In a time where crises are more present, risk communication plays an important role in equipping citizens with information and knowledge on how to prepare themselves. This study examines how citizens in the municipality Strängnäs perceive and interpret the municipality's risk communication, particularly focused on the information folder "Be prepared for a crisis or social disturbance". Through two focus group interviews, eight citizens of different ages have participated to discuss the content of the folder and reflect on topics such as crises and home preparedness. The study's theoretical framework is based on Ulrich Beck's theory of risk society and protection motivation theory, as well as previous research in areas such as risk communication and risk perception. The results show that the folder is generally perceived positively by the participants of the study, though there are some differences such as preferences on the amount of text and design which could be explained by their different coping styles. The results emphasize the folders’ significant role in making citizens more aware of their own home preparedness. Despite the concern about crises being higher today, the concern does not necessarily correspond to the participants level of preparedness which can be understood by a lack of motivation or an excessive trust in others. The research provides valuable insights to enhance the municipality's risk communication, aiming to raise awareness and preparedness levels among citizens. However, it is important to note that the results of the study are specific to the limited group of participants and require further research to be able to be generalized and understood in a wider context of risk communication.

This bachelor’s thesis examines the narrative about the Swedish Women’s Volountary Defence Organization (Svenska Lottakåren) in Aftonbladet, Dagens Nyheter, Göteborgs Handels- och Sjöfartstidning, and Svenska Dagbladet during the preparedness period (beredskapstiden) through a qualitative narrative analysis. Drawing from Lawrence Freedman’s theory of strategic narratives, the research sheds light on the newspaper’s role in shaping perceptions of Lottakåren and its efforts during the period. Furthermore, it investigates the narratives implications on a strategic level. The study concludes that the narrative may have influenced public perceptions of Lottakåren, serving specific strategic aims, such as creating support for the organization within society, fostering unity withing the organization, encourage volunteering and recruitment of new members. In doing so, this research fills a gap in knowledge on the subject while emphasizing the press’s vital role at a strategic level in times of war and crisis. / Denna uppsats undersöker narrativet om den svenska Lottakåren i Aftonbladet, Dagens Nyheter, Göteborgs Handels- och Sjöfartstidning och Svenska Dagbladet under beredskapstiden genom en kvalitativ narrativanalys enligt uppsatsens syfte att undersöka narrativet om Svenska Lottakåren i dessa tidningar under beredskapstiden. Genom att tillämpa Lawrence Freedmans teori om strategiska narrativ belyses tidningarnas bidrag till formandet av uppfattningen om Lottakåren och dess insatser under beredskapstiden, samt betydelsen av narrativet i ett strategiskt sammanhang. Undersökningens resultat är att ett positivt narrativ om Lottakåren kan ha haft en påverkan på allmänhetens uppfattningar om Lottakåren och fyllt specifika syften såsom att öka stödet för organisationen hos allmänheten, skapa samhörighet, uppmuntra till frivillighet och rekrytera nya medlemmar. Därmed bidrar resultatet till att fylla en kunskapslucka och belysa pressens viktiga roll på en strategisk nivå i krig och kris.

The resurgence and increased use of the total defense concept in the political landscape of Sweden comes in a time of global geopolitical uncertainties and multifaceted security crises. Despite its stated importance, how the private sector should be incorporated into this structure remains somewhat unclear. As such, the aim of this thesis was to analyze the interconnection between organizational and human behavior from the perspective of public-private cooperation in today’s Swedish total defense. To achieve this aim, six interviews were conducted with representatives from government agencies and business organizations in the civil preparedness sector of food supply and drinking water. The study sought to identify key factors defining this public-private relationship, use a theoretical framework based on rationalist organizational and social-psychological perspectives, and discern what combined impact they have on contemporary inter-organizational crisis cooperation.  The analysis indicates that the preparedness sector of food supply and drinking water is inherently robust, with a great deal of trust between individual agencies and private actors. However, there is a needfor greater organizational clarity and clear expectations, while a general lack of personnel and resources means that the risk of economic loss often takes precedence over further investments in civil preparedness. Furthermore, the establishment of the preparedness sector entailed a greater capacity for coordinating inter-organizational preparedness efforts but may have created an uncertain hierarchy with informational blind spots. Also, it is argued that government agencies have clearer expectations and goals within the total defense in general due to their identity in crisis and preparedness being firmly established, something that private actors lack

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Problem statement: Violence against women and intimate partner violence is a bigproblem in society and the healthcare system has an obligation to act already when thereis suspicion of exposure to violence, but there is a lack of clear guidelines in ophthalmiccare. Aim: The aim was to examine nurses´ experiences of caring for patients exposedto IPV. Method: A systematic literature review with qualitive design and inductiveapproach was performed. Result: The emerged categories were readiness to deal withintimate partner violence, different views on exposure to violence, emotions are evoked,having the courage to ask, and organizational support. The result showed that trainingabout intimate partner violence was unusual both in the nursing program and for theprofessional nurses. Because of this they did not feel prepared for neither detect, reportsuspected cases or correctly meet these patients. Conclusion: There is a lack ofknowledge and education about how exposure to violence can be discovered andhandled. In addition, the subject needs to be highlighted and be developed further tostrengthen the societal responsibility to act when there is suspicion about violence. Tobe able to conduct evidence-based care in ophthalmic care more research is neededabout violence against women and intimate partner violence. / Problemställning: Våld mot kvinnor och våld i nära relationer är ett stort problem isamhället och hälso- och sjukvården har skyldighet att vidta åtgärder redan vidmisstanke om våldsutsatthet, men det saknas tydliga riktlinjer inom ögonsjukvården föromhändertagande. Syfte: Syftet var att undersöka sjuksköterskors erfarenheter avomhändertagande av patienter som är utsatta för våld i nära relationer. Metod:Litteraturstudien var systematisk och hade en kvalitativ design med en induktiv ansats.Resultat: Kategorierna som framkom var att ha beredskap att bemöta våld i närarelation, olika syn på våldsutsatthet, vårdrelationen väcker känslor, att fråga omvåldsutsatthet och att ha stöd i organisationen. Det visade sig att utbildning kring våld inära relation var ovanligt både under sjuksköterskeutbildningen och föryrkesverksamma sjuksköterskor. De upplevde sig därför inte vara tillräckligt förbereddaför vare sig att upptäcka, rapportera misstänkta fall eller att på ett korrekt sätt bemötadenna patientkategori. Konklusion: Det saknas tillräcklig kunskap och utbildning omhur våldsutsatthet kan upptäckas och hanteras. Dessutom behöver ämnet belysas ochutvecklas ytterligare för att stärka det samhälleliga ansvaret att agera vid misstanke omvåldsutsatthet. För att kunna bedriva evidensbaserad vård inom ögonsjukvården behövsmer forskning om våld mot kvinnor och våld i nära relationer.

SAMMANFATTNING Datum: 2024-05-29 Nivå: Kandidatuppsats i Företagsekonomi, 15 hp Institution: Akademin för Ekonomi, Samhälle och Teknik, Mälardalens Universitet Författare: Klara Helin Sofia Skohg                    (02/12/09) (99/11/08) Titel: Den kommunala synen på kriser Handledare: Magnus Hoppe Nyckelord: Organisatorisk kris, Krishantering, Krisperspektiv, Krisberedskap, Kommunala kriser Forskningsfrågor: Hur återspeglas det funktionalistiska och/eller meningsskapande perspektivet i organisationernas sätt att se på, förebygga och hantera kriser? Vad kan respektive perspektiv bidra med för att stärka kommuners krishantering? Syfte: Arbetet syftar till att utforska hur och om det funktionalistiska och/eller meningsskapande perspektivet präglar kommunala organisationers syn på- och hantering av kriser. Metod: Arbetet har genomförts med hjälp av kvalitativa metoder och ett abduktivt förhållningssätt där metoderna har utformats utifrån det teoretiska ställningstagandet om att synen på organisatoriska kriser kan beskrivas utifrån två perspektiv. Arbetets forskningsdesign har haft ett utforskande syfte och ämnet har utforskats genom en fallstudie hos en kommunal organisation i Sverige. Data har samlats in genom semistrukturerade intervjuer som sedan analyserats utifrån en tematisk analysmetod. Slutsats: Slutsatsen som kan dras utifrån den genomförda fallstudien är att det meningsskapande perspektivet i stor utsträckning återspeglas i kommunens sätt att se på, och definiera, kriser. Synen anses däremot inte vara total då arbetet identifierat hur erfarna medarbetare visat på en funktionalistisk syn på kriser som externa händelser med en stabsmetodisk hantering. Kommunens syn på förebyggande av kriser kan främst anses präglas av ett mentalt meningsskapande förhållningssätt. Vissa arbetssätt och traditioner återspeglar däremot inte den mentala inställningen och kan liknas mer vid det funktionalistiska förhållningssättet. Det parallella nyttjandet av de två perspektiven skulle kunna förklara deltagarnas uppfattning av att den valda kommunen har en sverigeledande position i avseende på krisarbete. Slutsatsen som kan dras gällande vad respektive perspektiv kan bidra med för att stärka kommunala organisationers krishantering är att krisarbetet kan anses framgångsrikt när de två perspektiven parallellt genomsyrar organisationen. Studien påvisar däremot även vikten av att det finns en samstämmighet bland medarbetare kring vid vilka tillfällen karakteristiska egenskaper kring respektive perspektiv bör komma till uttryck för att stärka hanteringen. / ABSTRACT Date: 2024-05-29 Level: Bachelor thesis in Business Administration, 15 cr Institution: School of Business, Society and Engineering, Mälardalen University Authors: Klara Helin Sofia Skohg                 (02/12/09) (99/11/08) Title: The municipal view on crisis Supervisor: Magnus Hoppe Keywords: Organizational crisis, Crisis management, Crisis perspective, Crisis preparedness, Municipal crises Research questions: How is the traditional and/or social constructionist perspective reflected in organizations’ ways of perceiving, preventing, and managing crises? What can each perspective contribute to strengthen municipalities’ crisis management? Purpose: The aim of the study is to explore how and if the functionalist and/or sensemaking perspective characterizes municipal organizations' view of and handling of crises. Method: The study has been carried out using qualitative methods and an abductive approach where the methods have been designed based on the theoretical standpoint that the view of organizational crises can be described through two perspectives. The study's research design has had an exploratory purpose and the topic has been explored through a case study at a municipal organization in Sweden. Data has been collected through semi-structured interviews which were then analyzed through a thematic analysis method. Conclusion: The conclusion that can be drawn from the completed case study is that the sensemaking perspective is largely reflected in the municipality's way of looking at, and defining, crises. The perspective, on the other hand, is not considered to be total as the study identified how experienced employees showed a functionalist view of crises as external events with a staff-methodical approach. The municipality's approach to crisis prevention can primarily be considered characterized by a mental sensemaking approach. However, certain traditions and ways of working do not reflect the mental attitude and can be more likened to the functionalist perspective. The parallel use of the two perspectives could explain the participants' perception that the chosen municipality has a leading position in Sweden with regard to crisis work. The conclusion that can be drawn regarding what each perspective can contribute to strengthen municipal organizations' crisis management is that it can be considered successful when the two perspectives permeate the organization in parallel. On the other hand, the study also demonstrated the importance of there being a consensus among employees as to when characteristic features of each perspective should be expressed in order to strengthen crisis management.

Research on risk perception, disaster preparedness, and hurricane risk communication among Hispanic/Latino individuals with disabilities is growing. However, there is limited understanding of how cultural factors influence risk perceptions, hurricane preparedness, and how emergency managers communicate hurricane risks to Hispanic/Latino individuals with developmental disabilities in Central Florida. This qualitative case study aims to fill this gap by exploring the cultural influence on risk perception and hurricane preparedness, as well as how local emergency managers communicate risks associated with hurricanes to Hispanic/Latino individuals with developmental disabilities. The study seeks to understand how culture can shape this population's risk perception and natural disaster preparedness for disasters like hurricanes. The researcher uses an integrative theoretical framework that combines the Cultural Theory of Risk, Protective Motivation Theory, and Familism to guide the study. In-depth individual and group interviews were conducted with a diverse sample of Hispanic/Latino families living with individuals with developmental disabilities. Interviewees were selected based on location, age, and cultural background. Additionally, the researcher conducted a desk review of hurricane communication from each Central Florida county, followed by individual interviews with the emergency managers from Central Florida counties. Data from Hispanic/Latino families living with individuals with developmental disabilities were analyzed using inductive and deductive methods to identify themes related to the effect of culture on risk perception and natural disaster preparedness, specifically for hurricanes. The study revealed that culture can influence risk perception and natural disaster preparedness among Hispanic/Latino individuals living with developmental disabilities in many ways. Moreover, data from the desk review and interviews with emergency managers indicated a preference for relying heavily on the social networks of Hispanic/Latino individuals with developmental disabilities to communicate hurricane risks. Keywords: Risk perception, cultural influence, developmental disabilities, hurricane preparedness, Hispanic/Latino, risk communication.

Food security is a primary global concern, as many people go hungry daily. Climate change, rising temperatures, and increasing water scarcity are all significant contributors to food insecurity. Food systems are increasingly vulnerable to short-term shocks and long-term stressors, increasing their susceptibility to future disturbances. In response to these stressors, the food system must become more resilient. Food system resilience can help reduce the health, social, and economic costs of natural disasters and other crises. The food system as it exists today is unsustainable due to the numerous negative externalities it generates. While internal and external stressors push the food system to its limits, now is the time to mobilize change and make it more sustainable and resilient to future shocks rather than focusing solely on food preparedness that can restore the system to its original state following crises. As a result, this study aims to examine Swedish national and local policies on food preparedness and local food production to investigate the relationships between food preparedness and sustainable food system transformations. The study uses two methodologies: 1) a narrative literature review of the current national planning documents for food preparedness in Sweden and 2) a systematic literature review of the municipal planning documents relating to food preparedness, crisis, and local food production. The study found that Sweden's current food preparedness goal is to be able to provide food to Sweden’s citizens for at least three months in the event of a crisis. Individuals must also be self-sufficient for at least seven days, so home preparedness is strongly emphasized. The need for stable access to (e.g., domestically produced) inputs such as fuel, energy, and fertilizer is highlighted as a significant challenge for food preparedness, as numerous substitutes for foods will meet the same caloric requirements without affecting nutritional needs during a three-month period. Most national reports address the restructuring of the food preparedness organization, including recommendations for new government agencies or advisory boards. The study also discovered a lack of clarity and consistency in the expectations placed on municipalities for food preparedness. It also revealed that many municipalities are still in the process of developing comprehensive food preparedness plans. Furthermore, although food preparedness plans may stimulate complementary efforts such as sustainable farming practices and farm-to-table supply chains, they do not immediately impact the transition to a sustainable, resilient food system. There is much more potential for combining these parallel efforts to achieve common goals. / En tryggad livsmedelsförsörjning är ett allvarligt globalt problem, eftersom många människor svälter varje dag. Klimatförändringar, stigande temperaturer och ökad vattenbrist är alla betydande bidragadande faktorer som påverkar livsmedelsförsörjningen. Livsmedelssystemet är alltmer sårbart för både kortsiktiga chocker och långsiktiga stressorer, vilket ökar deras mottaglighet för framtida störningar. Som svar på dessa stressorer måste livsmedelssystemet bli mer resilient. Livsmedelssystemets resiliens kan bidra till att minska de hälso-, sociala och ekonomiska kostnaderna för naturkatastrofer och andra kriser. Livsmedelssystemet som det existerar i dag är ohållbart på grund av de många negativa påverkningar som det genererar. Medan interna och externa stressorer driver livsmedelssystemet till dess gränser, är det nu dags att mobilisera förändring och göra livsmedelssystemet mer hållbart och resilient mot framtida störningar, snarare än att enbart fokusera på livsmedelsberedskap som kan återställa systemet till sitt ursprungliga tillstånd efter kriser. Syftet med denna studie är därför att undersöka Sveriges nationella och lokala planer för livsmedelsberedskap och lokal livsmedelsproduktion för att utforska sambanden mellan livsmedelsberedskap och hållbara omvandlingar i livsmedelssystemet. Studien bygger på två metoder: 1) en litteraturöversikt av de aktuella nationella planeringsdokumenten för livsmedelsberedskap i Sverige; och 2) en systematisk litteraturöversikt av kommunala planeringshandlingar om livsmedelberedskap, kris och lokal livsmedelsproduktion. Studien visade att Sveriges nuvarande mål för livsmedelsberedskap är att kunna försörja mat till Sveriges medborgare i minst tre månader i händelse av en kris. Individer är också skyldiga att vara självförsörjande i minst 7 dagar, så det finns en stark tonvikt på hemberedskap. Behovet av stabil tillgång till (t.ex. inhemskt producerade) insatser såsom bränsle, energi och gödsel framhävs som den största utmaningen för livsmedelsberedskapen, eftersom det finns många ersättare till livsmedel som kommer att uppfylla samma kaloribehov utan att påverka näringsbehovet under en tremånadersperiod. De flesta rapporterna behandlar omstruktureringen av organisationen för livsmedelsberedskap, inklusive rekommendationer för nya myndigheter eller rådgivande styrelser. Studien fann också en brist på klarhet och konsekvens i de förväntningar som ställs på kommunerna när det gäller livsmedelsberedskap. Det visade också att många kommuner fortfarande är i färd med att utveckla omfattande planer för livsmedelsberedskap. Dessutom, även om livsmedelsberedskapsplaner kan stimulera kompletterande insatser såsom hållbara jordbruksmetoder och försörjningskedjor från jord till bord, har de ingen omedelbar inverkan på övergången till ett hållbart, motståndskraftigt livsmedelssystem. Det finns mycket större potential att kombinera dessa parallella ansträngningar för att uppnå gemensamma mål.

This dissertation explores U.S. military surgeons’ purposeful efforts to alter how medical and line officers in the U.S. Army and Navy conceived of disease, appreciated surgeons’ roles, and organized medical war preparations through education, training, exposure, and medico-military professionalization between 1884 and 1918. It traces surgeons’ postwar efforts to change American military cultures in response to the revelations of the germ theory of disease and deadly typhoid fever epidemics in the American training camps of the Spanish-American War. Medical and line officers required academic education and practical lessons to contextualize disease, surgeons, and medical care, understand and appreciate germs’ role in medicine, and train to apply these lessons to benefit their soldiers and sailors. Surgeons also reinforced their scientific education and grew military medicine through postgraduate education and tactical training designed to enhance the line’s perception of surgeons and medical science.This dissertation rests on the contention that surgeons contributed to military preparation for the next war by effecting cultural change to prevent the epidemics of previous wars. This culture of medical preparation shaped how military medical departments recruited, organized, and trained medical officers, procured supplies, and managed civil-military relationships. Entwined cultural change and war preparation were expressed in the multiple mobilization activities through which surgeons validated the success or failure of their efforts. Troops participated in organized camps of instruction, maneuver camps, and major mobilizations to the U.S.-Mexico border, allowing surgeons to use the physical encampments, hospitals, and other surgeons to test assumptions, exercise and refine theory, validate operational principles, and improve from previous iterations. As the United States entered the Great War in 1917, epidemics of measles, influenza, and meningitis attacked Army and Navy recruit training camps. Rather than demonstrate failure, this dissertation positions the 1917 and 1918 epidemics to demonstrate medical officers’ successful military cultural change. A comparative approach between 1898 and 1918 also highlights cultural and medico-military evolution through the lenses of preparation and mobilization. Official military reports and archival sources illuminate cultural divisions between line and medical officers and track the curricular development of military hygiene and sanitation courses in undergraduate and professional military schools and specialized fields at military medical schools. This dissertation intervenes in military and medical historiographies by pushing the conversation beyond disease’s impact on war to center disease and changing perceptions of disease, culturally and medically, as features of military preparation. It also recasts military surgeons as central agents in the U.S. military’s turn-of-the-century professionalization and modernization efforts. As the world addresses the outcomes and aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, this dissertation demonstrates that physicians and societies met previous epidemics and pandemics on medical science’s past frontiers where the germ theory of disease had barely won acceptance. It also illustrates the power of individuals in subordinate classes to affect institutional cultures for the betterment of all. Lastly, as military operations during future pandemics are all but guaranteed, this dissertation proves that dedication and preparation are just as vital to epidemic defense as good science. / History