Purpose This study investigates how older foreign-born adults in Sweden experience and navigate social connectedness as a determinant of wellbeing.Methods Employing Glaser's grounded theory methodology, we collected qualitative data through individual (n = 1) and focus group (n = 5) interviews with 23 participants aged 60 + representing four distinct cultural-linguistic groups: Arabic, Finnish, Spanish, and Chinese speakers.Results The analysis identified "a quest for understanding" as the core category, encompassing three dimensions: (1) wanting to be understood, (2) wanting to understand, and (3) reaching for reconciliation. While participants shared universal needs for validation and connection, their experiences revealed tensions between aspirations and the challenges of language barriers, cultural distance, and generational differences. Notably, perceptions and experiences showed strong within-group similarities but significant between-group variations.Discussion Framed by Nordenfelt's concept of wellbeing as "want-equilibrium," the findings highlight understanding as both a social need and existential pursuit. While Finnish speakers' minority status eased integration, Arabic and Chinese speakers navigated systemic inclusion yet social exclusion. Resilience strategies-bicultural fluency, insular solidarity, or self-reliance-reflected Bourdieusian capital disparities. Wellbeing thus hinges on mutual recognition: migrants' adaptability and Sweden's capacity to perceive them beyond structural categories.

BackgroundResearch indicates that it is the quality of the closest relationships in the mixture of social relations that matters most for older adults. For older foreign-born, especially those who migrate late in life, the family is often the only socioeconomical resource they can lean on. This study aims to explore how older foreign-born perceive the role of family as they age.MethodsThe study design has a grounded theory approach. Data consist of individual open-ended interviews with 15 foreign-born informants aged between 60 and 85 years old who migrated to Sweden as adults from various parts of the world.ResultsThe findings demonstrate that family was an essential part of the informants' lives as they lived for their families and their families lived for them. Family solidarity was described as a cultural heritage they took over from their original families and a cultural heritage they wished to pass on to their future generations. They found that this was what separated them as foreign-born from native-born. Memories of their parents reminded them of their biological, social, and cultural heritages. The intimate relationship with their spouses in a life course had served as a source of validation of their individual identities and promoted personal growth and self-esteem. The role as a loving and caring parent entailed a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction for the life lived. And now as grandparents, the role as a link between the family's historical heritage and the future generation entailed not only a sense of coherence as they aged but also hope and meaning beyond their own lives.ConclusionsThe older foreign-born experienced life satisfaction as they aged with their families. Family meant community and solidarity. It was in the family that they found their distinct roles that had defined them. Family was an indispensable part of their social identity. The findings highlight the importance of older foreign-born being studied from a family and lifetime perspective.

Posterns innehåll: Under hösten 2021 genomgick samtlig personal på en geriatrisk akutvårdsavdelning utbildning inom kognitiv svikt. I denna poster redovisar vi vilken effekt utbildningen haft på personcentrerad vård, vårdmiljö samt användningen av lugnande läkemedel samt sömnmedel.

Multimorbidity tends to increase with age. Providing care that is individualized and that focuses on the whole person rather than on separate health issues is a challenge for healthcare, due to a lack of coordination and information exchange. In the future, relatives will need to take even more responsibility for their next of kin. The aim of this study was to explore relatives’ views of aspects that create a sense of security and feelings of quality of care related to acute mobile geriatric care for older people in their own homes. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews analysed using content analysis. This study is reported in accordance with the COREQ checklist. Interpersonal factors such as straightforward communication, empathy, having time for the person, a focus on the person, and having a few known caregivers who are easy to contact, rather than more clinical factors, have been identified as central to creating a sense of security and quality of care. 

Aims and objectives

To investigate patients’ experiences of being involved in their care in the emergency department (ED).

Background

Previous research shows that when patients experience involvement during care visits, this increased their trust in the care, gave a sense of control and promoted their autonomy.

Design

A qualitative descriptive design with semi‐structured interviews, using the "Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research" (COREQ) checklist.

Methods

Using convenience sampling, semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 16 patients in the ED.

Results

The study identified four categories: attention and inattention; communication and understanding; varying levels of participation; and inefficient and inaccessible care. The results show that patients expected to be treated with respect and to be involved in an open dialogue about their care. Patients’ experiences of participation were related to their sense of control.

Conclusions

Based on the results of the study, the authors found that factors such as dialogue, information, attention and participation affected the patients’ involvement during the ED visit. Experiences of involvement and control were linked to patients’ experiences of care and of patients as individuals.

Relevance to clinical practice

Healthcare providers’ awareness of the importance of paying attention to the patient as an individual, and of the need for simple, continuous communication could facilitate patient involvement in own care.

Studies show that people with celiac disease have reduced well-being and have persistent symptoms, mainly related to the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to analyze how persons in a celiac disease member association report their symptoms, health, and life satisfaction. A questionnaire, with both open and closed questions, was distributed to all members (n = 726) of a celiac association in the southeast of Sweden. The response rate was 74.5%, of which 524 (72%) said they had received a celiac disease diagnosis and were thus included in the study. Almost half of the participants (40.7%-42.2%) stated that they had persistent celiac disease symptoms despite following a gluten-free diet. Diarrhea, abdominal pain, and congestion were persistent symptoms reported and could contribute to a lower health status compared with people without persistent symptoms. The life satisfaction scale (LiSat-9) showed differences in 5 of 9 variables between the groups. Living with celiac disease is far from easy when you have persistent symptoms. People with celiac disease require follow-up by healthcare services, and a new treatment needs to be developed because following the gluten-free diet alone does not seem to alleviate symptoms in everyone.

The aim of this research was to explore how women with celiac disease experience everyday life. It is important that healthcare professionals understand what it is like to live with a chronic illness, and also the factors that affect the lives of women who have celiac disease. The study has a qualitative approach and the data were collected using interviews with 16 women. A conventional content analysis was used for the subjective interpretation of the qualitative interviews. Three main themes emerged in the analysis: illness trajectory and treatment, socializing with others, and feelings of loneliness and worry. The findings indicate that living with celiac disease affects the person's entire life from the past, in the present, and into the future, especially when daily routines must be altered. The women expressed a sense of loneliness and invisibility, especially when socializing with others. The diet could be a friend, enemy, obstacle, or opportunity in terms of enjoying a good life. Supporting women diagnosed with celiac disease appears to be a major task for healthcare professionals. Such professionals need to pay attention to women's symptoms, worries, and their feeling of being invisible.

Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated enteropathy triggered by the ingestion of gluten-containing grains (including wheat, rye and barley) in genetically susceptible individuals. CD can manifest itself with a previously unappreciated range of clinical presentations, including the typical malabsorption syndrome and a spectrum of symptoms potentially affecting any organ system. Since CD often presents in an atypical or even silent manner, many cases remain undiagnosed and carry the risk of long-term complications, including anemia and other hematological complications, osteoporosis, neurological complications or cancer. The high prevalence of the disease and its variety of clinical outcomes raise several interesting questions. This book covers most of the aforementioned controversial and yet unresolved topics by including the contributions of experts in CD.What the reader will surely find stimulating about this book is not only its exhaustive coverage of our current knowledge of CD, but also provocative new concepts in disease pathogenesis and  treatment.

Aim. To explore if gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, self-image and comorbidity are related to well-being in women with coeliac disease (CD) and whether a history of CD in childhood impacts on well-being in adulthood.

Background. Women in Sweden living with CD show a reduced level of well-being and report a high rate of GI complaints for unclear reasons. The self-image of these women is unknown.

Design. A cross-sectional survey of 231 Swedish women with CD on long-term treatment (≥5 years) with a gluten-free diet (GFD) was conducted in 2010.

Results.  The study showed that well-being is related to a high rate GI symptoms (OR 16·9, 95% CI 5·6-50·7), a negative self-image (OR 8·9, 95% CI 3·5-22·9) and comorbidity (OR 3·3, 95% CI 1·7-6·4). There was no impact of childhood symptoms on well-being, GI symptoms, self-image or comorbidity in adulthood. Half of the study population showed reduced well-being compared with norms. Practically all women (97%) declared that they were always or usually following a GFD and 62% reported at least one disease besides CD.

Conclusion. The study demonstrated that the well-being of women living with CD is affected by GI complaints, self-image and a high rate of comorbidity whereas a history of signs and symptoms of CD in childhood not seems to impact on the well-being in adulthood.

Relevance to clinical practice. Gastrointestinal symptoms, self-image and comorbidity are factors contributing to a low level of well-being of CD women living on a GFD. Launching a multi-disciplinary team for follow-up would represent a novel approach to support these women and may prove valuable in improving their subjective health.