Life Course Research Articles

Insights for precision oncology from the integration of genomic and clinical data of 13,880 tumors from the 100,000 Genomes Cancer Programme

The Cancer Programme of the 100,000 Genomes Project was an initiative to provide whole-genome sequencing (WGS) for patients with cancer, evaluating opportunities for precision cancer care within the UK National Healthcare System (NHS). Genomics England, alongside NHS England, analyzed WGS data from 13,880 solid tumors spanning 33 cancer types, integrating genomic data with real-world treatment and outcome data, within a secure Research Environment. Incidence of somatic mutations in genes recommended for standard-of-care testing varied across cancer types. For instance, in glioblastoma multiforme, small variants were present in 94% of cases and copy number aberrations in at least one gene in 58% of cases, while sarcoma demonstrated the highest occurrence of actionable structural variants (13%). Homologous recombination deficiency was identified in 40% of high-grade serous ovarian cancer cases with 30% linked to pathogenic germline variants, highlighting the value of combined somatic and germline analysis. The linkage of WGS and longitudinal life course clinical data allowed the assessment of treatment outcomes for patients stratified according to pangenomic markers. Our findings demonstrate the utility of linking genomic and real-world clinical data to enable survival analysis to identify cancer genes that affect prognosis and advance our understanding of how cancer genomics impacts patient outcomes.

Systematic Development of National Guidelines for Obesity Care: The Swedish Approach

Introduction: With the rapid development of treatment modalities for obesity management, there is an increasing demand for guidance to facilitate the prioritization of interventions. In 2020, the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare started the process of producing the first national guidelines for obesity care directed to decision makers who allocate resources to the best knowledge-based care. The main aim of this paper was to describe the systematic development of these guidelines, designed to guarantee uniformly high standards of care throughout the whole country. Methods: The standardized procedures of the National Board of Health and Welfare were applied to construct guidelines in a systematic and transparent way, including priority setting of recommendations and quality indicators to evaluate the progress of implementation. The process involved independent expert committees including professionals and patient representatives, and the guidelines were reviewed through an open public consultation. Results: National guidelines were issued in 2023, encompassing a broad scope, from identification and diagnosis to multiple treatment modalities, embedded in a life-course perspective from pregnancy to the elderly, as well as highlighting the need for improved knowledge and competence of health care providers. Conclusions: National guidelines for improved standard care and evidence-based and efficient use of health care resources for obesity treatment can be developed in a systematic way with professionals and patient representatives.

Modality Demand Trends Post Covid 19 in a Public University: A Deeper Dive Into Gender, Marital Status, and Other Drivers of Class Selection

In the first phase of the study, we investigated the effect that COVID-19 has had on student demand for six educational modalities used in the Woodbury School of Business (WSB) at Utah Valley University (UVU) in Orem, Utah. Those modalities are Face-to-Face, Hybrid, Independent Study, Internship, Live Interactive Video, and Online. The two hypotheses evaluated were whether the change to primarily online would revert to the pre-COVID-19 ratios of live and online and second that students were choosing online over live for rational reasons despite their preference for live courses. The first hypothesis was rejected, as students generally continued to choose online at a significantly higher rate, and no pronounced move back to face-to-face classes occurred. The second hypothesis was indicated but not proven due to a lack of relevant data at the time of the study's first phase. So, enrollment for Online and Flextime dramatically increased after COVID-19, while Face-to-Face and evening classes experienced huge drops. The study's second phase extends this research and shows that gender does not affect course choice. Further, students select online for pragmatic and logical reasons, including how age, employment, marital status, and perceived free time play into those class choices. Indeed, in practice, students enroll more often in online course sections due to the practicalities of their complicated lives. This second hypothesis is indicated and statistically proven in the second phase.

College Is Not the Great Equalizer in Japan

This study represents the first systematic account to test the hypothesis of college as the great equalizer in Japan by analyzing the three-way association among class origin, destination, and education. The authors use data from the Social Stratification and Social Mobility surveys and the Japanese Life Course Panel Surveys. By applying the entropy balancing technique, the authors estimate the heterogeneous causal effect of college education on occupational attainment by the father’s occupation. The results indicate that college education does not function as a great equalizer in Japan. There is no clear evidence to suggest that the occupational returns to a college education are greater among those from less advantaged families than those from more advantaged families. The authors argue that the equalizing effect of a college education is not apparent, because of the specific institutional arrangements of the educational system and the labor market in society.

The developmental origins of health and disease and intergenerational inheritance: a scoping review of multigenerational cohort studies.

Epidemiologic research has increasingly acknowledged the importance of developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) and suggests that prior exposures can be transferred across generations. Multigenerational cohorts are crucial to verify the intergenerational inheritance among human subjects. We carried out this scoping review aims to summarize multigenerational cohort studies' characteristics, issues, and implications and hence provide evidence to the DOHaD and intergenerational inheritance. We adopted a comprehensive search strategy to identify multigenerational cohorts, searching PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases from the inception of each dataset to June 20th, 2022, to retrieve relevant articles. After screening, 28 unique multigenerational cohort studies were identified. We classified all studies into four types: population-based cohort extended three-generation cohort, birth cohort extended three-generation cohort, three-generation cohort, and integrated birth and three-generation cohort. Most cohorts (n = 15, 53%) were categorized as birth cohort extended three-generation studies. The sample size of included cohorts varied from 41 to 167,729. The study duration ranged from two years to 31 years. Most cohorts had common exposures, including socioeconomic factors, lifestyle, and grandparents' and parents' health and risk behaviors over the life course. These studies usually investigated intergenerational inheritance of diseases as the outcomes, most frequently, obesity, child health, and cardiovascular diseases. We also found that most multigenerational studies aim to disentangle genetic, lifestyle, and environmental contributions to the DOHaD across generations. We call for more research on large multigenerational well-characterized cohorts, up to four or even more generations, and more studies from low- and middle-income countries.

Cohort profile: Born in Wales—a birth cohort with maternity, parental and child data linkage for life course research in Wales, UK

PurposeUsing Wales’s national dataset for maternity and births as a core dataset, we have linked related datasets to create a more complete and comprehensive entire country birth cohort. Data of...

Adverse childhood experiences and unhealthy dietary behaviours in adulthood.

This study assesses the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACE) occurring before the age of 18 years and patterns of fast-food consumption and sugary beverage consumption in adulthood. The study also examines how perceived stress and socio-economic status (SES) (college educational attainment and income) in adulthood mediate this relationship. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adulthood Health (N 8599), multinomial logistic regression analyses were carried out to assess the association between ACE and unhealthy dietary behaviours in adulthood. Karlson-Holm-Breen mediation analysis is used to determine the mediating effects of SES and perceived stress. Persons living in the USA in 2016-2018. Adults (n 8599) aged 33-44 years. The findings show an association between four or more ACE and high fast-food (relative risk ratio (RRR) = 1·436, 95 % CI = 1·040, 1·983) and high sugary beverage consumption (RRR = 1·435, 95 % CI = 1·002, 2·055). The association between ACE and high fast-food consumption is partially mediated by college educational attainment, and the association between ACE and high sugary beverage consumption is partially mediated by perceived stress and college educational attainment. ACE can have long-term consequences for unhealthy dietary behaviours in adulthood, and this relationship is partially due to a lower likelihood of higher perceived stress and college educational attainment among ACE-exposed persons. Future research is needed to understand further the influence of ACE on dietary patterns over the life course.

State of play of adolescent-adult transition platforms

Transition support is an integral part of the care of adolescents in clinical services. To avoid disruptions in the care pathway, transition spaces in pediatric and adult hospitals are emerging. There are currently fifteen in France. The professionals working there and the tools and methods used are heterogeneous, but with a common challenge which is the reduction of the major risk of disruption of the care pathway and support for the life course.

Elucidating Diurnal Patterns in Touch Desire Using Social Media Data Toward Design of Haptic Applications and Displays.

Advances in haptic technology have led researchers and engineers to seek out killer applications in which users can enjoy an experience of touch in AR/VR spaces. Such applications will respond appropriately to human desire for haptic experiences (i.e., touch desire) and thus it is essential for researchers and engineers to understand the nature of people's touch desires as they arise in the course of daily life. In this study, we employed Twitter data analysis to investigate a diurnal pattern in touch desire. Our results showed that touch desire identified in and extracted from Twitter texts did reveal a diurnal pattern. Touch desire tended to be at its lowest in the morning and increased as the day progressed. The time at which it peaked varied with the specific target of touch desire. Touch desire in relation to other people and objects reached its peak at night, but touch desire in relation to animals reached its peak at noon. These results were confirmed not only by our Twitter text analysis but also by data from other social media and an online survey. In addition, we found that the diurnal pattern of touch desire for each target shows a strong correlation with that of visual desire for the same target. This suggests that the diurnal pattern of touch desire is not limited to the sense of touch but is common to other sensory desires for each target. Our findings suggest that researchers need to take the time of day into account when investigating touch desire. Our findings also offer valuable insights for developers into the design of haptic applications and displays that takes into account the timing of daily peaks in touch desire.

Educating Future Generations of Surgeons across Borders: Novel Global Linked Hybrid Live Cadaveric Peripheral Nerve Surgical Training Course.

This study aimed to evaluate a novel, multi-site, technology-facilitated education and training course in peripheral nerve surgery. The program was developed to address the training gaps in this specialized field by integrating a structured curriculum, high-fidelity cadaveric dissection, and surgical simulation with real-time expert guidance. A collaboration between the Global Nerve Foundation and Esser Masterclass facilitated the program, which was conducted across three international sites. The curriculum was developed by a panel of experienced peripheral nerve surgeons and included both text-based and multimedia resources. Participants' knowledge and skills were assessed using pre- and postcourse questionnaires. A total of 73 participants from 26 countries enrolled and consented for data usage for research purposes. The professional background was diverse, including hand surgeons, plastic surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, and neurosurgeons. Participants reported significant improvements in knowledge and skills across all covered topics (p < 0.001). The course received a 100% recommendation rate, and 88% confirmed that it met their educational objectives. This study underscores the potential of technology-enabled, collaborative expert-led training programs in overcoming geographical and logistical barriers, setting a new standard for globally accessible, high-quality surgical training. It highlights the practical and logistical challenges of multi-site training, such as time zone differences and participant fatigue. It also provides practical insights for future medical educational endeavors, particularly those that aim to be comprehensive, international, and technologically facilitated.

Sağlık Bilimleri Öğrencilerinin COVID-19 Pandemisi Sürecinde Uzaktan Eğitim Deneyimleri: Bir Anket Çalışması

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate distance education experience by health science students during COVID-19 pandemic in relation to sociodemographic factors. Methods: A total of 192 health science students having distance education during pandemic via a live lesson system were included in this questionnaire-based survey. The online questionnaire form elicited items on participant characteristics, and personal opinions and experience on distance education, which were evaluated overall and with respect to gender, university (state vs. foundation) and place of residence (urban vs. rural) subgroups. Results: Only 38.0% and 22.4% of students considered distance education to be sufficient for theory-based and practical-based courses, respectively. Distance education was considered less advantageous than on-campus education in terms of focusing the practical-based courses by 55.2% of students, and to be less effective in terms of gaining knowledge by 45.8%. Ability to record and later access to live lectures (61.5%, more commonly by males and for urban location) and pacing options (29.2%, more commonly by females and for rural location) were the most commonly reported advantages of distance education, while the most commonly reported disadvantages were technical problems (33.9%, more commonly for foundation universities and rural location), need for strong self-motivation/discipline (33.3%, more commonly for state universities and rural location) and lesser learning efficiency (29.2%, more commonly by females). Most of the students reported problems in regularly following the practical-based live courses (62.0%) and difficulties with following live courses due to limited personal access to a computer and the internet (82.8%). Distance education was considered less advantageous than on-campus education in terms of focusing the practical-based courses by 55.2% of students, and to be less effective in terms of gaining knowledge by 45.8%. Conclusions: Our findings revealed that distance education experience during the COVID-19 pandemic was considered not satisfactory, particularly for practical-based courses, by most health science students. Technical and infrastructural resources, the compatibility of content and learning materials with the purpose of the course and the teaching skills and compliance of the instructors were considered as the major challenges in distance education, while the ability to record and later access to live lectures and pacing options were the main advantages of distance education.

Caso e formazione. Note di pedagogia leopardiana

Leopardi has examined the influence of the case on human life. Fortune and circumstances have a great influence on everything: health, genius, courses of life, study and education. Therefore, it’s not easy to foresee results of a formative programme. This Leopardi’s position completes his theory of custom and balances its theoretic importance.

FROM ERNEST HEMINGWAY TO HARUKI MURAKAMI: PRESENCE AND ABSENCE DICHOTOMY, IDENTITY CRISIS AND THE SEARCH FOR MEANING THAT WOMEN CHARACTERS BRING ABOUT IN “IN ANOTHER COUNTRY” AND “KINO”

The stories “In Another Country” in Men Without Women (1927) and “Kino” in Men Without Women (2014) are two different but profoundly related short stories written by Ernest Hemingway and Haruki Murakami respectively. Although these two short stories differ by virtue of spatial and temporal variables producing the cultural climate in which the two novelists lived and created their works, by reading these two short stories closely and comparatively, this study aims to point out, prove and comment that both stories reveal the same themes in their narratives as the problematization of men’s relationship with the women together with the impacts of the presence-absence of women figures on men’s lives. The men in “In Another Country” and “Kino”, whose identity crises and search for meaning together with their conditions are analyzed critically, are either proved to be ostensibly indifferent and have some sort of purported stamina or they are implicitly fragile and emotionally imbalanced due to the sorrows they go through and are not able to overcome. Examination of the stories unearths the psychologies of the male characters who have either misunderstood women or misinterpreted their existential conditions. By examining the two short stories critically and comparatively, this study aims to demonstrate while both stories indeed closely revolve around such notions of identity, love, life, unhappiness, isolation and search for meaning in the middle of literal and metaphorical crises due to the presence and absence of one’s beloved, it provides a chance of scrutinizing the intricate dynamics of male and female relationships as well. Focusing on the way through which the dichotomy of presence and absence of female protagonists directs the male protagonists’ course of lives and how it leads them to identity crises and the search for meaning, a comparative analysis and close reading of the two short stories in question are thought to provide rich and evocative results.

Taking the Glass Escalator Theory to School

White men have realized persistent advantages in high-status leadership positions in the workplace. Theories of gender inequality in leadership, including the “glass escalator” theory, consider only how this issue functions within occupational contexts and have yet to assess whether or how such patterns of inequality occur across institutions and may persist throughout the education-to-occupation pipeline. Using nationally representative data on U.S. high school students, the authors test for early evidence of racialized glass escalator effects by examining leadership disparities within the feminine-coded field of performing arts activities, which serve as an upstream approximation of feminized occupations. The authors find that although boys are less likely to participate in performing arts than girls, conditional on participating, they are significantly more likely to be leaders. White boys, in particular, have a strong leadership advantage compared with all other schoolmates, and especially to girls of color. The significant disadvantage girls of color face relative to White boys in attaining leadership within feminized domains in high school parallels established patterns in the occupational sphere. To the extent that early leadership experience begets future skills, opportunities, and pursuit of leadership positions, such early disadvantages may be expected to compound over the life course, influencing gendered and racialized role expectations and sorting.

Umbrella review and Delphi study on modifiable factors for dementia risk reduction.

A 2013 systematic review and Delphi consensus study identified 12 modifiable risk and protective factors for dementia, which were subsequently merged into the "LIfestyle for BRAin health" (LIBRA) score. We systematically evaluated whether LIBRA requires revision based on new evidence. To identify modifiable risk and protective factors suitable for dementia risk reduction, we combined an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses with a two-round Delphi consensus study. The review of 608 unique primary studies and opinions of 18 experts prioritized six modifiable factors: hearing impairment, social contact, sleep, life course inequalities, atrial fibrillation, and psychological stress. Based on expert ranking, hearing impairment, social contact, and sleep were considered the most suitable candidates for inclusion in updated dementia risk scores. As such, the current study shows that dementia risk scores need systematic updates based on emerging evidence. Future studies will validate the updated LIBRA score in different cohorts. HIGHLIGHTS: An umbrella review was combined with opinions of 18 dementia experts. Various candidate targets for dementia risk reduction were identified. Experts prioritized hearing impairment, social contact, and sleep. Re-assessment of dementia risk scores is encouraged. Future work should evaluate the predictive validity of updated risk scores.

High Amino Acid Intake in Early Life Is Associated With Systolic but Not Diastolic Arterial Hypertension at 5 Years of Age in Children Born Very Preterm.

The life course of individuals born very premature is a topic of increasing concern. The association between high early amino acid intake and later high blood pressure (HBP) in preterm neonates is debated. In a national, prospective, population-based birth cohort, EPIPAGE-2 (Etude Epidémiologique sur Petits Ages Gestationnels), we assessed blood pressure at 5 years. Eligible infants were those born between 24 and 29 weeks of gestation. Infants were distributed in 2 groups of 717 infants matched on propensity score on whether or not they were exposed to high amino acid intake (>3.5 g/kg per day at day 7); 455 control term infants were also enrolled. A value ≥95th percentile of reference values for age and height defined systolic or diastolic HBP. Blood pressure at 5 years of age was assessed for 389 and 385 children in the exposed and nonexposed groups, respectively. Rates (in percent) of systolic and diastolic HBP were 18.0% (95% CI, 14.5%-22.2%), 13.3% (95% CI, 10.3%-17.0%), 8.5% (95% CI, 6.5%-11.1%), and 9.0% (95% CI, 6.6%-12.3%), 10.2% (95% CI, 7.5%-13.6%), and 5.4% (95% CI, 3.8%-7.6%) in exposed, nonexposed, and term-born groups, respectively. Exposure to high early amino acid intake and maximal serum creatinine (by 50 μmol/L) between day 3 and day 7 were 2 independent risk factors for systolic HBP (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.60 [95% CI, 1.05-2.43] and aOR, 1.59 [95% CI, 1.12-2.26], respectively) but not for diastolic HBP (aOR, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.50-1.39] and aOR, 1.09 [95% CI, 0.71-1.67], respectively). After adjustment for 5-year weight Z score, the aOR between high early amino acid intake and systolic HBP was 1.50 [95% CI, 0.98-2.30]. These results suggest that mechanisms of childhood systolic HBP involve neonatal renal challenge by high amino acid intake or dysfunction.

Childhood cognitive ability and self-harm and suicide in later life

BackgroundSelf-harm and suicide remain prevalent in later life. For younger adults, higher early-life cognitive ability appears to predict lower self-harm and suicide risk. Comparatively little is known about these associations among middle-aged and older adults. MethodsThis study examined the association between childhood (age 11) cognitive ability and self-harm and suicide risk among a Scotland-wide cohort (N = 53037), using hospital admission and mortality records to follow individuals from age 34 to 85. Multistate models examined the association between childhood cognitive ability and transitions between unaffected, self-harm, and then suicide or non-suicide death. ResultsAfter adjusting for childhood and adulthood socioeconomic conditions, higher childhood cognitive ability was significantly associated with reduced risk of self-harm among both males (451 events; HR = 0.90, 95% CI [0.82, 0.99]) and females (516 events; HR = 0.89, 95% CI [0.81, 0.98]). Childhood cognitive ability was not significantly associated with suicide risk among those with (Male: 16 events, HR = 1.05, 95% CI [0.61, 1.80]; Female: 13 events, HR = 1.08, 95% CI [0.55, 2.15]) or without self-harm events (Male: 118 events, HR = 1.17, 95% CI [0.84, 1.63]; Female: 31 events, HR = 1.30, 95% CI [0.70, 2.41]). LimitationsThe study only includes self-harm events that result in a hospital admission and does not account for self-harm prior to follow-up. ConclusionsThis extends work on cognitive ability and mental health, demonstrating that these associations can span the life course and into middle and older age.

Intrinsic Sinus Node/Atrioventricular Node Dysfunction Requiring Pacemaker Implantation: Role of Former Professional Sport Activity.

Sinus bradycardia and first degree or second degree Mobitz type I atrioventricular (AV) block in an athlete are considered adaptive and reversible phenomena; however, some evidence suggests that they may persist after detraining and become pathological. The aim of the study was to investigate the characteristics of a group of former professional athletes who required pacemaker (PM) implantation for intrinsic (idiopathic) sinus node (SN) dysfunction or AV block in comparison to control groups of sedentary individuals. We included all patients who underwent PM implantation during 2022. Three groups were compared: group 1 including 18 former professional athletes who received a PM for SN dysfunction/AV block in the absence of heart disease; group 2 including the first 20 sedentary individuals without heart disease who underwent PM implantation; and group 3 including all other 323 patients who received PM, the majority with underlying heart diseases. Compared to the non-athlete control group 2, the mean age at diagnosis and at the time of PM implantation of former professional athletes did not show statistically significant differences. However, subgroup analysis revealed significant differences depending on the type of sports discipline: the age at diagnosis and at PM implantation was significantly lower in former endurance athletes than former strength/mixed athletes, control non-athletes, and all other patients. Moreover, former endurance professional athletes exhibited a higher prevalence of second or third degree AV block (78%) as the reason for PM implantation compared to power/mixed athletes (44%). The other clinical characteristics, including echocardiographic parameters, did not differ between former athletes and non-athletes. Former professional endurance athletes with idiopathic SN dysfunction/AV block manifested the disease earlier in the life course compared to former power/mixed athletes and non-athletes. This suggests that bradycardia/AV block caused by intense and prolonged endurance sports may not always be benign and adaptive phenomena.

Person-centred integrated care? Looking beyond contemporary needs, wishes and goals. A workshop on the importance of working from a life course perspective in caring neighbourhoods.

Background: The importance of a life course perspective is often not taken into account when detecting the needs, wishes and goals of older adults. Research and practice to date has tended to focus on the 'now'. However, adapting a life-course perspective in person-centred care and caring neighbourhoods could enrich and deepen our understanding of current needs, wishes and goals.&#x0D; Aim: The aim of this workshop is to give insight into the use of a life-course approach in relation to research and practice on person-centred integrated care and caring neighbourhoods. It aims to enthuse participants in using a life-course approach in their future academic and professional work.&#x0D; Participants: This workshop is important for a variety of actors: researchers, practitioners, politicians, older adults. Experience with the subject is not mandatory. The presence of a diverse group enriches our discussions and reflections.&#x0D; Methods:&#x0D; 1.Introduction: The presentation will start with some questions toward the participants. The answers will lead to a presentation of 5 minutes on the use of a life course approach in relation to person-centred integrated care and caring neighbourhoods. (10min)&#x0D; 2.Inspirational presentations: Four examples will be given of how a life-course approach can be used throughout 4 different themes: housing, civic engagement, care and the neighbourhood. Presentations will be interactive. (40min)&#x0D; &#x0D; Ariane Vanbellinghen studies housing and wellbeing through the life-course of older adults. Housing is an essential part in caring neighbourhoods, especially for older adults, where there is often a certain resistance to remodel their current home or relocate.&#x0D; Bas Dikmans focuses on civic engagement of older adults in disadvantaged neighbourhoods, making use of a life course perspective in his research to see how life events facilitate or pose obstacles to civic engagement in later life.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Mikis Dormaels is a life story writer with the senior care team, part of the Center for Mental Health in Brussels. In 2010, "narrative care" as a treatment method was developed and offered to older people in a vulnerable position.&#x0D; Liesbeth De Donder will open the discussion on how to include neighbourhood life stories, as an addition to individual stories, when developing caring neighbourhoods.&#x0D; &#x0D; 3.Round tables: exercises on using a life-course approach (30 min)&#x0D; 4 workshops will be organised. Participants are free to choose which workshop to attend: 1) housing through the life-course, 2) civic engagement through the life-course, 3) narrative care: life stories in mental care and 4) life stories as a neighbourhood mapping tool. &#x0D; We will interact with the audience trough specific exercises on using a specific method, what the benefits and challenges of the method are, how they can integrate it in their own context. Together with the group input, feedback, and own experiences, among others, knowledge will be co-created.&#x0D; Closing: Plenary reflection and summary (10 min)&#x0D; In a plenary session, all the main findings that were collected through the workshop will be shared and a representative of each workshop will summarise the key-messages to take home.&#x0D;

Perspectives on Nurse Retention in Hospitals in the Netherlands: A Qualitative Study

Aim. To explore hospital nurses’ perceptions of working conditions that affect their retention and to identify preconditions for retention across nursing subgroups and informants directly involved in the work that nurses do. Introduction. Understanding why nurses want to stay in their job is essential for hospitals to improve retention and develop policies to combat nursing shortages. Retention barriers are known, but mostly pre-COVID-19 and in specific nursing subgroups, while nursing teams are diverse in life phase, education, and expertise. Materials and Methods. A qualitative study with semistructured focus group interviews with nurses from different hospitals. We held interviews with nursing students and with newly graduated, experienced, specialized, and master-educated nurses. In addition, we held interviews with informants directly involved in the work that nurses do. Results. Three themes concerning the perceptions of working conditions and retention preconditions were identified among subgroups: (1) nurses finding their personal pathway, indicating work that fits individual challenges during the life course and work that matches personal motives and authority and control over professional practice; (2) constructive collaboration within the nursing team and with their manager and physicians; and (3) availability of supportive facilities, e.g., development, professionalization, working environment, and rewards. Conclusion. Elements for retention occur at individual, team, and organizational levels. Nurses find it important that their profession aligns with their personal pathway and are motivated by constructive collaboration in a stimulating team. They emphasized organizational support in realizing career tracks and in active participation in decision-making. These themes are consistent across subgroups and encompass multiple interacting elements. Implications for Nursing Management. By recognizing and understanding what takes place at these different levels, policymakers and managers can develop effective strategies to promote nurse retention and improve healthcare quality. While implementing and monitoring a broad retention program, managers must remain attentive to nurses’ perceptions of retention preconditions amidst changing demographics and the impact of COVID-19.