Abstract Purpose. To identify symptoms/distress among patients with colorectal cancer, from the viewpoint of the next of kin, before and after chemotherapy, and to establish whether there are any barriers to reporting these.   Methods. Individual face-to-face interviews with fourteen next of kin were conducted. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the transcripts.  Results. Three areas were identified: symptoms presented, influences on life for the next of kin, and barriers to reporting symptoms/distress. Nine symptoms were raised as most common by the next of kin. All next of kin talked to a large extent about how the patient’s disease and treatment affected them. It affected them psychologically, they had to revaluate their life, and it influenced their social life. Almost all next of kin denied that they experienced any barriers to reporting symptoms/distress though they mentioned the lack of properly communication and lack of time. Conclusions. Although it was not the main purpose of the study, the next of kin raised concerns about the patient’s disease and treatment and how it influenced their life. They mentioned barriers to reporting symptoms, but not to a large extent. The symptoms reported before and during chemotherapy were similar to those found in other studies.

This thesis examined the factors correlated with rapid and benign progression of disease in a group of 1452 Parkinsons disease (PD) patients. The data were collected in a movement disorders clinic at the Royal University Hospital, University of Saskatchewan run by Dr. Alex Rajput and Dr. Ali Rajput. This data is a clinical dataset of PD patients collected from 1970 through to February, 2005. This was a retrospective cases-only study, with anticipated analytical follow-up if any correlations were detected between progression type of PD and the many independent variables available in the dataset. <p>Rapid progression was defined as those subjects who reached Hoehn and Yahr stage 3 within three years or H&Y stage 4 or 5 within five years. Subjects who remained in Hoehn and Yahr stage 1 or 2, ten years after onset of disease, were defined as having benign progression. The study analyzed demographic and clinical findings at first visit to this clinic associated with rapid and benign progression of PD. <p> Analysis revealed that, at first clinic visit, benign progression was positively associated with disease duration (OR=1.41; 95% CI 1.27, 1.57), male sex (OR=3.23; 95% CI 1.70, 6.16), and current smoking habit (OR=2.33; 95% CI 0.67, 8.11). Benign progression was negatively associated with older age of onset (OR=0.36; 95% CI 0.25, 0.50), past history of smoking (OR=0.46; 95% CI 0.24, 0.89), current or past use of levodopa (OR=0.45; 95% CI 0.21, 0.98), and mild to severe rigidity (OR=0.43; 95% CI 0.23, 0.80). <p>Analysis also revealed that, at first clinic visit, rapid progression was positively associated with older age of onset (OR=2.45; 95% CI 1.80, 3.33) and mild to severe rigidity (OR=1.73; 95% CI 1.02, 2.94). Rapid progression was negatively associated with disease duration (OR=0.52; 95% CI 0.44, 0.62), male sex (OR=0.58; CI 0.35, 0.95), and mild to severe resting tremor (OR=0.47; CI 0.28, 0.77). <p>The results of this study indicate that age of onset, disease duration, male sex, and rigidity are good potential predictors of disease progression in PD because they have opposite associations with rapid and benign progression. History of levodopa use was negatively associated with benign progression and as such may be good indicator of non-benign progression. Although previous studies found no predictive value for smoking history, the current study reported a unique association between smoking history and benign progression. Past smoking history was negatively associated with benign progression. While there was a positive association with current smoking history, the result was not statistically significant. Resting tremor was negatively associated with rapid progression and as such may be a good indicator of non-rapid progression. <p> Disease characteristics collected at first clinic visit are useful in predicting the course of progression of PD. With more rapid progression of PD closer and more frequent follow-up of patients may be necessary.

This thesis dissertation assessed workers who work in poultry barns and their occupational environment in relation to the type of bird housing in which they were exposed (cage-housed birds (CH) or floor-housed birds (FH)) and examined the environmental variables including dust and endotoxin and potential relationships to respiratory symptoms of workers. <p>A cross sectional study was undertaken to assess the environmental exposure levels and respiratory health effects of workers who worked in CH and FH poultry operations. The respiratory results suggested an asthma-like syndrome in these workers. Workers who worked in CH facilities reported greater current and chronic respiratory symptoms and significantly greater current and chronic phlegm as compared to workers from FH facilities. Workers from CH poultry facilities were exposed to greater endotoxin load than workers from FH facilities, but workers from FH operations were exposed to greater levels of total dust. It was found that endotoxin load (EU/mg) was a significant predictor of chronic phlegm for all poultry workers.<p>The effects on dust and endotoxin measurements when utilizing a Marple impactor with greased or ungreased impaction surfaces when sampling in an agricultural environment were unknown, and the potential for effects was tested. There were no significant differences in the aerosol mass median aerodynamic diameters between the greased and ungreased Marple impactors. Endotoxin analysis results appeared to be influenced by impaction grease particularly when very low amounts of endotoxin were present. <p>Size fractioning the dust and endotoxin using Marple impactors in CH and FH poultry operations showed that endotoxin load (EU/mg) was significantly higher in the respirable fraction of area samples in CH poultry operations as compared to FH operations. There were no differences in endotoxin load in the non-respirable size fractions for area samples between CH and FH operations. FH poultry operations had significantly greater dust mass and dust concentration in both respirable and non-respirable fractions for FH operations. There was significantly greater endotoxin load (EU/mg) in the 3.5-6.0 micron size fraction for the CH poultry operations as compared to the FH operations.

Bakgrund: Mobbning utgör ett allvarligt problem i svenska skolor. Huvudvärk, magont, ryggont, nacksmärtor och trötthet är frekventa psykosomatiska symtom hos elever utsatta för mobbning. En viktig uppgift för skolsköterskan kan vara förebyggandet av mobbning. Syfte: var att studera om det finns samband mellan upplevelsen av att vara utsatt för mobbning och förekomst av psykosomatiska symtom hos skolbarn i årskurs 5 och 7. Metod: Studien var en tvärsnittsstudie utifrån registerdata inhämtad från Folkhälsoinstitutet. I studien ingick totalt 7596 svenska skolbarn i åldern 11 och 13 år. Materialet analyserades bivariat och med multivariata regressionsmodeller. Resultat: Skolbarn som upplevde sig mobbade visade sig ha fler psykosomatiska symtom än skolbarn som inte var mobbade (OR= 2.73). Flickor hade fler psykosomatiska symtom än pojkar (OR= 1.76). Skolbarn i årskurs 7 hade fler psykosomatiska än barnen i årskurs 5 (OR=2.73).  Skolbarn som var stressade av skolarbetet uppvisade fler psykosomatiska symtom (OR= 3.38). Flickor var mindre ofta mobbade än pojkar. (OR= 0.86).  Skolbarn som ej trivdes i skolan var oftare utsatta för mobbning än elever som trivdes i skolan (OR=1.52).   Slutsats: Mobbning och stress av skolarbetet utgör en fara för skolbarns hälsa. Skolbarn som blir mobbade trivs även sämre i skolan. / Introduction: Bullying is a serious problem in Swedish schools. Headache, stomachache, back pain and tiredness are frequent psychosomatic symptoms. An important task for the school nurse may be the prevention of bullying. Aim: was to study potential links between the experience of being the victim of bullying and the occurrence of psychosomatic symptoms among school children in grades 5 and 7. Method: The study was a cross sectional study based on register data was obtained from the Folkhälsoinstitutet. This study included a total of 7596 schoolchildren between the ages of 11 and 13 years. Material was analysed with bivariate and multivariate regression models. Results: Schoolchildren who felt bullied were found to have more psychosomatic symptoms than schoolchildren who were not bullied. (OR= 2.73). The girls had more psychosomatic symptoms than boys. (OR= 1.76). Schoolchildren in grades 7 had more psychosomatic symptoms than children in grade 5. (OR=2.73). Schoolchildren that were stressed by school work showed more psychosomatic symptoms. (OR= 3.38). The girls were less often bullied than boys. (OR=0.86). School children who are not happy in school were more often exposed to bullying than students who enjoyed school. (OR=1.52). Conclusion: Bullying and stress of schoolwork is a danger to school children’s health. School children who are bullied feel even worse in school.

Sömn och  förmågan att minnas persoliga händelser är en fundamental funktion i vårt liv och har en betydande roll för vårt välbefinnande. Denna studie ämnade undersöka om det föreligger något samband mellan insomnibesvär och minnet för personliga händelser under kontroll för variabler såsom emotioner och ålder. Vidare undersöktes relationen mellan sömnrelaterad oro och minnet för personliga händelser. Datainsamlingen bygger på en enkätundersökning riktad till en studentpopulation där urvalet utgjordes av 314 deltagare. Resultaten indikerar att det fanns ett signifikant samband mellan insomnibesvär och minnet för personliga händelser efter kontroll för emotioner och ålder. Ett signifikant samband påvisades även mellan sömnrelaterad oro och minnet för personliga händelser. I diskussionen belyses minnet för personliga händelser som en möjlig faktor som kan vidmakthålla insomnibesvär. / Sleep and our ability to remember personally experienced events is a fundamental function in our lives and plays an important role in our wellbeing. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between insomnia symptoms and memory for personally experienced events, while controlling for the effects of variables such as emotions and age. We also investigated the relationship between sleeprelated worry and memory for personally experienced events. Data was collected through a survey, which was conducted in a student population of 314 respondents. Results indicate that there was a significant correlation between insomnia symtpoms and memory for personally experienced events after controlling for emotions and age. Significant correlations were also found between sleeprelated worry and memory for personally experienced events. The role of memory for personally experienced events as a possible factor for maintaining insomnia symptoms is discussed further.

Syftet med denna litteraturstudie var att beskriva förekomst och belysa vilka riskfaktorer som bidrar till att män utvecklar ätstörningar samt att beskriva hur dessa kan se ut. Kvalitativa och kvantitativa vetenskapliga artiklar användes för att genomföra denna litteraturstudie. Resultatet visar att det är svårt att veta hur många män som lider av ätstörningsproblematik eftersom området fortfarande är sparsamt utforskat och att prevalensen visar sig vara väldigt olika i olika studier. Ångest och depression och andra affektiva störningar är ofta sammankopplat med ätstörningar men om det är en riskfaktor eller ett symtom är svårt att veta. Grupptryck och massmediala faktorer kan bidra till utvecklandet av ätstörningar hos män, men press från vänner har visat sig vara en större riskfaktor än press från media. Övervikt och högt BMI har visat sig vara en stor riskfaktor för utvecklandet av ätstörningar, men även män som har låg vikt har visat sig vilja bli större och använder sig då av kompulsiv träning och använder anabola steroider i vissa fall. De ätstörningsbeteenden som ofta syns hos män är hetsätning och tvångsmässig träning. Även kräkning och läkemedelsanvändning är vanligt förekommande. Mer forskning kring detta område behövs. Nyckelord: ätstörningar, män, förekomst, symtom, beteenden. / The aim of this literature review was to describe the prevalence and shed light on what risk factors contribute to the development of eating disorders in males and to describe how these disease can express themselves. Qualitative and quantitative scientific papers where used to conduct this literature review. Results show that it is hard to know how many men are suffering from eating disorders is still sparsely researched and the prevalence is very different in different studies. Anxiety, depression and other types of affective disorders are often connected to eating disorders, but whether it is a risk factor or a symptom is hard to know. Peer pressure and pressure from mass medial factors can contribute to the development of eating disorders in males, but the pressure from friends has shown to be a greater risk factor than the mass medial pressure. Obesity and a high BMI has shown to be a big risk factor for the development of eating disorders, but even males who has a low weight has shown interest in getting bigger and uses compulsive exercise and in some cases steroids. The eating disorder behaviors often shown in men are compulsive eating and compulsive exercise. Self-inflicted vomiting and the use of laxatives is also regularly used. More research in this subject is needed. Key words: eating disorders, male, prevalence, symptom, behaviors.

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between gender and self reported symptoms (physiological and psychological) and sense of coherence (SOC) and Job Demand-Control-Social support (JDCS). The sample consisted of 360 respondents (nfemale= 261, nmale= 99), in the ages between 19-53 (M=25,57, SD=5,77), all students from Växjö University. A quantitative work method was used in the study; data was collected using questionnaires that consisted of self-reported questions, based on three parts: A modified symptom checklist, SOC 13 and a modified JDCS questionnaire. The result of our study showed that both SOC and JDCS had an effect on self-reported symptoms but there were no interaction between SOC and JDCS. No significant gender differences were found regarding the level of SOC. Female students reported symptoms in a significant higher extent than male students. There were no gender differences regarding JDCS. Our results are discussed in relation to previous studies. Our conclusion is that it is important to perform further research on students’ health and work environment.

Sammanfattning Syftet med denna litteraturstudie var att undersöka och beskriva hur hjärtinfarktsymtom yttrar sig och upplevs av kvinnor och vilka atypiska symtom sjuksköterskan bör vara uppmärksam på i mötet med kvinnor i sjukvården. En beskrivande litteraturstudie genomfördes där vetenskapliga artiklar av kvalitativ och kvantitativ karaktär analyserades. Huvudresultatet visade att central bröstsmärta var ett vanligt rapporterat symtom men att många kvinnor inte hade bröstsmärta som det enda och huvudsakliga symtomet. Kvinnor tenderade mer ofta än män att uppleva besvär från käke, hals och nacke. Rygg och skulderbladsmärta visade sig förekomma i liknande utsträckning som bröstsmärta hos kvinnor med hjärtinfarkt. Extrem trötthet tillsammans med dyspné var två av de mest frekvent rapporterade tidiga teckenen vid hjärtinfarkt, dessa upplevdes ofta lång tid innan hjärtinfarkten men var för kvinnorna svåra att sammankoppla med hjärtinfarkt. Illamående och kräkning var frekvent rapporterande symtom som framför allt visade sig i den akuta fasen av hjärtinfarkt. Svettningar i kombination med andra symtom var också vanligt i den akuta fasen av hjärtinfarkten, kraftig svettning var något som fick kvinnor att reagera på att något var allvarligt fel och det påverkade kvinnors beslut att söka sjukvård. / Abstract The aim of this literature study was to explore and describe how the heart attack symptoms manifested and were experienced by women and the atypical symptoms the nurse should be alert to when meeting women in health care. A descriptive literature review was conducted in which scientific papers of qualitative and quantitative characteristics were analyzed. The main results showed that central chest pain was a commonly reported symptom, but that many women did not have it as the only and main symptom. Women tended more often than men to experience symptoms of jaw, neck and throat. Back and shoulder pain were found to occur in a similar extent as chest pain in women with myocardial infarction. Extreme fatigue with dyspnoea' were two frequently reported early signs of heart attack, often felt long before the heart attack but difficult for women to connect with myocardial infarction. Nausea and vomiting were symptoms that mainly appeared in the acute phase of myocardial infarction. Sweating in combination with other symptoms were also common in the acute phase of myocardial infarction, excessive sweating was something that got women to respond to that something was seriously wrong and it affected women's decisions to seek care.

The present study aimed to test the Response Styles Theory with Turkish preadolescents. Therefore, two phases were followed. In thefirst phase, psychometric properties of Children&#039 / s Response Styles Questionnaire (CRSQ) were examined. In the second phase, the relationship of response styles and problem solving way of children to their depressive symptoms with respect to grade and gender was tested. The sample consisted of 599 children and preadolescents(299 females, 300 males) with a mean age of 11.77 (SD = 1.53), from 4th and 7th grade levels. In this study, Children&#039 / s Depression Inventory (Kovacs, 1980), Children&#039 / s Response Styles Questionnaire (Abela, Vanderbilt, &amp / Rochon, 2000), Children&#039 / s Action Tendency Scale (Deluty, 1979), and a demographic form were used. Results of the study demonstrated that 7.5 % of the children and preadolescents reported to have depressive symptoms. Seventh graders&#039 / scores were higher than fourth graders for depressive symptoms. there was not any gender difference in depressive symptoms. Seventh grade females had higher scores on the Rumination Subscale of Children&#039 / s Response Styles Questionnaire (CRSQ) than fourth grade females and seventh grade males. Fourth graders scored higher on the Distracting Subscale of CRSQ than seventh graders. Problem solving was not found to be mediating or moderating the relationship between response styles (rumination and distraction) and depressive symptoms. It is concluded that both response styles and problem solving independently contribute to depressive symptoms in preadolescents. Findings were discussed in the light of the literature.

The present study firstly aimed to examine specific metacognitions as unique predictors of various psychological symptoms including anxiety, depression, worry and social anxiety. The second aim of the study was to investigate the moderator role of coping styles in the relationship between metacognitions and these psychological symptoms. Based on these aims, the study was conducted with 435 participants between the ages 18-35 and the following scales were administered in addition to demographic forms / Trait Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory, Penn State Worry Questionnaire, Libowitz Social Anxiety Scale, Metacognitions Questionnaire-30 and The Ways of Coping Inventory. According to the results, Negative Beliefs Concerning Uncontrollability of Thoughts and Danger (MCQ-2) was found to be as significant predictor of all examined psychological symptoms. Positive Beliefs about Worry (MCQ-1) was also revealed as significant predictor of anxiety, worry and social anxiety and avoidance. Furthermore, the results revealed negative associations between Cognitive Self-Consciousness (MCQ-5) and anxiety, worry and social anxiety. Finally, Beliefs about Need to Control Thoughts (MCQ-4) was found to be related with increase in depression and decrease in worry. In addition, regression analyses revealed negative relationship between Problem-Focused Coping and anxiety, depression and worry / and positive relationship between Emotion-Focused Coping and anxiety, social anxiety and avoidance. The moderation models of coping styles was also supported in which coping ways moderate the relationship between metacognitions and psychological symptoms including depression, absence of worry, social anxiety and avoidance. Findings were discussed based on relevant literature / and clinical implications of the study and future directions were also provided.