Objective: To look at the Red Cross and the Red Crescent societies integrated campaigns between 2002 and 2006 with free distribution of insecticide treated nets (ITN)that have taken place and its contribution to the Millennium Development Goals(MDG) and the Abuja target.  Method: Review of surveys, evaluations and reports from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent integrated campaigns. Published articles up to 2007 have been accessed from electronic databases Medline, PubMed, the Cochrane Library and website`s from WHO, UNICEF, GFATM , and related articles available from international organisations web sites in addition to informal discussions and meetings with key stakeholders. Results: The integrated vaccination and free distribution of long lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) achieved a rapid, high and equal LLIN coverage among all wealth quintiles. The MDG and Abuja target for ITN coverage at household level were reached within a week giving a unique opportunity for a significant reduction in malaria incidences, morbidity and mortality. The ITN possession remained higher than utilisation, but utilisation increased if a follow up visit, ensuring nets being hung and properly used, had taken place at household level post campaign. Conclusion: Large scale free distribution of LLINs  bridge the equity gap between poor and rich and increased the use rate among children under five and pregnant women. The low utilisation versus possession remains a challenge and thus a “minimum standard” of a two phased strategy is recommend to reach maximum impact and the MDG; Phase one preparing for pre campaign data, logistical planning and distribution while phase two should focus on a post campaign Keep Up program providing health education at household level to ensure proper net hanging and use. / <p>ISBN 978-91-85721-42-9</p>

Denne studiens hensikt er dels å belyse den økede sårbarheten hos personer med begynnende demens i forhold til omsorgspersoner, og dels å undersøke hva omsorgspersoner mener bør endres med henblikk på utvikling av kunnskap og kompetanse for integritetsstyrkende omsorg og pleie til denne pasientgruppen. Studien er en del av samarbeidsprosjektet: Helsefremmende og forebyggende psykisk helsearbeid i lokalsamfunnet, som er et samarbeidsprosjekt mellom Høgskolen i Hedmark og to kommuner, en by- og en landkommune. Dataene er skapt på grunnlag av åtte fokusgruppeintervjuer med hjemmehjelpere og pårørende og dialogbasert undervisning i de respektive kommuner i peioden okt. 2003-mars 2004. Dataene er analysert ved hjelp av kvalitativ innholdsanalyse. Resultatene viser at intervjupersonene erfarer at personer med begynnende demens har en spesiell sårbarhet og opplever både lidelse og krenkelser i sin hverdag. Hjemmehjelperne etterlyste kontinuitet i tjenesten og ”tilstrekkelig tid” i samhandligssituasjoner med personer med begynnende demens. Pårørende ønsket rutiner for oppfølging både av pasient og pårørende etter utredning og diagnostisering. I tillegg ønsket de bedre rutiner for kommunikasjon og samarbeid mellom pårørende og de hjemmebaserte tjenester.Både pårørende og hjemmehjelper ønsket et relevant faglig undervisningsopplegg for personer som har omsorgsansvar for personer med begynnende demens. / The aim of this MPH thesis is partly to show the increased vulnerability at early stages of dementia related to their caretakers, and partly to investigate what the caretakers think should be changed when it comes to development of knowledge and competence necessary for promoting a care based on the respect for the integrity of this group of patients. The study is part of a research collaboration between Hedmark University College and two municipalities, one urban and one rural municipality: Promotive and preventive mental health work in the local community. Data is created on the basis of eight focus group interviews with home care workers and family carers (spouses and children) from two municipalities during October-03 through March-04. Data was analysed by means of qualitative content analyses. The results show that the persons interviewed had experienced that persons suffering from dementia experienced vulnerability and different kinds of threats against their integrity in their daily life. The home care workers wanted continuance in the service and “time enough” in the caring situations with the patients suffering from dementia to be able to give security and confidence. The family carers wanted collaboration- and communication routines to be able to take better care of the patient. They also felt very much left alone in the care of the patient. / <p>ISBN 91-7997-118-0</p>

Bakgrund: De medicinska insatser, omvårdnad och rehabilitering som erbjuds patienter i primärvård idag är vedertagna och vanligtvisevidensbaserade. Patienter kan få diagnos, behandling och ofta bot för många åkommor. En dimension som dock mindre ofta är tillvaratagen är effekterna av en genomtänkt fysisk miljö. Ett respektfullt bemötande i kombination med en genomtänkt vårdmiljö kan beskrivas som en god vårdatmosfär. Syftet med studien är att undersöka hur patienter upplever och uppfattar vårdatmosfären vid besök på en rehabiliteringsenhet i primärvård. Metod: Kvalitativaforskningsintervjuer och kvalitativ innehållsanalys Huvudresultat: En vårdatmosfär kan delas in i tre domäner: Fysisk miljö, Bemötande och Organisation. Inom domänerna finns ett antal kategoriermed variationer: Känsla av kontroll, Fysiska förutsättningar för att bli uppmärksammad, Subjektiva upplevelser av miljön, Kunskap om miljöns effekter, Uppmärksammar och bekräftar, Kommunicerar, Helhetssyn, Patienten i fokus, Delaktighet, Empati, Jämlikt möte, Att göradet ‖lilla extra‖, Innehåll och utbud, Tillgänglighet, Kontinuitet, Vårdkedjor och samverkan, Jämlik vård, Patientens rättigheter, Bemötandeandaoch förbättrings-och utvecklingsanda.Temat som framkommit är Att bli sedd, att vara värdefull. Slutsats: Till begreppet vårdatmosfär kan förutom vårdmiljö och bemötande, organisation läggastill. Organisationen ger förutsättningar eller kan försvåra. Ett tema håller samman alla kategorier och det är betydelsen av att bli sedd som ger budskap om att vara värdeful / Background: Medical treatment, care, and rehabilitation offered to patients in primary care settings are established and mostly evidence-based. Patients can receive diagnose, treatment and, quite often, cure. A dimension that receives less attention involves the effects of a carefully planned physical environment. Combined with a carefully planned environment, respectful interaction between patients and health professionals enhancesthe atmosphere of care settings. Aim: This study aimed to investigate how patients experience the atmosphere they encounter when visiting a rehabilitation unit within a primary care unit. Method: Qualitative research interviews and qualitative content analysisResults: The atmosphere in care settings encompasses three domains: physical environment, interaction between patients and health professionals, and the organization. Within these domains, categories include sense of control, physical conditionsfor to attract attention, subjective experience, knowledge of the effects of the environment, attention to and confirmation of the patient, communication, holistic view of the patient, patient in focus, participation, empathy, equality in the meeting, To do ―the little more‖, healthcare content, accessibility, continuity, cooperation, equal care, patient rights, spirit of interaction between patient and health professional, and spirit of improvement and development. The major themes that emerged were the patient’s need to be noticed and valued. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the organization should be added to the concepts of atmosphere in care settings. The organization can create and obstruct careconditions. The overarching theme of these categories is the patient’s need to be noticed and valued / <p>ISBN 978-91-86739-27-0</p>

Background: Using telemedicine to provide health services for seafarers represents a special case of intersectoral co-operation.Since 2006, several North Sea drilling platforms and internationally operating Norwegian merchant ships have usedonboard telemedicine equipment continuously. Experience gained through this new technology has improvedintersectoral co-operation regarding seafarers’ health care. Aim: This study aimed to analyze the need for intersectoral co-operation and networking in maritime medicine by usingtelemedicine equipment at sea. Various Norwegian maritime organizations and institutions participated in the study. Methods: I conducted a qualitative descriptive survey using a Web-organized interactive interview technique, a new mode ofinteraction based on a semi-structured interview guide for data collection. After conducting exploratory personalinterviews in October 2006, I developed a Web-based questionnaire comprising 53 questions. Participants receivedan e-mail invitation containing an online link to an Internet-based questionnaire. Individuals unable to use the Webbasedlink could return the completed questionnaire as an e-mail attachment. I collected data between April and June2007 and evaluated some questions according to the principles of content analysis and others with simple quantitative analysis, e.g., frequency and distribution. Results: Among 33 persons contacted, 31 (94%) agreed to participate in the study. Respondents represented 11 variousmaritime organizations and companies. Fourteen worked as maritime officers, nine as maritime managers, and eightas medical professionals. Importantly, fourteen respondents (45%) had demonstrated practical working experiencewith telemedicine at sea. According to content analysis, the following categories were developed: communicationandevidence-based telemedicine; maritime e-health standardization and knowledge management; improvingtelemedicine quality management; organizational, technical, and medical competences and intersectoral approach;technical standardization and networking; and communication and information. Four main categories illuminated theparticipants’ demands, i.e., information, communication, standardization, and centralization, and led to thedevelopment of national e-health policy and strategy to support the Norwegian maritime e-health society vianetworking and intersectoral co-operation. Conclusions: Intersectoral co-operation in maritime telemedicine requires interorganizational networking in order to introduceeffective and compatible international maritime e-health standards for seafarers’ healthcare. The Norwegian Centrefor Maritime Medicine (NCMM), a Centre of Excellence in maritime medical research, will participate importantlyin this process. The study also showed that a Web-based survey in maritime research offers an easily managedresearch tool that quickly yields a very good overview of a special situation. / <p>ISBN 978-91-85721-50-4</p>

BAGGRUND: Ulykker er et af de alvorligste sundhedsproblemer for børn. Hvert år mister mellem 50 og 60 børn i Danmark livet ved ulykker og skadestuerne behandler omkring 160.000 børn for faldulykker, forgiftningsulykker, el-ulykker, kvælningsulykker med flere. Børn af unge mødre ser ud til at være betydeligt mere udsatte for at komme ud for ulykker end andre børn. FORMÅL: Undersøgelsen fokuserer på unge mødres risikooplevelse, holdning og adfærd i forhold til forebyggelse af børneulykker i hjemmet. METODE: Der er taget udgangspunkt i en induktiv kvalitativ undersøgelse med interview af 7 førstegangsfødende mødre i alderen 18-25 år med børn i alderen 3 måneder til 1 år. Alle mødre er af dansk oprindelse. I undersøgelsen indgik 2 mødre som havde fået piger og 5 mødre som havde fået drenge. RESULTATER: Mødrene anså ulykker som uundgåelige og vigtige for barnet, hvis de ikke havde alvorlige konsekvenser. Mindre ulykker eller skader gav barnet erfaringer, som kan anvendes, når barnet senere selv skal vurdere en eventuel risiko. Det var vigtigt for flere mødre, at deres børn bliver robuste, således at de ville kunne klare sig i det sociale fælles-skab i blandt andet daginstitutionen. Mødrene anså ikke deres egen alder som en afgørende faktor i forhold til ulykkesforebyggelse. Mødrene pegede i stedet på, at deres egne erfaringer med at udforske livet var afgørende for, hvor vigtig de anså ulykkesforebyggelse i hjemmet for at være. Undersøgelsen viste, at mødrene havde svært ved at forholde sig til hjemmet, som et sted, hvor der kan ske alvorlige ulykker til trods for, at de alle kunne udpege de farlige steder. Enkelte mødre havde indrettet hjemmet, således at barnet ikke var så udsat for at komme til skade, men flere mødre ønskede i stedet at lære børnene, hvad de må og ikke må til trods for, at mødrene ikke havde et klart billede af, hvornår disse forventninger til barnet var realistiske. KONKLUSION: Hvis mødres holdning til forebyggelse af ulykker skal påvirkes, vil det være nødvendigt sammen med moderen at drøfte, hvornår børn kan lære af erfaring, og hvornår børn bør beskyttes mod ulykker. / BACKGROUND: Accidents are one of the most serious health issues for children. Every year 50 to 60 children die in accidents and emergency departments treat approximately 160.000 children for accidents related to slips and falls, poisoning, electricity, suffocation etc. Children of young mothers appear to be significantly more exposed to accidents than other children. AIM: The survey targets the risk perception, attitude and behaviour of young mothers with regards to domestic child accidents. METHODOLOGY: The paper is based on an inductive qualitative survey with interviews of 7 first time mothers' ages 18-25 years with children ages 3 months to one year. All mothers are ethnically Danish. Of the 7 children, 2 were girls and 5 were boys. RESULTS: The mothers perceived accidents as inevitable and important for the child if they were not of a serious nature. Small accidents or injuries gave the child experiences, which could be used when the child at a later stage had to evaluate a potential risk. It was important for several mothers that their children grow up to be robust enabling them to take part in social activities, amongst others at day care institutions. The mothers did not see their own age as a factor related to accident prevention. Instead they draw attention to their own experiences as a crucial determinant of the degree of importance they attach to domestic accident prevention. The survey has shown that the mothers had trouble perceiving their home as a place where serious accidents could occur although they could all identify the potentially dangerous situations. A few mothers had arranged their home so as to lower the risk of their child having an injury but more instead desire to teach their child what it can and cannot do despite these mothers not having a clear picture of how realistic these expectations to the child were. CONCLUSION: To influence the mothers’ attitude to prevention of accidents it will be necessary to discuss with the mother which lessons children can learn from experience and when they are to be protected against accidents. / <p>ISBN 91-7997-159-8</p>

Bakgrunn: Forskning viser at tverrfaglig samarbeid er vanskelig. Folkehelsearbeid er sektorovergripene og krever ofte at ulike fag og sektorer samarbeider. Hensikt:Formålet med denne studien er å få større innsikt i hva roller og yrkesbakgrunn betyr for kommunikasjonen i samarbeideti folkehelse. Metode:Studien har benyttet triangulering som strategi med dokumentgranskning, tre teamobservasjoner og 12 individuelle semistrukturerte intervju. Det er benyttet en fenomenografisk tilnærming til analyse av intervjuene. Resultat: Dokumentgranskningen ga forståelse for sammensetningen i de observerte teamene.Observasjonen ga rom for å analysere den muntlige kommunikasjonen og metakommunikasjonen, mens intervjuene ga innblikk i kommunikasjonen som helhet og dens kompeksitet. Intervjuanalysen ga de fire hovedkategoriene; Representasjon av yrker og sektorer,Deltakere som samarbeider i team, Person og menneske i samarbeidet og Betydning av helhet. I analysen kom det fram at yrkesbakgrunn har betydning for kommunikasjon og samarbeid. En er preget av faget som yrkesutøver. Ulik kompetanse og bredde i representasjon bidrar til en rikere diskusjon og et breiere grunnlag for løsninger. Mange av faktorene var ellers uavhengig av yrke og kunne heller relateres til egenskaper hos den enkelte. Evne til å se utover eget fag og ha forståelse for betydningen av andre yrkesgrupper er vesentlig. Konklusjon: Studien viser tverrfaglig samarbeid og kommunikasjon som fungerer og synliggjorde betydningen av trygge fagpersoner med blikk for helhet og evne til refleksjon. Funnenepeker på ulike faktorer av betydning for roller og kommunikasjon slik som tillit, respekt, likeverd, læring og åpenhet. Rollen og hvordan den bekles harbetydning for kommunikasjonen. Yrkesbagrunnen får betydning gjennom den enkelte deltaker og dennes rolle,men da som en del av hele personenmed sine egenskaper, sin personlighet og innstilling. Folkehelsearbeid er et område ingen eier men alle har del i og ansvar for. / Background:Research shows that interdisciplinary collaboration is difficult. Public health work spansmany sectors and demands collaboration among different professionsand sectors. Purpose:This study aimed to gain greater insight into the impact of roles and professional backgrounds on communication in the collaborative process of public health. Method:This study used a triangulation strategy involving document analysis, three observations and 12 semi-structured interviews. A phenomenographic approach was used to analyze the interviews. Result: Document analysis enhanced understanding of the composition of the teams observedin this study. The observations allowed for analysis of verbal communication as wellas meta-communication, and the interviews offeredinsight into communication both as an entiretyandinits complexities. Interviewanalysis produced four main categories:representationof professionals and sectors, participants who collaborate in teams, the individual and the human in collaboration,and the meaning of the whole. Analysis showed that professional background plays a significantrole incommunication and collaboration (i.e.aperson is characterized by his/her profession). Differences in competence and breadth ofrepresentation contribute to richer discussion and a wider ground forsolutions. Many of the factors that emerged were otherwise independent ofprofession and related instead to individual characteristics.The ability to see beyond one`sown profession and understand the importance of other professional groups is essential. Conclusion: The study shows functionality of interprofessional collaboration and communication,it’s revealingthe meaning of confidentprofessionals who areable to see the big pictureand reflect upon its meaning. The findings point to various factors that are important for roles and communication such astrust, respect, dignity, learning and openness. Roles and their interpretation are important incommunication. Professional background derivesmeaningnot only through the individual participant andhis/herrole, but also through his/her properties, personality and perspectives. Public health is an area no one owns but everyone takes part in and has responsibility fo / <p>ISBN 978-91-86739-39-3</p>

Objectives: In recent decades, obesity reached epidemic proportions in western countries, while cigarette smoking decreased. Traditionally, smoking is associated with lower relative weight (body mass index, BMI) but high abdominal obesity (waist-hip ratio, WHR). However, several recent studies suggest that BMI is higher among today’s smokers compared with non-smokers. Therefore, the present study examined whether the relationship between smoking and each of the body measures, BMI and WHR, has changed over time. Material and Methods: Data were collected from 5907 male and female residents of Gothenburg, Sweden, aged 25-65 years, and drawn randomly in four sequential cross-sections (1985, 1990, 1995, 2002) from the city’s population register. The study used general linear models to test trends over time, and adjusted all differences for age. Results: The data reported here showed higher WHR in both male and female smokers compared with non-smokers. BMI was lower in female smokers compared with female non-smokers, but did not differ significantly between male smokers and male non-smokers. Among female participants, differences in WHR between smokers and non-smokers increased significantly throughout the study. Although male participants showed a similar tendency, the differences were not significant. Adjustment for educational level did not affect the results. Conclusions: WHR was higher among smokers compared with non-smokers; this difference increased over time. Thus, concern for obesity does not provide a valid reason to continue smoking; on the contrary, it may be a reason to quit. / <p>ISBN 978-91-86739-06-5</p>

Formålet med undersøkelsen er å beskrive og analysere, med utgagnspunkt i den tidligere kvinnelige heroinmisbrukers opplevelser, hvordan hun har erfart livet med heroinbruk og nå opplever livet uten rus. Metode: Studien er gjennomført med kvalitativ metode, narrativ kasusstudie. Syv kvinner har fortalt sine historier om prosessen fra de startet med rusbruk, ble avhengige av illegale rusmidler og veien fram mot en rusfri tilværelse. Ståstedet de har i dag som rusfrie er også beskrevet. Resultater: Et hovedtema i fortellingene er ulike relasjoners betydning for identitet og identitetsendringer. I historiene dokumenteres spesielt opplevelser av krenkelser og maktmisbruk av hjelpere innenfor sosial- og helsevesenet. Kampen for å få hjelp til å beholde relasjonen til og ansvaret for barn er sterkt preget av mistillit til barnevernet og skaper barrierer for konstruktive prosesser. Kvaliteten av hjelp eller om du får hjelp i det hele tatt synes å være avhengig av hvor du bor og hvem du møter. Relasjon til menn har vært preget av mishandling og avhengighet for å få tilgang til dop. Fedre er usynlige i historien. Overgangen til å være rusmisbruker til å bli nykter er smertefull. Livet som rusfri oppleves som meningsfylt, men hverdagslivet preges tildels av trange sosioøkonomiske rammebetingelser, psykiske og fysiske helseplager. Konklusjoner: Forståelse for rusproblematikk må knyttes til prosesser som går over tid og sees i et livsløpsperspektiv. Psykososiale støttetiltak må opprettholdes ut fra individuelle behov både når det gjelder omfang, innhold og tid. I forbindelse med oppbrudd fra rusmisbruk er kvinner spesielt avhengige av et godt utviklet nettverk. Nøkkelsituasjoner som graviditet og omsorgsoppgaver må ivaretas. Det er behov for å løfte fram kjønnperspektivet når det gjelder samfunnets inngripende over for tidligere og nåværende misbrukende kvinner og menn og deres barn. Kjønnsperspektivet når det gjelder støtte eller behandlingstiltak for kvinner, er et virksomt redskap når det gjelder å forstå, ikke bare kvinners, men også menns behov for spesifikk støtte og behandling. Når det gjelder samfunnsinnsats, er det derfor nødvendig å være lydhør for betydningen av nye maskuliniteten og femininiteten som utvikles. Det er behov for forskning som løfter fram tidligeres misbrukeres egne fortellinger om erfaringer og behov i prosessen fra å være hekta til å bli nykter. / Aim: Using the experiences of recovered, female heroine abusers, their lives as heroin users, process of rehabilitation and how they experience drug free lives will be described and analyzed. Method: The study, using qualitative methods/narrative case study, included seven women. They recounted their stories of the beginning of their drug use, their addiction to illegal drugs, their road to recovery and living a drug free life. Results: A main theme in their narratives was the significance their various relationships have for identity and identity changes. In particular, their stories document experienced violations/infringements and misuse of power of workers in the public health and social services. The battle to get help in maintaining relationships to and responsibility for their children is characterized by mistrust of the child welfare authorities; this creates barriers to constructive processes. The quality of assistance and whether one receives assistance seems to be dependent on where one lives and personal contacts. Relationships to men have been characterized by abuse and dependency on them for access to drugs. Fathers are invisible in their stories.The transition from drug abuser to drug free is painful. They experience a sense of purpose in life as a drug free person, but daily living holds its own problems such as tight socioeconomic framework conditions and mental and physical health problems. Conclusions: Understanding for drug abuse and recovery issues must be bound to long term processes and be seen in a life course perspective. Psychosocial support measures should be based on individual needs concerning scope, content and time. In regards to ending drug abuse, women are especially dependent on a developed network. Key situations must be attended to such as pregnancy and their role in care giving. Society’s interventions towards women and men who are past or current drug abusers and their children must be accomplished with a focus on a gender specific perspective. The gender perspective concerning support and treatment of/for women is of great importance in understanding both women and men’s need for specific types of support and treatment. This is especially true when society intervenes; it must be done in light of the changing roles of the masculine and the feminine in modern culture. Research that focuses on the personal story and experience of the drug abuser’s journey from becoming drug addicted to living drug free is necessary / <p>ISBN 978-91-85721-01-6</p>

Bakgrunn: Røyking blir fortsatt betraktet som den viktigste forebyggbare årsak til død i ge land. Praktiserende leger er nøkkelpersoner innen tobakksforebygging. Enkel rådgiving, som minimal intervensjon, gitt av allmennleger øker andelen røykfrie pasienter signifikant. Kan en oppsøkende intervensjon gjennomført av en likemann være en egnet metode for å få leger til å ta opp tobakksbruk oftere og på en bedre måte, og kan denne undersøkelsen påvise dette? Hensikt: Hensikten med denne studien er: 1) Vurdere om primærlegene i Agder har endret praksis i perioden 2001-2004 med hensyn til hvor ofte og hvordan de tar opp tobakksbruk med sine pasienter og eventuelle hindringer for dette. 2) Undersøke om oppsøkende intervensjon er en egnet metode for å få leger til å endre praksis ved at de bidrar mer og bedre med individuell røykeintervensjon. Metode: Randomisert kontrollert studie for å undersøke om oppsøkende intervensjon er en egnet metode for å få leger til å endre praksis. Denne studien er sett i lys av en sammenliknende analyse av legenes røykeintervensjon og hindringer for dette i perioden 2001-2004. Resultat: Allmennlegene i Agder har endret praksis i perioden 2001 til 2004. Legene tar oftere opp tobakksbruk uten av pasientene har røykerelaterte symptomer, og det er færre hindringer både for å spørre om røykevaner og for å tilby hjelp til røykeslutt. Studien kan ikke bekrefte at oppsøkende intervensjonen er en egnet metode for å få leger til endre praksis ved at de bidrar mer og bedre med individuell røykeintervensjon. Konklusjon: I perioden 2001-2004 har det vært en signifikant endring i legenes røykeintervensjon og hindringer for dette. Studien kan ikke påvise at legene som fikk opplæringen ”Røykeslutt i praksis” bidrar mer med individuell røykeintervensjon enn kontrollgruppen, og det er heller ikke signifikante forkjeller på hindringer for en slik intervensjon / Background: Cigarette smoking is still considered the leading preventable cause of death in the western world. Physicians constitutes a key personnel in tobacco prevention. Brief advising, such as minimal intervention, performed by general practitioners, GPs, increases the number of smoke free patients significantly. The potential effect of outreach visits performed by a peer educator is a question to be studied. Objective: The objective of this study is: 1) Assesswhether the primary physicians in Agder, during the period 2001 to 2004, have changed their professional practice as tohow often and in which way they discuss smoking habits with their patients and possible barriers to stop them. 2) The study also seeks to determine whether outreach visits constitute an effective method to make GPs change their professional practice by contributing more and better to individual smoking cessation. Method: Randomised controlled study to determine whether outreach visits constitute an effective method to make GPs change their practice. This study is also viewed in the light of a comparative analysis of doctors’ attitude to tobacco prevention over the period 2001-2004. Result: During the period 2001-2004 the GPs in Agder have changed their professional practice. They discuss more frequently tobacco use with patients without smoke-related symptoms, and there are fewer barriers that keep them from asking about smoking habits and from offering assistance with smoking cessation. The effect of outreach visits in improving professional practice cannot be ascertained through this study. Conclusion: During the period 2001-2004 there has been a significant change in the GPs intervention work and fewer barriers to stop them. The GPs who received training through the program “Røykeslutt i praksis” do not contribute to individual smoke intervention any more than the control group. We were unable to detect any significant differences regarding barriers to such intervention / <p>ISBN 91-7997-153-9</p>

Hensikten med studien var å få kunnskap fra ungdom om deres opplevelse av engasjement i hverdagen. Tilnærmingen var å gi ungdom selv mulighet til å beskrive og begrunne sin deltakelse i sine arenaer. Metode En kvalitativ studie med intervju av ti ungdommer i alderen 16 – 19 år, hvor alle er andre-års elever på videregående skole i Porsgrunn kommune. Analysemetoden er Grounded Theory. Resultat Ungdommene definerte seg inn på fire arenaer; hjem, skole, fritid og venner. Engasjement definerte de som; se på, høre om, snakke om eller gjøre noe med en sak. Ungdommene sitt engasjement inngår i en kjernekategori drivkraft som inneholder tre hovedkategorier. Det er nærhet til saken, anerkjennelse og opplevelsen av at dette er gøy. Analysen indikerer en sammenheng mellom medvirkning, anerkjennelse og gøy på alle de fire arenaene. Bruk av denne sammenhengen kan bidra til å utvikle det helsefremmende arbeidet for ungdom / The objective of this study was to achieve knowledge from the youth about their experience of involvement in every day life. The approach was to give the youth opportunity to describe and explain their participation in their chosen arenas. Method: The study was carried out using a qualitative approach, and was based on interviews with ten second-grade youths in the age from 16 to 19 years. They all attend secondary education in the municipality of Porsgrunn. The framework for analyze is Grounded Theory. Findings: The youths defined four areas for their involvement: Home, school, leisure-time and friends. They defined involvement as: "Watching, being informed about, discuss a case or actively do something about a case." The choice of involvement was motivated by the elements in the core category “drive”. “Drive” was made up by the three main categories: Closeness to the case. Receiving acknowledgement. And the experience of fun. The study indicates that there is a connection between participation, acknowledgement and the experience of fun in all the four areas of involvement. Making use of this connection can contribute in developing health promotion that is directed towards youth. / <p>ISBN 91-7997-156-3</p>