Bakgrund: Alzheimers sjukdom är den tredje vanligaste dödsorsaken i västvärlden idag. Det är en progressiv sjukdom som drabbar hjärnan och därmed påverkar personens kognitiva förmågor. De alzheimersdrabbade blir ofta vårdade i hemmet av sina anhöriga, vilket kan innebära en stor påfrestning för dessa. För att vårdpersonal skall kunna stödja de anhöriga på bästa sätt krävs en förståelse för hur de upplever sin situation. Syfte: Syftet var att belysa anhörigas upplevelser av att leva tillsammans med en person med Alzheimers sjukdom. Metod: En empirisk studie med kvalitativ inriktning gjordes av fyra självbiografier, som analyserades med hjälp av innehållsanalys. Resultat: I resultatet framkom att de anhörigas upplevelser var till största delen negativa. Dock fanns där stunder av glädje och kärlek som gav de anhöriga styrka att kämpa vidare. De upplevde känslor som frustration, ilska, vrede, skuldkänslor och acceptans. Detta pågick i en cykel som ständigt började om. Det var som om de befann sig i ett ekorrhjul och kämpade för att ta sig ur. Slutsats: Sjuksköterskor har en viktig uppgift att fylla. De anhöriga är i en utsatt situation. Att lyssna, förstå och stödja dessa gagnar både de anhöriga och deras partners. / Background: Alzheimer's disease is the third leading cause of death in the western world. It is a progressive disease which affects the brain and the person's cognitive abilities. These people are often cared for at home by their spouses, which may be a great strain for the spouses. For professionals to be able to support the spouses in the best manner requires an understanding of how they are experiencing their situation. Aim: The purpose of this study was to illuminate the spouses´ experiences of living with a person with Alzheimer's disease. Method: An empirical study with qualitative approach was made on four autobiographies. A content analysis was used to analyze the material. Results: The results showed that the spouses´ feelings were mostly negative. However, there were moments of joy and love which gave the relatives strength to keep on fighting. They experienced feelings of frustration, anger, rage, guilt and acceptance. This went on in a repeating cycle. It was as if they were in a treadmill and struggled to get out of. Conclusion: Nurses have an important role to play. The relatives are in a vulnerable position and by listening, understanding and supporting these, it is beneficial not only for them, but also for their partners.

This study aimed to verify the propositions regarding the application procedures indicated in the cinematherapy literature. Moreover it was also aimed to frame the rationale of cinematherapy on a theoretical basis by integrating the procedures of cinematherapy intervention technique into Transtheoretical Model (Prochaska &amp / Norcross, 2003) and to discover the mechanisms that the applications function through. Finally, it was also aimed to apply cinematherapy intervention technique to the domain of relationship problems. For this study, university students who were in an on-going relationship and were in need of professional help due to their relationship problems were included. Content analyses were conducted for reaching the aims of the study. According to these results, in viewing stage the four-stage process was not attained by all participants, while all stages, except catharsis, were reached in one movie during discussion stage. These results suggest that viewing alone does not induce change, but discussions lead to attaining the stages that would expected to induce change. Moreover, the results revealed that during movie discussions a three-phase process was followed / namely identification, awareness, and solution. Based on the results, it could be assumed that the first phase functions through projection processes / whereas the second phase functions through metaphors and the final stage functions as the projections resolved by using metaphors. Furthermore, according to the outcome monitoring results two participants were grouped in &ldquo / meaningful outcome&rdquo / category, three participants were grouped in &ldquo / ambivalent outcome&rdquo / category, and one participant was grouped in &ldquo / negative outcome&rdquo / category. The results were discussed in accordance with the Transtheoretical Model.

This thesis is made of two main parts. First main part of the thesis is based on the qualitative enquiry of twenty-three Aikido participants from different levels - beginner, intermediate, advanced- from three different dojos. Open ended questions regarding the difference of Aikido from other sports is asked to the participants. Their written responses were coded using qualitative methods. Based on coding of documents: labels, categories and themes have been generated. Second main part of this thesis is based on the discussion of those findings. The discussion between different levels, the comparison with other findings in Aikido Literature was done. Lastly and largely the position of findings and possible arguments it can generate in the Philosophy of Sports Literature are discussed.

The recent advancement of robotic technology brings robots closer to assisting us in our everyday spaces, providing support for healthcare, cleaning, entertaining and other tasks. In this dissertation, I refer to these robots as everyday robots. Scholars argue that the key to successful human acceptance lies in the design of robots that have the ability to blend into everyday activities. A challenge remains; robots are an autonomous technology that triggers multi-faceted interactions: physical, intellectual, social and emotional, making their presence visible and even obtrusive. These challenges need more than technological advances to be resolved; more human-centered approaches are required in the design. However to date, little is known about how to support that human-centered design of everyday robots. In this thesis, I address this gap by introducing an initial set of design guidelines for everyday robots. These guidelines are based on four empirical studies undertaken to identify how people live with robots in the home. These studies mine insights about what interaction attributes of everyday robots elicit positive or negative user responses. The guidelines were deployed in the development of one type of everyday robot: a senior-care robot called HomeMate. It shows that the guidelines become useful during the early development process by helping designers and robot engineers to focus on how social and emotional values of end-users influence the design of the technical functions required. Overall, this thesis addresses a question how we can support the design of everyday robots to become more accepted by users. I respond to this question by proposing a set of design guidelines that account for lived experiences of robots in the home, which ultimately can improve the adoption and use of everyday robots.

<p>The number of elderly in society is increasing and therefore the number of people with dementia. They continue to live in their homes longer, which also increases the responsibility of district nurses. The purpose of this study was to describe the experiences of district nurses to care for and have responsibility for the care of people with dementia in home care. The method chosen was a qualitative interview study. The method chosen was a qualitative interview study and content analysis was used for data processing. The results revealed five categories: <em>Collaboration with other professionals and relatives, to have the possibility to develope in the professional role, a time-consuming work, inadequacy and anxiety and to provide security for the person with dementia.</em><strong><em></em></strong></p> / <p>Antalet äldre i samhället ökar och därmed antalet personer med demenssjukdom. De bor kvar i sina hem längre, då ökar även ansvaret på distriktssköterskorna. Syftet med studien var att beskriva distriktssköterskornas erfarenheter av att vårda och ha vårdansvaret för personer med demenssjukdom i hemsjukvård. Metoden som valdes var kvalitativ intervju studie och innehållsanalys användes vid databearbetning. I resultatet framkom fem kategorier: Samarbete med andra yrkesgrupper och anhöriga, att kunna utvecklas i yrket, ett tidskrävande arbete, otillräcklighet och oro och att skapa trygghet för personen med demenssjukdom.</p>

<p>This thesis explores how cognitive artefacts contribute to the process of reaching common ground within collaborative groups through a study of both Clark's theory of Common Ground and of how artefacts are understood to be used, both by individuals and as seen in distributed cognition. This was accompanied by an ethno-methodologically inspired study in the natural setting of a kitchen to observe how artefacts are used when negotiationg common ground. After the study's completion, participants were interviewed in order to establish whether common ground was successfully established ant to look for consistency between obeservations from the study and how the participants motivate their actions. The study was analysed in order to find patterns, of which four distinct kinds were indentified; these categories were then related to facts established in the study of Common Ground and artefacts.</p>

<p>Higher education is undergoing continuous changes and new learning tools and methods are implemented. Researchers in education do not always agree upon the effectiveness of some of the methods introduced into engineering education. The present thesis consists of two case studies on educational methods introduced at the Department of Energy Technology, at Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Sweden. The qualitative research methodology has been used in case one and a combination of qualitative and quantitative methodology has been used in the second case. The sources of evidences consisted of: unstructured interviews, analysis of video recording, questionnaires, and analysis of a variety of documents. In the first case, an educational program in heat and power technology was analysed. The second case consists in an in-depth study of group dynamics in a Problem –Based Learning course. These studies showed that the learning approach adopted by students depends strongly on the way they view the particular learning tool or method. The first case study revealed the existence of two types of learners. Surfacelearners follow the structure suggested by the designers of the multimedia program. This category of learners focuses only on the material available in the program. Deep-learners go beyond the information and the structure suggested in the program and combine different learning tools in their learning. These students do not follow the structure of the tutorials’ of the multimedia program. This study showed that students who had a strong view how to learn with a multimedia program or a learning method benefited less from the learning tools available. Students with weak views on how to learn from educational program or leaning tool benefit less from the presentation and engage in more surface learning. Self-motivated learners use the multimedia presentation in novel ways and crosscheck the information given with other material. The second study showed that students have unclear and weak views on how to learn with student-directed Problem- Based Learning model. Four types of learners were identified in Problem-Based Learning project: Leaders, Key Actors, Common Students and Social Loafers. Leaders and Key Actors are self-motivated individuals and participate most in the projects. Students who viewed themselves or were viewed as leaders were held responsible to take most of the decisions and students expected them to work more than the average student. Students who viewed themselves as common team members expected a lower workload than leaders’. Key Actors are self-motivated students who do not view themselves as separate from other group members but who participate more than others. Leaders learned more group and social processes, that they did not fully take part in, while common students learned more from the project management aspects that they did not take part in. The study also found that Problem-Based Learning groups can become very cohesive, and can develop distorted views on how to learn with Problem-Based Learning, and un-common group dynamics phenomena such as groupthink can occur in Problem-Based Learning setting.</p>

Bakgrund: Självskadebeteende är fortfarande tabubelagt och förknippat med skam, trots att det är mer uppmärksammat nu än innan. Litteraturen beskriver att dessa patienter ofta bemöts med avsky och okunskap då hälso- och sjukvårdspersonal upplever det problematiskt att förhålla sig till dem. För att öka förståelsen för dessa patienter kommer denna litteraturöversikt att fokusera på patienternas egna erfarenheter av hälso- och sjukvården. Syftet: Syftet var att beskriva erfarenheter av hälso- och sjukvården hos patienter med ett självskadebeteende. Metod: Litteraturöversikt med kvalitativ innehållsanalys av 12 artiklar genomfördes. Resultatet: Fem kategorier skapades: Att finnas men inte synas- erfarenheter av den sviktande organisationen, En miljö som hämmar eller främjar- erfarenheter av den fysiska miljöns påverkan, Att hjälpa eller stjälpa- erfarenheter av personalens attityder, Mellan hopp och förtvivlan- erfarenheter av patientens egna känslor i mötet och Jag är unik men ni väljer att inte se- erfarenheter kring patientens önskemål om en individanpassad vård. Diskussion: Fynden diskuteras utifrån negativa och positiva aspekter samt diskuteras patienternas behov. Utifrån den etiska värdegrunden diskuteras hur vi kan förbättra patienternas erfarenheter av hälso- och sjukvården. Författarna diskuterar även fördelarna med individanpassad vård. / Background: Self- injurious behaviour is still taboo and associated with shame, even though it is more talked about now than before. The literature describe that these patients are still met with disgust and ignorance because the care-staff finds it problematic to relate to them. To increase understanding of this patient group, this literature review focuses on describing patient’s experiences of health-care. Aim: The aim was to describe experiences of health-care among patients with self-injurious behaviour. Method: A literature review with qualitative content analysis, based on 12 articles. Results: Five categories were created: To be but not be seen- experiences of the failing organisation; An environment that inhibits or promotes- experiences of the physical environment; To help or hinder- experiences of the staff´s attitudes; Between hope and despair- experiences of the patients own feelings in the encounter; I am unique but you choose not to see- experiences around the patient’s wishes for an individual- centered care. Discussion: The findings are discussed from a negative and positive view-point; also the patient’s individual needs are discussed. With a basis in ethical values, a discussion around how to better the experiences of health-care is held. The authors also discuss advantages of patient- centered care.

SAMMANFATTNING Bakgrund: Patientcentrerad vård innebär att varje patient ses som en individ istället för en diagnos och fokuserar på dennes resurser istället för behov samt att patienten ska vara delaktig i vårdprocessen. RCC - Regionalt cancercentrum verkar för att förbättra och stärka patienternas inflytande och ställning inom cancervården genom patientrepresentation i patientråd och vårdprogramgrupper där patientens upplevelser, kunskap och åsikter kring cancervården tas till vara på. Enligt tidigare forskning inom området är kunskapen allt för begränsad för att kunna kartlägga betydelsen. Syfte: Studien syftar till att ur ett patientperspektiv undersöka patientrepresentanternas upplevelser och åsikter om deras arbete i vårdprogramgrupperna och patientrådet i Uppsala Örebro-regionen. Metod: Åtta patientrepresentanter från RCC:s vårdprogramgrupper och patientråd intervjuades enligt en semi-konstrukturerad intervjuguide. Därefter gjordes en innehållsanalys enligt Lundman och Hällgren-Graneheim. Resultat: Ur intervjuerna erhölls två kategorier; patientföreträde och erfarenheter av vården. Ur dessa identifierades sex subkategorier. Patientrepresentanterna var överlag nöjda med det bemötande de fått inom såväl inom vårdprogramgrupperna och patientrådet. Samtliga var positiva till sitt arbete dock fanns en osäkerhet huruvida de påverkade och medverkande till en förändring av vården eller om deras roll enbart hade funktion som alibi. Forskningen inom området är sparsam och det finns svårigheter att mäta resultaten av patientmedverkan. Slutsats: Enligt studien upplever patientrepresentanterna sin roll, sitt arbete och bemötande från professionen som positivt dock fanns en osäkerhet om hur stor inverkan på vården de hade. För att slutsatsen av studien ska kunna generaliseras krävs dock en större studie som omfattar samtliga patientrepresentanter inom RCC. / Background: Patient-centered care means that each patient is seen as an individual rather than a diagnosis and focus on the patient's resources instead of needs, and should be involved in the care process. RCC - Regional cancer center works to enhance patient empowerment and status in cancer care by patient representation in patient council care programs and groups, in which the patient´s experiences, knowledge and opinions about cancer care is being utilized. According to previous research, there is currently not enough evidence to identify the importance of patient involvement in health care. Aim: The study aimed to explore patient representatives' experiences and opinions of their work in care programs and patient council of Uppsala Örebro region from a patient perspective. Method: Eight patient representatives of the RCC's program of care groups and patient council were interviewed according to a semi-constructed interview guide. A content analysis by Lundman and Hällgren-Graneheim was used. Results: From the interviews two categories were obtained; patient representation and experience of care. From these categories six subcategories were identified. The informants were generally satisfied with their treatment. All respondents were positive about their work, however, there is uncertainty whether their work lead to changes in the health care. Conclusion: The finding of this study, suggests that patients' representatives perceive their role, work and attitude as positive. For the results of the study to be able to generalize, a larger study that includes all patient representatives in RCC is required

This dissertation consists of three essays on the role of identity centrality in the formation of consumer self-brand connections. It contributes to a better understanding of how consumers negotiate multiple identities in the marketplace when making brand choices. This is significant as much of the research on the self-concept and consumer behavior has focused on isolated self-dimensions or have examined single consumer identities in isolation. Theoretically grounded in identity process theory (Breakwell 1986), which suggests individuals construct their identity through multiple identity motives influencing identity centrality, enactment, and affect; this dissertation addresses these gaps by answering two specific questions: 1) What are the various identity motives that influence a consumer's individual and group identity centrality leading to enhanced self-brand connections? 2) How does identity centrality influence reference group brand associations in the formation of self-brand connections? In Essay 1, a framework for conceptualizing the influence of multiple identity motives on self-brand connections is proposed driven by findings from consumer in-depth interviews. The framework suggests identity centrality mediates the relationship between the satisfaction of multiple identity motives on self-brand connections, and moderates self-brand connections when reference group brand associations are considered. Fourteen propositions are presented, and are empirically tested in Essays 2 and 3. In Essay 2, identity motives from identity process theory along with others identified in Essay 1 are empirically validated, using both hierarchical linear modeling and hierarchical multiple regression. The findings support the influence of two identity motives informing identity centrality, namely: recognition and continuity. This is significant, as prior research in consumer behavior has largely focused on the self-esteem and self-consistency motives (Grub and Grathwohl 1967; Sirgy 1982). Essay 3 investigates the moderating effect of identity centrality on the formation of self-brand connections as reference group brand associations are considered. It is found that the when the ingroup identity is highly central, stronger self-brand connections result. On the contrary, when the ingroup identity is low in centrality self-brand connections are mitigated. The differential effects of self-brand connections due to identity centrality provide insight into intra-group differences when the brand is consistent with the ingroup image. The results support a general importance of the role of identity centrality at both the individual and group levels, providing a catalyst for future studies examining the role of the self-concept in consumer behavior.