Päivi Juuso

Living with a double burden: Meanings of pain for women with fibromyalgia

Living with fibromyalgia (FM) means living with a chronic pain condition that greatly influences daily life. The majority of people with FM are middle-aged women. The aim of this study was to elucidate meanings of pain for women with FM. Fifteen women with FM were interviewed about their pain experiences and a phenomenological hermeneutic interpretation was used to analyse the interview texts. The findings show that meanings of pain for women with FM can be understood as living with a double burden; living with an aggressive, unpredictable pain and being doubted by others in relation to the invisible pain. The ever-present pain was described as unbearable, overwhelming, and dominated the womens whole existence. Nevertheless, all the women tried to normalize life by doing daily chores in an attempt to alleviate the pain. In order to support the womens needs and help them to feel well despite their pain, it is important that nurses and health care personnel acknowledge and understand women with FM and their pain experiences.

Meanings of Being Received and Met by Others as Experienced by Women With Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a common chronic pain syndrome that mostly affects middle-aged women. Our aim with this study was to elucidate meanings of being received and met by others as experienced by women with FM. Interviews with a narrative approach were conducted with 9 women. We analyzed the transcribed interviews with a phenomenological hermeneutical interpretation. The findings revealed two themes: being seen as a malingerer and being acknowledged. Meanings of being received and met by others, as experienced by women with FM, can be understood as a movement between the two perspectives. When they were acknowledged, their feelings of security and trust increased, but the women could not rely on this because others received and met them in such an unpredictable manner.

The Workplace Experiences of Women with Fibromyalgia

PURPOSE Fibromyalgia (FM) is a common pain syndrome that mostly affects women. Chronic pain and other symptoms often chalenge work for women with FM. This study aimed to explore how women with FM experience their work situations. METHOD A purposive sample of 15 women with FM was interviewed with in-depth qualitative interviews. Data were analysed using a hermeneutic approach. RESULTS The results revealed that women with FM experienced incapacity to work as they had previously and eventually accepted that their work life had changed or reached its end. Since their work had great significance in their lives, feelings of loss and sorrow were common. Women who were working, unemployed, or on sick leave described feelings of fear for their future work situations. CONCLUSIONS Women with FM greatly value their work. Their wish to perform work as before is however, not consistent with their abilities. As such, women with FM need support in continuing to work for as long as possible, after which they need support in finding new values in life.

The significance of FM associations for women with FM

Abstract Purpose: Living with fibromyalgia (FM) means living with a long-term pain syndrome that is invisible to others. Support and understanding from others seem to be important to managing the affected daily life. The aim of this study was to describe the significance of FM associations for women with FM. Methods: Data collection was carried out through focus group discussions with seventeen women with FM. Data were analyzed through thematic content analysis. Results: The findings show that women experienced associations for people with FM as important as they gave access to contacts with others with similar experiences. Their need of togetherness was fulfilled at the association and they described being strengthened by the support received. Because of the lack of information and knowledge about FM, the association was described as an important venue for getting and mediating information about the illness. Conclusions: At the association the women seem to be empowered, which increases their ability to manage their daily lives despite the limitations imposed by FM. Healthcare personnel could not satisfy the women’s needs and to manage to support women with FM. There is a need for communication based on a shared understanding between the women and healthcare personnel. Implications for Rehabilitation This study highlighted the need for communication based on a shared understanding between people with chronic illness and healthcare personnel to support and strengthen women with FM in their daily lives. The FM associations meet the needs for togetherness, confirmation, and information that the women with FM in this study described and healthcare personnel could not satisfy. Healthcare personnel can learn from FM associations how to empower women with FM in their everyday lives.

Specialist ambulance nurses’ experiences of births before arrival

BACKGROUND Working as an ambulance nurse means interacting with and caring for acutely ill and injured patients. It can even involve births before arrival to the hospital (BBA), which are rare but increasing due to the centralization of maternity wards. AIM This study describes the experiences of specialist ambulance nurses with BBA. METHOD A qualitative study was conducted, and nine specialist ambulance nurses who had assisted with one or more prehospital births were interviewed. Data were analysed with thematic content analysis. FINDINGS The analysis revealed three categories that were compiled into a theme of feeling fright and exhilaration. The findings showed that BBA causes feelings of anxiety and stress. The experience is also associated with joy and relief when the baby is born. Childbirth is a situation for which specialist ambulance nurses feel less prepared, lack of knowledge, and wish for more education. CONCLUSION Specialist ambulance nurses face challenges in the pre-hospital care environment during BBA, with long distances, a lack of equipment aboard the ambulance, and no assistance from midwives. To feel secure in the complex role that is required when assisting with a BBA, specialist ambulance nurses should be given the opportunity to receive scenario training.

Experiences of nursing patients suffering from trauma : preparing for the unexpected: a qualitative study

SETTINGS AND OBJECTIVES A midsize hospital in the north of Sweden with a high-tech intensive care unit and space for up to 10 patients, with an attached postoperative ward for up to 15 patients. The wards are manned by critical care nurses who are also responsible for carrying a trauma pager. When the alarm goes off, the critical care nurse leaves her/his duties and joins a trauma team. The aim of the study was to describe critical care nurses experiences of nursing patients suffering from trauma. METHOD A qualitative descriptive design was used. Data were collected through four focus group discussions with 15 critical care nurses analysed using qualitative content analysis. FINDINGS One theme: Preparing for the unexpected with four subthemes: (1) Feeling competent, but sometimes inadequate; (2) Feeling unsatisfied with the care environment; (3) Feeling satisfied with well-functioning communication; and (4) Feeling a need to reflect when affected. CONCLUSIONS Nursing trauma patients require critical care nurses to be prepared for the unexpected. Two aspects of trauma care must be improved in order to fully address the challenges it poses: First, formal preparation and adequate resources must be invested to ensure delivery of quality trauma care. Secondly, follow-ups are needed to evaluate care measures and to give members of the trauma team the opportunity to address feelings of distress or concern.

Health-related quality of life and sense of coherence among people with obesity : Important factors for health management

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether health-related quality of life and levels of sense of coherence among people with obesity are correlated with body mass index, age, and gender. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive research design was used. Subjects (n = 157) were selected from a sample of participants in an ongoing survey and had a body mass index >30 kg/m2. Data were collected using the Short Form-36 Health Survey and the Sense of Coherence Scale. Results: The mean body mass index of women was higher than that of men. Compared to men, a greater proportion of women had a low sense of coherence. There was a significant relationship between low physical health and high body mass index. Female gender and older age correlated with a low sense of coherence and showed a significant association with high body mass index. Conclusion: To increase the health-related quality of life, people with obesity need support to help manage their life situation based on their individual needs and personal resources.