bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Norwegian versions of the Living with Asthma Questionnaire (LWAQ) and Asthma Bother Profile (ABP), validation and comparison of two asthma groups
Authors: Haave Einar , Hyland Michael E. 
Published: February 2004

Haave, E. & Hyland, M. E. (2004). Norwegian versions of the Living with Asthma Questionnaire (LWAQ) and Asthma Bother Profile (ABP), validation and comparison of two asthma groups. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 45, 163–167.The Living with Asthma Questionnaire (LWAQ) and the Asthma Bother Profile (ABP) were translated into Norwegian using conventional back translation procedures, and completed by 30 asthma outpatients and 30 asthma patients admitted to inpatient rehabilitation. Reliability (Cronbach's alpha and retest‐reliability) was shown to be good for both scales. Validity was established by showing significantly poorer health in the rehabilitation sample, and correlations with state and trait anxiety. The Norwegian translations are reliable and valid versions of the original questionnaires.
Psychosocial correlates of parenting stress, lack of support and lack of confidence/security
Authors: Sepa Anneli , Frodi Ann , Ludvigsson Johnny 
Published: February 2004

Sepa, A., Frodi, A. & Ludvigsson, J. (2004). Psychosocial correlates of parenting stress, lack of support and lack of confidence/security.Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 45, 169–179.The purpose of the current study was to identify important correlates of parenting stress, frequently conceptualized as a mediator of suboptimal family function, and of social support and confidence/security, often regarded as buffers. Potential correlates of these concepts were assessed in questionnaires at delivery and at one year, in a sample of 16,000 families in Sweden. Predictors (1) ofparenting stresswere parental dissatisfaction and poor child sleeping patterns; (2) oflack of supportincluded lack of confidence/security, parents born abroad, single motherhood, and maternal health problems; and (3) oflack of confidence/securitywere lack of support and serious life events. Mothers lacking social support or confidence/security exhibited significantly higher stress. Although parenting stress is a complex phenomenon certain risk factors can be emphasized, such as sleep problems which appear more important than child health problems. These risk factors can be used both in efforts to prevent stress and in studies of stress effects.
Strategies of professional assistance after traumatic deaths: Empowerment or disempowerment?
Authors: Dyregrov Kari 
Published: February 2004

Dyregrov, K. (2004). Strategies of professional assistance after traumatic deaths: Empowerment or disempowerment? Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 45, 181–189.Referring to research and theory in the field, this discussion paper addresses the more overarching question of current strategies for professional assistance to populations bereaved by traumatic death. The issues and controversies that have long surrounded the “medicalization” of mental health arise anew with respect to the medicalization and professionalization of psychosocial help for people who have been traumatically bereaved. Who should provide what help and how? To what extent should the bereaved be expected to help themselves, receive help and support from friends and family, or even the wider community; and to what extent should the bereaved be able to access appropriate professional help when they are in crisis? Recent studies have indicated that bereaved parents want to receive help from mainstream crisis psychology, and this is not always available. Families experiencing traumatic bereavement are not able to access appropriate services along the same lines as those suffering similar levels of somatic complaints. It is argued that the main factors contributing to this situation are the lack of knowledge and inadequate organization of services; the fact that somatic issues take priority over psychosocial difficulties and dysfunction, and curative services over prophylactic intervention; and particularly the de‐medicalization ideology. By not listening to the needs of user groups, the de‐medicalization movement disempowers rather than empowers users – the very opposite of the desired effect.
After images and pain tolerance: A descriptive study on their interrelationship
Authors: Hentschel Uwe , Bijleveld Catrien C. J. H. 
Published: February 2004

Hentschel, U. & Bijleveld, C. C. J. H. (2004). After images and pain tolerance: A descriptive study on their interrelationship. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 45, 191–196.After images are based on physiological processes, they can also be treated as subjective phenomena with a psychological meaning. This statement also applies to pain. The basic working hypothesis of this study concerned the relationship between the two phenomena. Forty‐one respondents (23 females, 18 males, age range 20–45 years) were given the Cold Pressor Test and the Serial After Image Technique. The data analysis was done by means of cross‐tables and an exploratory optimal scaling program (OVERALS). Three pain tolerance groups (low, medium, high) could be differentiated fairly well on the basis of the after image characteristics of the respondents. Pain intolerant respondents more frequently had small and “immature” after images, whereas highly pain tolerant respondents had more large and “mature” after images. The implications of these results for a bio‐psycho‐social theoretical frame of reference for pain are discussed.
Self, agency and the surgical collective: detachment
Authors: Moreira Tiago E. 
Published: February 2004

Abstract In this article, I describe the socio‐technical organisation of surgical rehabilitation. After having gone through surgical intervention, patients are implicated within various types of medical work aimed at adjusting their bodies to post‐operative social and material environments. My argument is that the process of re‐establishment of a ‘self’ is mediated through a re‐disposition of agency in the socio‐technical ensemble upon which the patient depends immediately after surgery. Drawing on one year of ethnographic fieldwork in a neurosurgical clinic, and theoretical resources from science and technology studies, this paper is an attempt to describe how, within surgical post‐operative practices, the relational dynamics of social and material components endorsed within those practices may re‐institute patients’ sense of themselves, and re‐organise their relationship with the world and other people. In surgery, the outcome of this dynamic process is the reorganisation of forms of agency for the patient. I will refer to this reorganisation as ‘detachment’. It is my contention that this research may contribute to the literature on the experience of chronic illness by specifying the socio‐technical conditions for the local achievement of self and agency.
The treatment of oesophageal varices using a Sengstaken–Blakemore tube: considerations for nursing practice
Authors: Christensen Teresa 
Published: February 2004

SUMMARY• The Sengstaken–Blakemore tube is slowly becoming the least preferred method for the treatment of oesophageal varices, possibly due to the potential complications that are inherent in its placement• Nursing practice pertaining to the care of this patient group appears ad hoc and reliant on local knowledge and experience, as opposed to recognized evidence of best practice
The geography of the highest mortality areas in Spain: a striking cluster in the southwestern region of the country
Authors: Benach J , Yasui Y , Martínez J M , Borrell C , Pasarín M I , Daponte A 
Published: February 2004

Aims:To determine the areas of Spain with the most increased mortality risk.Methods:Age adjusted relative risk of death by gender was estimated in each of 2218 small areas of the country using a non-parametric empirical Bayes method. To determine areas with “significantly increased risk” a Poisson based score test was used.Results:Mapping of the highest risk areas showed a striking geographical clustering in the southwestern region of the country. This region, comprising 8% of the Spanish population, accounts for about one third (2884 deaths) of the total excess mortality.
Effects on respiratory health of a reduction in air pollution from vehicle exhaust emissions
Authors: Burr M L , Karani G , Davies B , Holmes B A , Williams K L 
Published: February 2004

Aims:To determine whether residents of congested streets have a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms than residents of nearby uncongested streets, and whether their respiratory health improves following a reduction in exposure to traffic related air pollutants.Methods:An area was identified where certain streets were subject to air pollution from heavy road traffic, which was likely to improve following the construction of a by-pass. A respiratory survey was conducted among the residents, together with the residents of nearby uncongested streets, at baseline and again a year after the by-pass opened. Measurements were made of air pollutant concentrations in both areas on both occasions.Results:Initial concentrations of PM10and PM2.5were substantially higher in the congested than in the uncongested streets. When the by-pass opened, the volume of heavy goods traffic fell by nearly 50%. PM10decreased by 23% (8.0 μg/m3) in the congested streets and by 29% (3.4 μg/m3) in the uncongested streets, with similar proportionate falls in PM2.5. There were no clear or consistent differences between the residents of the two areas initially in terms of symptoms or peak flow variability. Repeat questionnaires were obtained from 165 and 283 subjects in the congested and uncongested areas respectively, and showed a tendency for most symptoms to improve in both areas. For chest symptoms, the improvement tended to be greater in the uncongested area, although the difference between the areas was not statistically significant. Rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis tended to improve to a greater extent in the congested streets; the difference between the areas was significant for the degree to which rhinitis interfered with daily activities. Peak flow variability tended to improve in the uncongested area.Conclusions:The by-pass reduced pollutant levels to a degree that probably alleviates rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis but has little effect on lower respiratory symptoms.
Self reported musculoskeletal symptoms in the neck/shoulders and/or arms and general health (SF-36): eight year follow up of a case-control study
Authors: Nordlund A , Ekberg K 
Published: February 2004

Aims:To explore and compare the prevalence after eight years of self reported musculoskeletal symptoms and general health (SF-36) for groups with initially different degrees of severity of symptoms in the neck/shoulders and/or arms.Methods:A case-control study was performed in 1989 comprising 129 clinically examined cases and 655 survey controls. The study population was followed up in 1997 with a postal survey. The controls, none of which were clinically examined at baseline (1989), were divided into groups according to degree of severity of self reported symptoms in the neck/shoulders and/or arms at baseline: no symptoms, light symptoms, and severe symptoms. Cases were clinically diagnosed with a musculoskeletal disorder of the neck/shoulders and/or arms at baseline.Results:At the 1997 follow up, there was a trend of increasing prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms, as well as decreasing health status as rated in the SF-36 over the three severity groups among controls. Only small differences were seen between the cases and the controls reporting severe musculoskeletal symptoms or the neck/shoulders and/or arms.Conclusion:The degree of questionnaire based self reported musculoskeletal symptoms of the neck/shoulders and/or arms clearly indicate different degrees of future health problems (both in terms of self reported musculoskeletal problems and health in general as captured by the SF-36). Therefore, there is a need for improved intervention and health promotion strategies. Such effort should be implemented before musculoskeletal symptoms have developed to clinical cases, particularly in the realm of the workplace.
The psychosocial work environment and alcohol dependence: a prospective study
Authors: Head J , Stansfeld S A , Siegrist J 
Published: February 2004

Aims:To examine whether a stressful psychosocial work environment predicts alcohol dependence.Methods:Alcohol dependence of participants in the Whitehall II occupational cohort of London based civil servants (1985–88) was measured in 1991–93 using the CAGE questionnaire. The psychosocial work environment was measured by self report questions on the job demand-support-control model and on the model of effort-reward imbalance. Potential mediators including physical illness and poor mental health (GHQ) were measured at follow up in 1989.Results:Effort-reward imbalance at work was associated with alcohol dependence in men after adjustment for employment grade and other baseline factors related to alcohol dependence. Although effort-reward imbalance predicted future longstanding illness, poor mental health and negative aspects of close relationships, the association between effort-reward imbalance and alcohol dependence in men was only partially mediated through these health and social support measures. In women, low decision latitude was related to alcohol dependence to some extent, but alcohol dependence among women was more prevalent in higher occupational grades. Men with high job demands or with low work social supports had a slightly reduced risk of alcohol dependence. No association was found between objectively assessed demands, job control, and alcohol dependence in either men or women.Conclusion:A stressful psychosocial work environment in terms of effort-reward imbalance was found to be a risk factor for alcohol dependence in men. In view of the public health importance of alcohol dependence in working populations these findings call for more emphasis on psychosocial factors in occupational health research and prevention.
Worksite health promotion using individual counselling and the effectiveness on sick leave; results of a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Proper K I , van der Beek A J , Hildebrandt V H , Twisk J W R , van Mechelen W 
Published: February 2004

Aims:To investigate the effectiveness of a worksite health promotion programme by individual counselling on sick leave.Methods:Three municipal services of Enschede, the Netherlands, participated in this trial. A total of 299 civil servants were measured at baseline and were randomised by cluster into the intervention (n = 131) or the control group (n = 168). During nine months, subjects in the intervention group received a total of seven consultations, particularly aimed at increasing their physical activity level and improving their dietary habits. Both the intervention and the control subjects received written information as to several lifestyle factors. Sick leave data regarding the nine month intervention period (from May until January) were collected from each municipal service’s personnel department. In addition, sick leave data concerning the nine month period pre- and post-intervention were collected. Sick leave data were analysed using multilevel analysis.Results:For both groups, the mean sick leave rate during the intervention increased compared to before the intervention. After the intervention period, the control group increased even more (from 22.9 to 27.6 days), whereas the intervention group slightly decreased (from 21.5 to 20.5 days). Median values of sick leave rate decreased for both groups. No statistically significant intervention effect was found. In both groups, the mean sick leave frequency slightly decreased over time (intervention effects were not significant).Conclusions:Results showed no significant effect of individual counselling on sick leave. Continued research investigating the effectiveness of this individual counselling programme on several health related outcomes is useful to clarify the trend observed in sick leave.
Occupations and exposures in the work environment as determinants for rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Olsson Å Reckner , Skogh T , Axelson O , Wingren G 
Published: February 2004

Background and Aims:Several occupational categories have been associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); this study was conducted to further evaluate these associations.Methods:Lifelong occupational history together with exposure experiences were collected through a postal questionnaire answered by 293 incident cases and 1346 population based referents. Occupational determinants were evaluated through stratified and multivariate analyses; pooled analyses with previously gathered data on 422 prevalent cases and 858 referents were also performed.Results:In both materials, significantly increased logistic odds ratios (LORs) were seen for male conductors, freight and transport workers (LOR 17.8, 95% CI 1.5 to 207.8 and LOR 4.7, 95% CI 1.4 to 16.3, respectively), and farmers and farm workers (LOR 2.4, 95% CI 1.1 to 5.2, and LOR 2.2, 95% CI 1.3 to 3.5, respectively). Among women, increased LORs were seen in the separate and the pooled material for printmakers and process engravers (LOR 5.5, 95% CI 0.9 to 32.6, and LOR 3.0, 95% CI 0.9 to 10.3, respectively). Increased risks were seen in both materials for men exposed to asbestos (LOR 2.5, 95% CI 1.0 to 6.8, and LOR 1.6, 95% CI 0.8 to 3.3, respectively), and vibrations (LOR 2.0, 95% CI 0.9 to 4.4, and LOR 2.2, 95% CI 1.3 to 3.8, respectively). The risk for RA increased with increasing duration of exposure to vibrations and mineral dust, respectively.Conclusions:There was evidence of a causal relation between exposures to vibrations and mineral dust and development of RA among men. Occupational factors seem to be aetiologically more important for men, and most occupations at risk involve multiple exposures. Several exposures associated with an increased risk for RA are frequent among farmers, and some of the occupations at risk include exposure to organic dust.
Cumulative exposure to dust and gases as determinants of lung function decline in tunnel construction workers
Authors: Bakke B , Ulvestad B , Stewart P , Eduard W 
Published: February 2004

Aims:To study the relation between lung function decrease and cumulative exposure to dust and gases in tunnel construction workers.Methods:A total of 651 male construction workers (drill and blast workers, tunnel concrete workers, shotcreting operators, and tunnel boring machine workers) were followed up by spirometric measurements in 1989–2002 for an average of six years. Outdoor concrete workers, foremen, and engineers served as a low exposed referent population.Results:The between worker component of variability was considerably reduced within the job groups compared to the whole population, suggesting that the workers within job groups had similar exposure levels. The annual decrease in FEV1in low-exposed non-smoking workers was 21 ml and 24 ml in low-exposed ever smokers. The annual decrease in FEV1in tunnel construction workers was 20–31 ml higher than the low exposed workers depending on job group for both non-smokers and ever smokers. After adjustment for age and observation time, cumulative exposure to nitrogen dioxide showed the strongest association with a decrease in FEV1in both non-smokers, and ever smokers.Conclusion:Cumulative exposure to nitrogen dioxide appeared to be a major risk factor for lung function decreases in these tunnel construction workers, although other agents may have contributed to the observed effect. Contact with blasting fumes should be avoided, diesel exhaust emissions should be reduced, and respiratory devices should be used to protect workers against dust and nitrogen dioxide exposure.
Impact of thin-walled high-strength steel structural sections
Authors: Schneider F , Jones N 
Published: February 2004

An experimental programme is reported which examines the progressive collapse behaviour of some thin-walled closed-section structural sections made from high-strength steels under quasi- static and impact axial loads. A comparison is made with theoretical formulae, which have been used successfully for predicting the behaviour of mild steel thin-walled structures. Ten quasi-static crush tests and 46 impact tests were conducted on spot-welded top-hat and laser- welded square sections. The thin-walled sections were made from two different types of high-strength steel and one mild steel, the mechanical properties of which were determined experimentally from quasi-static and dynamic tensile tests. Although no specific change in the collapse mode was observed, the limited weight-specific energy absorption e ciency of the high-strength steels under dynamic loadings hinders the weight-reduction potential of crashworthy designs. An unexpected difference in the structural effectiveness of spot-welded top-hat sections made from mild steels and high-strength steels was identified, but was not present for similar square sections. This difference further accentuated the loss in the advantage of high-strength steels over mild steels, especially for spot-welded top-hat sections, and led to differences in the agreement between the experimental results and the theoretical predictions.
Performance benchmarks of pressure and fibre optics sensors for natural gas engine control
Authors: Nwagboso C O , Pendlebury M A , Mukarram S K 
Published: February 2004

Traditionally, the automotive industry has been using piezoelectric transducers for measuring cylinder pressure due to their higher frequency and relatively small size. However, there is the need to develop sensors that are capable of measuring other combustion parameters. An optical fibre sensor can give accurate readings of combustion characteristics (e.g. combustion species concentrations) with high temporal resolution within each engine cycle. Engine control systems incorporating these sensors can reduce harmful emissions levels and improve fuel economy as well as performing parametric monitoring for predicting emission levels. A strategic combination of the fibre optic sensor as part of the control system can be deployed in order to provide these benefits. This paper presents the design of a novel sensing scheme with a fibre optic sensory system capable of monitoring the combustion event as part of the natural gas engine control system with a minimal invasive technique. The robustness of the optical sensory system is compared with a pressure sensory signal and is used to analyse mass fraction burn and heat release. An integrated ignition controller is presented that will enable the ignition angle to be modified based on the measured optical combustion signal with a control technique to provide an optimal management of the engine performance. The technique presented in this paper was developed as part of a research and development programme. However, the results will also make a significant contribution to further deployment of the technology in production vehicles.