The concept of experiences may not be all that revolutionary or new, however, the notion of an economy where experiences make up the core of all businesses is. This suggestion was made by Pine and Gilmore in 1999 in their bestseller “The Experience Economy”, and since then, the concept has received a lot of positive attention. Critics of the authors’ proposal still remain few in number, and there is a lack of research re-garding experiences and consumers. As the authors of this thesis we posed ourselves positive to the Experience Economy in general, but also a bit hesitant to the idea of companies offering experiences in all consumer contexts. Due to the lack of research regarding the demand side, we set out to explore the phenomenon of the Experience Economy from the perception of consumers. By doing so we hoped to find whether or not a foundation for Pine and Gilmore’s (1999) idea exists. In order to explore consumers’ perceptions of the Experience Economy, we focused on what is at the core of the concept – experiences. A qualitative research approach was decided upon, and three focus group interviews were conducted. The focus groups were made up of young consumers, parents of small children, and middle aged consumers. The empirical findings indicate that a foundation for the claim that the Experience Economy is emerging does exist, at least to the extent that no substantial barriers have been identified. However, we believe that the notion of an experience-based economy is only to be discussed if the concept is somewhat widened in its claims. That is, our summation of the consumers’ perceptions of the Experience Economy suggests that experiences need to be viewed as existing along a spectrum, ranging from a negative to a positive extreme. Rather than just being at the positive extreme, as indicated by scholars, we believe that staged experiences in the Experience Econ-omy will range from the spectrum’s neutral centre to only on rare occasions touch upon the extraordinaire.

To sort, is the meaning of the word “triage”. Triage is used at emergency departments to facilitate prioritization of patients according to the urgency of the chief complaint. The aim of this study was to investigate how the nurses experience the triage model at the emergency department at Uppsala university hospital. Twelve nurses were interviewed. The mean age was 40 years and the mean work experience was three years and four months. An interview guide was used, consisting of questions about triage, collaboration and work situation. The nurses perceived that triage supports assessment and prioritization of patients. Different triage models were used depending on the nurses’ level of triage-education, which was perceived as problematic. The nurses perceived safety when triage was performed together with the physician. The level of collaboration, between the nurses and the physicians, was experienced to be person-dependent. The importance of good communication between nurses and physicians were highlighted. Triage supports the assessment and prioritization of patients. A standardized triage model would increase the quality of care. The collaboration between nurses and physicians could be improved if they receive the same information and education about triage. Improved communication will facilitate the collaboration. Physicians should participate in the triage process.

Akut lymfatisk leukemi (ALL) är den vanligaste typen av leukemi bland barn. I Sverige diagnostiseras cirka 80 barn med leukemi varje år. Cancer är en sjukdom som inte enbart drabbar barnet utan hela familjen påverkas. Tidigare forskning påvisar hur sjukdomen, behandlingarna samt sjukhusvistelsen påverkar föräldrarna. Syftet med denna studie är att, med hjälp av självbiografier, belysa föräldrars upplevelser av att ha ett barn med diagnosen leukemi. Metoden som använts är en kvalitativ metod där sex självbiografier analyserats. Genom analys framträdde tre huvudteman med tio tillhörande subteman. Huvudtemana är: förlora fotfästet i tillvaron, nya tillvaron och när hoppet sviker. Resultatet visade att väntan och ovisshet ökade stressen hos föräldrarna och ledde till en känsla av hjälplöshet. Under barnets sjukdomstid slets föräldrarna mellan hopp och känslan av maktlöshet. Föräldrarna upplevde personalkontinuiteten som en viktig del under sjukhusvistelsen. Att bryta upp från en välkänd miljö och lära känna ny personal var svårt. Resultatet i studien är värdefull för sjukvårdspersonal. Genom ökad förståelse kan ett optimalt samarbete främjas mellan sjuksköterska och föräldrar. Detta leder förhoppningsvis också till ett ökat välbefinnande hos barnen.

Ungefär 200 personer insjuknar årligen i sjukdomen amyotrofisk lateralskleros (ALS), vilket ses som en ökning de senaste 30 åren. Att insjukna i en obotlig sjukdom bidrar till både fysiskt och psykiskt lidande. Det är viktigt att förstå patienters upplevelser av sjukdomen vilket det saknas information om. Syftet var att utifrån självbiografier, beskriva patienters upplevelser av att leva med ALS. En kvalitativ innehållsanalys beskriven av Lundman och Hällgren Graneheim gjordes. Datamaterialet bestod av sju självbiografier. Ur datamaterialet urskiljdes patienters känslor och upplevelser kring sjukdomen ALS i form av sex kategorier med tillhörande underkategorier. Kategorierna som framkom var; svårigheter kring den begynnande sjukdomen, tankar kring döden, sorg, bristande självkänsla, att känna sig utlämnad och att få insikt i sin sjukdom. Informanternas beskrev upplevelserna olika eftersom det fanns variationer av varje individs sjukdom. Att slutligen kunna se positiva stunder trots sin sjukdom var betydande. Ingen vet bättre än patienten själv hur den mest uppskattade omvårdnaden kan ges. Därför är det av vikt att lyssna på patienters upplevelser och deras egen berättelse av den upplevda sjukdomen. Erfarenheterna av sjukdomen var av olika karaktär men likheter kunde ses där många upplevelser var återkommande hos de flesta informanterna. / About 200 persons become ill annually with the illness amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which can be seen as an increase in the last 30 years. Falling ill in an incurable illness contributes to both physical and psychological suffering. It is important to understand the patient’s experiences of the illness and this is a field where there is little or no information available. The aim of this study was to describe the patients’ experiences of living with ALS from autobiographies. A qualitative content analysis described by Lundman and Hällgren Graneheim was performed. The data material consisted of seven autobiographies. From the data material patient’s feelings and experiences of the illness ALS was discerned in terms of six categories with associated subcategories. The categories were; difficulties of the emerging illness, thoughts about death, sadness, lack of self esteem, to feel deserted and to reach insight into their own illness. The informants described experiences differently due to individual variations of illness. To eventually be able to see positive moments despite the illness was significant. No one knows better than the patient how the most appreciated nursing care should be. Therefore it is of importance to listen to patients’ own experience of the illness. The experiences of the illness varied but similarities could be seen where many experiences were recurrent among most informants.

Background: Hypochondriasis is associated with marked impairments in physical and psychological functioning, work performance and increased health care utilization. The prevalence among medical outpatients is estimated to be between 4,2 % and 6,3 %. Notwithstanding there is deficient research in this area. Until recently no specific treatment has been clearly demonstrated to be effective. Objective: The aim was to investigate experiences of what it is like to live with hypochondriasis, but also to examine different treatment options. Methods: In order to illustrate the experiences a latent content analyses was made on a documentary named “Hypokondrikerna” and to examine the treatment options a systematic review was made. Result: The content analysis revealed three categories and nine sub-categories concerning the experiences. The three categories were “health anxiety”, “individual coping strategies” and “emotional consequences”. The systematic review revealed medical treatment which consisted of three different antidepressants as well as seven different kinds of psychological treatments and other interventions, which all reduced hypocondriacal symptoms. Discussion: The findings show that hypochondriasis causes a chronic suffering and indicates that potential treatments are available. Hypochondriasis causes an unproductive health care utilization. A more effective management could reduce the costs and ease the suffering. Therefore we suggest that this disease should be observed and treated. The nurse has an important function to maintain a positive relationship with the patient and create a therapeutic dialogue.

Pasienttilfredshet med polikliniske tilbud i det psykiske helsevernet – betydningen av organisatoriske faktorer Pasientenes opplevelse og tilfredshet med behandlingstilbudet har i økende grad blitt vektlagt ved evaluering av tjenester til mennesker med psykiske lidelser. Systematiske målinger av brukererfaringer i det psykiske helsevernet skal inngå som en av flere kvalitetsindikatorer for spesialisttjenesten. Dette skal blant annet gi brukerne beslutningsgrunnlag for å kunne velge hvor man ønsker å behandles, fagfolkene innspill til egen kvalitetsutvikling og staten nødvendig styringsinformasjon. Hensikten med avhandlingen var å undersøke i hvilken grad organisatoriske forhold har betydning for pasientenes tilfredshet med behandlingstilbudet. Resultatene i avhandlingen bygger på analyser av data fra flere større undersøkelser med spørreskjema til pasienter om deres erfaringer med det psykiske helsevernet. Samlet sett viser resultatene at misnøye eller tilfredshet med tjenestetilbudet i liten grad var avhengig av hvor behandlingen fant sted. Det vil si at pasientene var fornøyd eller misfornøyd relativt uavhengig av hvor de ble behandlet. For eksempel blant pasienter i poliklinikker for voksne kunne bare om lag to prosent av variansen i tilfredshet knyttes til hvilken behandlingsenhet som sto for behandlingen. Resultatene viste også at ulike mål på den psykiske lidelsens alvorlighet var assosiert med pasienttilfredshet, noe som vil ha betydning ved sammenlikning av behandlingsenheter med til dels ulike behandlingsoppgaver. Avhandlingen viser at aggregerte mål for pasienttilfredshet har klare begrensninger som indikator på organisatorisk kvalitet. Det er grunn til å tvile på om gjennomsnittlig tilfredshet ved for eksempel en poliklinikk er egnet som styringsinformasjon. Det synes som om metoden i liten grad er egnet til å identifisere poliklinikker med dårlig kvalitet og det er også usikkert om de poliklinikkene som metoden beskriver som dårlige, faktisk er dårlige. Kandidat: Johan Håkon Bjørngaard, Institutt for samfunnsmedisin Veiledere: Jon Magnussen, Torleif Ruud og Svein Friis Finansieringskilde: Rådet for psykisk helse og Stiftelsen Helse og Rehabilitering

Studiens syfte är att undersöka tonåringars upplevelser av att leva med diabetes och vilka problem de stöter på i vardagen. Tonårstiden är en omtumlande period då förvandlingen från att vara barn till att bli vuxen sker. Att samtidigt anpassa livet efter en kronisk sjukdom som innebär strikta regler och regelbunden vardag gällande mat och medicinering är påfrestande. En litteraturstudie har gjorts för att sammanställa forskning på området. Artiklarna hämtades i databaserna Cinhal och Medline. Sökorden som använts var: ungdomar, diabetes typ 1 och upplevelser. 14 artiklar valdes ut och analyserades. Två huvudteman definierades, det första var att leva med diabetes med underrubrikerna fritid, medicinering, kost och motion, skola och vård samt livskvalitet. Det andra var relationer med underrubrikerna familjen, vänner och frigörelse. Resultatet visar att tonåringar med diabetes typ 1 känner att de skiljer sig från sina vänner. De måste följa en regelbunden kost och medicinering. De kan inte vara spontana utan måste alltid planera sitt liv efter sin sjukdom. Frigörelseprocessen ser annorlunda ut för ungdomar med diabetes. Flickor och pojkar upplever sin sjukdom på olika sätt, pojkar har svårare att acceptera sin sjukdom och försöker dölja den, flickor identifierar sig mer med sin sjukdom men har svårare att följa de strikta och regelbundna rutinerna. / The aim of this study is to look into the experiences of adolescents living with diabetes and what problems they encounter in everyday life. Adolescence is a difficult period in life in which children grow up to become adults. At the same time it is stressful to adapt life to a chronic disease, with strict rules for food and medication on a regular timetable. A literature review has been made to compile research. Articles were retrieved in the databases Cinahl and Medline. The keywords used were: adolescent, type 1 diabetes and experiences. 14 Articles were selected and analyzed. Two main themes were defined, the first was to live with diabetes with subheadings leisure, medication, diet and exercise, quality of life, health care and school. The second was relationships with subheadings family, friends and emancipation. The result shows that teenagers with type 1 diabetes know that they are different from their friends. They must adhere to a regular diet and medication. They can not be spontaneous because they have to plan life to their illness. Emancipation process is different for adolescents with diabetes. Girls and boys experience their disease in different ways. Boys have more difficulties accepting their illness and try to hide it, girls identify more with it but find it harder to follow the strict and regular routines.

Like adult obesity, childhood obesity prevalence is rising, especially in the Western World. As many as 20 – 25 percent of the ten years old children are overweight in Sweden. It is important to early identify overweight, since overweight could lead into diabetes, mental suffering, hypertension and cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to describe how nurses experience and perceive the conversation with parents of overweight children. A qualitative method with a content analysis has been used. Six nurses working in child health centre have been interviewed. The result shows that the conversation between the nurse and the parents of an overweight child can be very difficult. The nurse has to bring up the subject very carefully. It might happen that the parent will react with anger. The nurses expressed a need for more time allocated for taking care of this issue more satisfying. She also is looking for more education according to conversation methods. Finally, parents carry most of the responsibility for their children. They are the best placed to change the situation. The nurse´s important work is to support parents and help them identify the problems and thus find the solutions that suit the individual family. / Övervikt och fetma är ett växande problem hos vuxna och barn, speciellt i västvärlden. I Sverige är 20 - 25 % av alla tioåringar överviktiga. Det är av största vikt att tidigt identifiera övervikt. Detta eftersom övervikt kan leda till diabetes, psykiska problem, hypertoni och hjärt- kärl sjukdomar. Syftet med studien var att beskriva sjuksköterskans erfarenheter av att samtala med föräldrar till överviktiga barn. En kvalitativ metod med innehållsanalys har använts. Sex stycken barnsjuksköterskor/ distriktssköterskor verksamma inom barnhälsovården har intervjuats. Resultatet visar att barnsjuksköterskans/ distriktssköterskans samtal med föräldrar till överviktiga barn inte alltid är helt problemfria. Hon måste vara försiktig då hon för ämnet på tal. Det händer att föräldrar reagerar med ilska. Barnsjuksköterskan/ distriktssköterskan behöver mer tid för att samtala med föräldern på ett mer tillfredsställande sätt. Barnsjuksköterskan/ distriktssköterskan efterfrågar också utbildning i samtalsteknik. Föräldrar är ansvariga för sina barns hälsa. Det är de som bäst lämpar sig till att förändra situationen för sina barn. Barnsjuksköterskan/ distriktssköterskans viktiga arbete består i att stötta föräldern och hjälpa denne att identifiera problemet och därmed hitta de lösningar som passar den enskilda familjen.

It is increasingly common that Swedish companies get acquired by foreign firms. An acquisition will have more evident changes in the acquired firm. The organisational structure will be affected which implies that people in different levels of the organisation experience the changes differently. Middle managers are believed to have an exposed role in organisational changes as they are in between top management and employees. In order to reach a successful integration in the postacquisition process employee trust in management is seen as a vital part. The area of middle managers in acquisitions and how individuals experience the post-acquisition process are subjects where more research is needed. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the post-acquisition process in the acquired firm, focusing on how the acquisition has been experienced among middle managers and their employees. The method chosen for thesis is qualitative and the information has been collected by using semi-standardised interviews as well as questionnaires. The study was limited to one company where seven middle managers and the human resource manager were interviewed. Also 32 employees participated in the study by answering the questionnaires. We can conclude that the middle managers did not show resistance to changes unless it would be unfavourable for the company. We could also see indications that internally advanced middle managers can be related to an advantageous atmosphere of communicating trust. It was also concluded that middle managers are a vital link in terms of conveying information throughout the post-acquisition process.

Abstract This is a study of peoples interpretations of what they consider are unexplainable experiences, the geographical effects of it and the connection between the interpretations and effects. The phenomenon itself is not studied. The study is conducted in Sweden in the county of Värmland by a student, in Human Geography at Karlstads University. An inductive way to work, a behaviour ideology and qualitative method have been used to answer the questions. Data have been collected by a “structured open ended” interview technique. Seven people have been interviewed. No general conclusions are drawn because the low amount interviews. Similarities and differences on the other hand are showed.