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Objectives: To study the relationship between coping strategies and nausea during emetogenic pelvic-abdominal radiotherapy, and to describe the patients’ rationales for their expectations regarding nausea. Methods: Patients (n = 200: 84% women, mean age 64 years, 69% had gynecological, 27% colorectal, and 4% had other malignances) longitudinally participated during pelvic-abdominal radiotherapy. We measured adopted coping strategies using the Mental Adjustment to Cancer scale and the patients’ rationales for their expectations regarding nausea at baseline. The patients registered nausea and vomiting daily during the radiotherapy period (mean 36 + Standard Deviation 10 days). Results: Patients who experienced nausea (n = 128, 64%) during the radiotherapy period graded a lower score on “Fighting Spirit” (median, md, score 51, P = .031) and a higher score on “anxious preoccupation” (md 18, P = .040) compared to patients who did not experience nausea (n = 72, 36%), md 54 and md 17. More of the patients for whom “Helpless-Hopeless” represented the most predominant response experienced nausea (100%) or vomited (56%) compared to patients adopting “Fighting Spirit”: 62% experienced nausea (P = .011) and 20% vomited (P = .014). Only four (6%) of the nausea-free patients had expected themselves to be at increased risk for nausea. Of the patients who became nauseous, 22 (17%) patients had expected themselves to be at increased risk for nausea (P = .017), based on previous experience. Conclusion: Patients adopting maladaptive coping strategies or patients expecting nausea based on previous experiences, were more likely to experience nausea than other patients when undergoing emetogenic pelvic-abdominal radiotherapy. Cancer care professionals may identify patients adopting maladaptive coping strategies or having high nausea expectations by applying the MAC scale and self-assessment of expected nausea risk and guide these patients to adopt adaptive coping strategies and strengthe

Background: Common mental disorders (CMDs) are currently a major cause of long-term sick leave, with women being the 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 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 [intraclasscorrelation 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 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 separated into two different factors. Conclusions: The questionnaire, called the RTW Beliefs Questionnaire, showed promising results and can among women with CMDs considered useful, especially scales for direct measures. This questionnaire gives the opportunity to identify new potential predictors for RTW.

Common mental disorders are associated with long-term sick leave, especially among women. There is a lack of theory-based research regarding the impact of personal factors on return to work and psychological well-being. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine whether return-to-work beliefs and perceived health were predictors of return to work and psychological well-being among women during or after long-term sick leave for common mental disorders, based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour. This was a prospective cohort study with a 1-year follow-up. At baseline, women (n = 282) had been on full- or part-time sick leave for common mental disorders for 2–24 months. Data were collected in October 2019–January 2020 and October 2020–January 2021 in Sweden. The Social Insurance Agency identified the women at baseline. The Return-To-Work Beliefs Questionnaire, EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale and General Health Questionnaire-12 were used. Multiple logistic and linear regression analyses were conducted. The women were divided into two groups: full-time sick leave or part-time sick leave at baseline. The results showed that stronger return-to-work intention significantly predicted return to work among women on full-time sick leave at baseline. No significant predictors of return to work were found among women on part-time sick leave at baseline. Psychological well-being was predicted by stronger social pressure to return to work (full-time group) and a more positive attitude toward returning to work and better perceived health (part-time group). We concluded that the Theory of Planned Behaviour can be useful for understanding return to work among women on full-time sick leave, and what underlies psychological well-being in both groups. However, return to work and psychological well-being were predicted by different factors, indicating that a multifactorial approach should be used in supporting women to return to work after long-term sick leave for common mental disorder

Background Sick leave due to musculoskeletal pain, particularly in the neck/shoulders and back, is one of the major public health problems in Western countries such as Sweden. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of return to work (RTW) among women on sick leave due to long-term neck/shoulder and/or back pain. Methods This was a prospective cohort study with a 1-year follow-up. The study participants were recruited from a local Swedish Social Insurance Agency register and had all been on sick leave for ≥ 1 month due to long-term (≥ 3 months) neck/shoulder and/or back pain. Data on predictors and outcome were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. A total of 208 women aged 23–64 years were included at baseline, and 141 responded at the 1-year follow-up. Cluster analyses were performed to identify one predictor from each cluster for use in the regression model. Results At the 1-year follow-up, 94 of the 141 women had RTW and 47 had not. Women who engaged in more coping through increasing behavioral activities (OR: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.03–1.25) and those who more strongly believed they would return to the same work within 6 months (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 1.10–1.37) had an increased probability of RTW. Receiving more social support outside work (OR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.28–0.92) decreased the odds of RTW at the 1-year follow-up. Conclusions Behavioral activities, beliefs about returning to the same work, and social support outside work were predictors of RTW at the 1-year follow-up. Healthcare professionals should consider these predictors in their efforts to prevent prolonged sick leave and to promote RTW in this population. Keywords: Follow-up study, Musculoskeletal pain, Prognostic factors, Return to work, and Sickness absence.

Background: Using cerebral oxygen venous saturation post-cardiac arrest (CA) is limited because of a small sample size and prior to establishment of target temperature management (TTM). We aimed to describe variations in jugular bulb oxygen saturation during intensive care in relation to neurological outcome at 6 months post- CA in cases where TTM 33 degrees C was applied. Method: Prospective observational study in patients over 18 years, comatose immediately after resuscitation from CA. Patients were treated with TTM 33 degrees C M and received a jugular bulb catheter within the first 26 hours post-CA. Neurological outcome was assessed at 6 months using the Cerebral Performance Categories (CPC) and dichotomized into good (CPC 1-2) and poor outcome (CPC 3-5). Results: Seventy-five patients were included and 37 (49%) patients survived with a good outcome at 6 months post-CA. No differences were found between patients with good outcome and poor outcome in jugular bulb oxygen saturation. Higher values were seen in differences in oxygen content between central venous oxygen saturation and jugular bulb oxygen saturation in patients with good outcome compared to patients with poor outcome at 6 hours (12 [8-21] vs 5 [-0.3 to 11]% P = .001) post-CA. Oxygen extraction fraction from the brain illustrated lower values in patients with poor outcome compared to patients with good outcome at 96 hours (14 [9-23] vs 31 [25-34]% P = .008). Conclusions: Oxygen delivery and extraction differed in patients with a good outcome compared to those with a poor outcome at single time points. Based on the present findings, the usefulness of jugular bulb oxygen saturation for prognostic purposes is uncertain in patients treated with TTM 33 degrees C post-CA.

Background: Musculoskeletal pain is one of the leading causes of sick leave, especially among women, in Western countries. The aim of the present study was to identify factors associated with work ability and well-being, respectively, among women on sick leave due to long-term pain in the neck/shoulders and/or back. Methods: A cross sectional study with a correlational design was conducted on women who were sick-listed due to long-term pain in the neck/shoulders and/or back. A total of 208 participants responded to a survey comprising eight instruments: Multidimensional Pam inventory scale, General Self-Efficacy scale, Sense of Coherence scale, Coping Strategies Questionnaire, Demand-Control-Support Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Work Ability Index and Life Satisfaction questionnaire Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with work ability and well being, respectively. Results: Women who more strongly believed they would return to the same work had greater work ability (beta = 0.39, p < 0.001), whereas women with higher pain intensify (beta = - 0.30, p < 0.001) and higher job stiam (beta = - 0.12, p < 0.05) had lower work ability. Women with higher self-efficacy rated greater well being (beta = 0.14, p <0.05) As the women's scores for depression increased, their well being decreased by 48%, which was statistically significant (p <0.001) The regression models for work ability and well-being were significant (p <0.001), and their adjusted R square values were 48% and 59%, respectively. Conclusions: The study suggests that the factors beliefs to be back at the same work, pain intensity and job strain are pi predictive of work ability. Moreover, the factors seif efficacy and depression seem to be predictive of well-being The findings highlight factors that should be considered by health care professionals and policy makers to guide attempts to reduce sick leave.

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is reported to have high prognostic accuracy in unconscious post-cardiac arrest (CA) patients. We documented acute MRI findings in the brain in both conscious and unconscious post-CA patients treated with target temperature management (TTM) at 32-34°C for 24 h as well as the relation to patients' neurological outcome after 6 months. METHODS: A prospective observational study with MRI was performed regardless of the level of consciousness in post-CA patients treated with TTM. Neurological outcome was assessed using the Cerebral Performance Categories scale and dichotomized into good and poor outcome. RESULTS: Forty-six patients underwent MRI at 3-5 days post-CA. Patients with good outcome had minor, mainly frontal and parietal, lesions. Acute hypoxic/ischemic lesions on MRI including DWI were more common in patients with poor outcome (P = 0.007). These lesions affected mostly gray matter (deep or cortical), with or without involvement of the underlying white matter. Lesions in the occipital and temporal lobes, deep gray matter and cerebellum showed strongest associations with poor outcome. Decreased apparent diffusion coefficient, was more common in patients with poor outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Extensive acute hypoxic/ischemic MRI lesions in the cortical regions, deep gray matter and cerebellum detected by visual analysis as well as low apparent diffusion coefficient values from quantitative measurements were associated with poor outcome. Patients with good outcome had minor hypoxic/ischemic changes, mainly in the frontal and parietal lobes.

Background: Sick leave due to long-term musculoskeletal pain is an increasing public health problem, particularly among women, in Western countries. Studies have shown that reduced work ability and well-being are common in this population, but do they really matter for return to work (RTW)? Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to compare work ability and well-being over time, among sick-listed women with long-term pain in neck/shoulders or back who had RTW and who remained on sick leave. Methods: A postal survey was sent to 600 women receiving time-loss benefits according to the Swedish Social Insurance registers. Inclusion criteria: (i) age between 18 and 65 years, (ii) Sick leave: ≥ 1 month of their ≥ 50% service, (iii) pain in neck/shoulders or back: ≥ 3 months, and (iv) understanding Swedish. Exclusion criteria: (i) rheumatoid arthritis, (ii) multiple sclerosis, (iii) stroke, (iv) cancer, (v) Parkinson, (vi) bipolar disease, (vii) schizophrenia, (viii) pregnancy. After 12 months, a follow-up survey was sent to the 208 women who answered the survey at baseline. At the follow-up, 64 women had RTW and 41 remained on sick leave. The Work Ability Index (WAI) and the Life Satisfaction questionnaire (LiSat) were used to assess work ability and well-being, respectively. To determine whether the groups (RTW and non-RTW) differed at baseline for WAI and LiSat, respectively, independent t-tests were performed. If significant differences were found, the baseline values were included as a covariate in univariate analysis of variance with change in WAI and LiSat, respectively, as outcome and groups as independent variable. The level of significance was set to p < 0.05. Results: For WAI, the groups differed at baseline (t= -7.54, p < 0.001). In the univariate analysis of covariance, the groups changed significantly over time (F= 28.47, p < 0.001) after adjusting for baseline values. The group that returned to work improved more than the group that remained o

Background Sickness absence due to long-term musculoskeletal pain (MSP) is a common phenom-enon in Sweden as well as in other European countries. Sick leave due to MSP (i.e. pain in the neck/shoulders and/or back) is higher among women than among men; therefore, women can be considered as a vulnerable group. Aim The overall aim is to identify factors of importance for work ability, well-being and return to work among women of working age who are on sick leave due to long-term pain in the neck/shoulders and/or back. The project includes three empirical studies. Methods The project was a result of a joint collaboration between the University of Gävle and the Swedish Social Insurance Agency in Gävleborg. Initially, a postal survey was sent to 600 women in Gävleborg who were receiving time-loss benefits during spring 2016. The inclusion criteria were: women aged 18-65 years, ≥ 50% sick leave from service, sick leave ≥ 1 month due to pain in the neck/shoulders and/or back (≥ 3 months) and understanding the Swedish language. The exclusion criteria were: rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, stroke, cancer, Parkinson, bipolar disease, schizophrenia and preg-nancy. After 12 months, a follow-up survey was sent to the 208 women who answered the survey at baseline, and 141 responded. Results Study-I aimed to identify factors associated with work ability and well-being among women on sick leave. The results showed that beliefs to be back at the same work, pain intensity and job strain correlated with work ability. Self-efficacy and depression correlated with well-being. Study-II aimed to compare work ability and well-being over time, among women who returned to work (RTW) versus women who remained on sick leave in one year. The findings indicated that out of 141 women, 94 did RTW and 47 remained on sick leave. The group that RTW improved in work ability as well as well-being over time, whereas the group that remained on sick leave tended to decline over time in well-being.

Objective: The purpose of this narrative systematic review was to summarise prognostic factors for return to work (RTW) among people with long-term neck/shoulder or back pain. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed through three databases (Medline, CINAHL and PsycINFO) for studies published until February 2016. Only observational studies of people on work absence ((a) over cap %Y2 weeks) due to neck/shoulder or back pain were included. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using guidelines for assessing quality in prognostic studies on the basis of Framework of Potential Biases. Factors found in the included studies were grouped into categories based on similarities and then labelled according to the aspects covered by the factors in the category. Results: Nine longitudinal prospective cohort studies and one retrospective study fulfilled the inclusion criteria. From these, five categories of factors were extracted. Our findings indicate that recovery beliefs, health-related factors and work capacity are important for RTW among people with long-term neck or back pain. We did not find support for workplace factors and behaviour being predictive of RTW. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that recovery beliefs, perceived health and work capacity may be important targets of intervention for people with long-term neck or back pain. However, more high-quality prospective studies are needed to confirm the results and improve our understanding of what is needed to facilitate RTW in this population.

Aim: The aim was to compare coping strategies and quality of life (QoL) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) with such strategies and QOL in persons from two general Swedish populations and to investigate relationships between personal characteristics and coping strategies. Design: A cross-sectional, comparative and correlational design was used to examine data from three sources. Methods: The patient group (n=124), defined using ICD-10, was selected consecutively from two hospitals in central Sweden. The population group (n=515) consisted of persons drawn randomly from the Swedish population. Data were collected with questionnaires in 2011; regarding QoL, Swedish population reference data from 1994 were used. Results: Overall, women used more coping strategies than men did. Compared with the general population data from SF-36, patients with CHF rated lower QoL. In the regression models, perceived low efficiency in managing psychological aspects of daily life increased use of coping. Other personal characteristics related to increased use of coping strategies were higher education, lower age and unsatisfactory economic situation.