aim was to describe female patients' experiences of dissatisfaction with healthcare from a first person perspective. A purposive sample of fourteen women was interviewed about their experiences of dissatisfaction with healthcare. The interviews were subjected to a qualitative content analysis. The findings show that the women were treated with indifference when they were being withheld information, felt distrusted, and when they were treated badly they did not receive an apology. The findings also show that the women experienced that they did not feel safe when they had no one liable to turn to within the healthcare when the encounter did not correspond to the women's needs and expectations. The women's experiences of being withheld explanations can be seen as a violation of their dignity and a hidden suffering from care. In conclusion, the study shows the importance of receiving a personal explanation after filing a complaint about healthcare and recommends that clinics that receive a complaint from a patient should contact that patient and provide an individualized explanation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Andersson G, Engström Å, Söderberg S. International Journal of Nursing Practice 2010; : 603-608 The aim of this study was to describe women's experience of living with a colostomy after rectal cancer surgery. Interviews with five women about their experiences were subjected to thematic content analysis. The findings showed that receiving a cancer diagnosis gave rise to thoughts about life and death. For the women to feel comfortable, the information and health-care measures need to focus on supporting them through the entire process, also when the treatment is completed. After the surgery, the women adjusted to living with colostomy and carried on as before the cancer diagnosis, but they constantly worried about leakage or flatulence. The women were happy to have survived the cancer and this realization helped them to accept and have a good life with colostomy. In conclusion, women with colostomy because of rectal surgery need specific rehabilitation and nursing care that focuses on adjustment to temporary or permanent changes in life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. The aim of this study was to describe critical care nurses' experiences of follow-up visits for formerly critically ill people discharged from an intensive care unit and their close relatives. Background. The critical illness experience affects the ill person and their close relatives not only during the stay in an intensive care unit, but also for a long time afterwards. Follow-up visits were introduced to offer people the opportunity to talk about their experiences. This activity has not been studied earlier from the perspective of critical care nurses. Design. The design of this study was qualitative. Method. Eight critical care nurses narrated their experiences of follow-up visits by formerly critically ill people and their close relatives to an intensive care unit. Data were collected during 2007-2008. Qualitative thematic content analysis was applied to the interview texts. Results. The findings show that to feel they were doing a good job it was vital for the critical care nurses to be well prepared for the follow-up visits. It was difficult, in a positive way, to recognise formerly critically ill people when they returned looking healthy. The critical care nurses were disappointed that their former patients remembered so few real events. The follow-up visits gave the critical care nurses a new picture of how the critically illness experience influenced the former patient's everyday life during and after their stay in the intensive care unit and how it affected the lives of their close relatives. Conclusions. Through sharing the experiences of formerly critically ill peoples' and their close relatives' critical care nurses receive valuable feedback about their work. Relevance to clinical practice. Receiving feedback about one's work from follow-up visits gives critical care nurses the possibility for to evaluate given care. Follow-up visits to intensive care units can provide them with valuable knowledge that might lead to improved nursing care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]