Margareta Söderström

Outdoor environmental assessment of attention promoting settings for preschool children.

The restorative potential of green outdoor environments for children in preschool settings was investigated by measuring the attention of children playing in settings with different environmental features. Eleven preschools with outdoor environments typical for the Stockholm area were assessed using the outdoor play environment categories (OPEC) and the fraction of visible sky from play structures (sky view factor), and 198 children, aged 4.5-6.5 years, were rated by the staff for inattentive, hyperactive and impulsive behaviors with the ECADDES tool. Children playing in large and integrated outdoor areas containing large areas of trees, shrubbery and a hilly terrain showed less often behaviors of inattention (p<.05). The choice of tool for assessment of attention is discussed in relation to outdoor stay and play characteristics in Swedish preschool settings. The results indicate that the restorative potential of green outdoor environments applies also to preschool children and that environmental assessment tools as OPEC can be useful when to locate and develop health-promoting land adjacent to preschools.

The quality of the outdoor environment influences childrens health- a cross sectional study of preschools

To test how the quality of the outdoor environment of child day care centres (DCCs) influences childrens health.

Gender in medical curricula: Course organizer views of a gender-issues perspective in medicine in Sweden

SUMMARY While there is growing awareness of the importance of gender issues in medicine, with new knowledge and new perspectives in tensely debated, reports on the implementation of gender issues into medical curricula are scarce. In 1996, the Medical Faculty of Göteborg University, Sweden, determined that a gender-issues perspective be included in medical education. In 1999, course organizers from preclinical and clinical departments of the faculty were interviewed to determine whether they felt that a gender-issues perspective had contributed to their scientific field and, if so, how they implemented it in their teaching. The interviews revealed varied opinions on the relevance of this perspective in medicine. These variations followed gender division rather than that of preclinicians/clinicians. Thus, female gender was overwhelming for inspiring and introducing a gender-issues perspective both scientifically and practically. Positivism is firmly established in medicine and this must be taken into consideration when introducing a more culturally- and socially-based understanding of sex/gender issues. Female gender is important in this process, but successful implementation requires thorough faculty support and participation of male colleagues and students.

Gender equality in the work of local research ethics committees in Europe: a study of practice in five countries

Background: Funding organisations and research ethics committees (RECs) should play a part in strengthening attention to gender equality in clinical research. In the research policy of European Union (EU), funding measures have been taken to realise this, but such measures are lacking in the EU policy regarding RECs. Objective: To explore how RECs in Austria, Germany, Ireland, The Netherlands and Sweden deal with gender equality issues by asking two questions: (1) Do existing procedures promote representation of women and gender expertise in the committee? (2) How are sex and gender issues dealt with in protocol evaluation? Methods: Two RECs were selected from each country. Data were obtained through interviews with key informants and content analysis of relevant documents (regulations, guidelines and review tools in use in 2003). Results: All countries have rules (mostly informal) to ensure the presence of women on RECs; gender expertise is not required. Drug study protocols are carefully evaluated, sometimes on a formal basis, as regards the inclusion of women of childbearing age. The reason for excluding either one of the sexes or including specific groups of women or making a gender-specific risk–benefit analysis are investigated by some RECs. Such measures are, however, neither defined in the regulations nor integrated in review tools. Conclusions: The RECs investigated in five European member states are found to pay limited attention to gender equality in their working methods and, in particular in protocol evaluation. Policy and regulations of EU are needed to strengthen attention to gender equality in the work of RECs.

Suberythemal Sun Exposures at Swedish Schools Depend on Sky Views of the Outdoor Environments - Possible Implications for Pupils' Health.

More scheduled outdoor stay is increasingly advocated for school children. This study measured 2nd, 5th and 8th graders’ erythemal UV‐exposure in September, March and May at four Swedish schools. We related those exposures, as fractions of total available ambient radiation, to the schools outdoor environments differing in amount of shade, vegetation, and peripheral city‐scape quantified as percentage of free sky view calculated from fish‐eye photographs. Exposures correlated with the sky views (with exceptions in May) and were suberythemal. The exposures were also below the threshold limit of the International Commission on Non‐Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) for hazard evaluation of UVR but were potentially enough for adequate vitamin D formation according to a cited model calculation – as illustrated in the results and discussed. The school environments, typical in southern and middle Sweden, offer enough shade to protect children from overexposure during seasons with potentially harmful solar UV radiation. Pupils’ outdoor stay may be extended during September and March. In May extended outdoor stay of the youngest pupils requires a more UVR‐protective environment.