De Facto Relationship Research Articles

Legal effects of the de facto relationship in Poland

This article is the second in a series of articles dedicated to de facto relationships, i.e. cohabitation, in Poland. The article represents a complex study of Polish legislation, jurisprudence and doctrine regarding the legal effects of these relationships throughout their existence, in particular, in fields of relationships related to property, contract law, tort law, family law, procedural law, labour law, medical law, tax law, executive penal law, housing law, migration law, etc. The importance of jurisprudence standardization is emphasized, in terms of resolving disputes that arise, both during the existence of de facto relationships and after their termination.

P015 Dreams, Nightmares and the Relationship with Death Anxiety and Spiritual practices

Abstract Introduction Dreams that evoke intense negative emotions and anxiety, called nightmares, are often linked to mental health conditions like trauma, anxiety disorders, and death anxiety. Historically, people turned to religious and spiritual practices to address anxieties about death, but there has been a decline in such practices in recent years. This study presents preliminary data investigating the relationship between dreams, nightmares, religious/spiritual practice, and death anxiety. Methods Participants >18 years completed a 20-minute survey via REDCap. The survey collected demographic data and validated questionnaires investigating dreams, nightmares, sleep, insomnia symptoms, religious/spiritual practice, mental health, and death anxiety. Results Preliminary data shows that 67% of the sample were married or in a de facto relationship, consisted of primarily female participants (66%), and only 11% had a diagnosed sleep disorder. 56% had a high engagement in the distinct forms of spiritual/religious practice; this was more evident in females (59% vs 48%). The most common dream for males and females was being chased or pursued. 19% of the sample have a potential nightmare disorder, consistent between the sexes. 25% of people have poor sleep quality (PSQI ≥5); this was more prevalent in males (43% vs 22%). 16% of people had clinical insomnia, which was consistent between the sexes. Finally, 16% of people have clinical death anxiety, with a higher prevalence in females (18% vs 10%). Discussion This study's data will help us understand how dreams and spirituality can help alleviate death anxiety, offering new insights for mental health interventions.

Cotton blue disease from Africa and its de facto relationship with cotton leafroll dwarf virus: a misleading etiological discrepancy

Cotton blue disease from Africa and its de facto relationship with cotton leafroll dwarf virus: a misleading etiological discrepancy

Factors associated with entry to residential care in frail older inpatients.

To examine factors that may influence the risk of discharge to a residential aged care facility (RACF) in a population of frail older inpatients. We analysed data from 5846 inpatients aged over 60 years from 27 hospitals in Queensland, Australia, admitted from independent living and referred for geriatric consultation. Patients underwent an interRAI Acute Care Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment by trained nurses. Frailty was assessed using a 52-item frailty index (FI). Risk/protective factors were determined a priori. Logistic regression assessed the relationship between factors and discharge destination, adjusted for FI, age, sex and hospital. Frailty × risk/protective factor interactions were performed. Patients had a mean (SD) age of 79.7 (8.2) years and a mean (SD) FI of 0.44 (0.14). Twenty-nine per cent (n = 1678) of patients were discharged to an RACF. Each 0.1 increment in FI increased the risk of discharge to an RACF by 54% (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.40-1.68, p < 0.01). Being married or in a de facto relationship had protective effects up to an FI of 0.7, whereas behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) increased the risk of RACF discharge up to an FI of 0.7. Female sex, faecal incontinence and living alone did not influence the relationship between frailty and discharge destination. The association between frailty and discharge to RACF has previously been recognised but here we found that risk and protective factors can influence this association. Whether early identification and management of mutable factors can reduce discharge to RACF should be addressed in future studies.

Can the internet mitigate the negative effect of widowhood on Quality of Life? A gender analysis

Widowhood often reduces the Quality of Life of individuals of advanced ages by negatively affecting their social network ties. Yet conversely, the Internet has also created new opportunities for communication and interaction, thus contributing to improved Quality of Life. This research analyses the role of the Internet in the relationship between widowhood and Quality of Life from a gender perspective.This study focuses on 31,814 individuals aged 65 or over residing in 17 European countries who participated in Wave 6 of SHARE – the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe.The linear regression analyses highlighted that the role of the Internet in the relationship between widowhood and Quality of Life varies according to gender. More specifically, in Europe, the Quality of Life for widowed women aged 65+ using the Internet is .414 higher (CI=.006 to .0822) than widows who do not use the Internet and married women or women in a de facto relationship whether or not they use the Internet. The results have relevant implications for the development of social policies and suggest a need to develop digital inclusion projects targeting older people, particularly widows, to help promote their Quality of Life.

O23 - Ten years of a publicly funded homebirth in Victoria: maternal and neonatal outcomes

The majority of Australian women birth in a hospital, with approximately 1% of women having a homebirth. There are currently 15 publicly-funded homebirth services in Australia. The clinical outcomes of homebirth services are rarely reported. To report maternal and neonatal outcomes of the first ten years of operation of a single publicly funded homebirth program in a large metropolitan health service in Australia, 2009-2019. Retrospective analysis of clinical outcome data of women and their babies who intended to have a homebirth. Case records of all women (n=827) who were identified as wanting a homebirth were included. Maternal, birth, and neonatal outcomes were compared for: (a) women who birthed at home; and (b) those who were referred to the program but did not birth at home. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests were conducted. Of the 827 women seeking homebirth, 621 remained eligible at 36 weeks’ gestation, 562 commenced labour at home, and 483 birthed at home. The women who had a homebirth were more likely to be multiparous, be married or in a de facto relationship, have a normal vaginal birth, have an intact perineum, and less likely to require suturing compared to those who wanted a homebirth but gave birth in hospital. Infants born at home were less likely to require resuscitation and to be of low birth weight, and more likely to be exclusively breastfed in the early days after birth than the infants born in hospital. There was one neonatal death of a baby born at home before arrival of a midwife. The outcomes for women accepted into the publicly funded homebirth program are reassuring and suggest appropriate triaging and case selection. A publicly funded homebirth program, with appropriate governance and clinical guidelines, is a safe option for women experiencing low-risk pregnancies.

The Australian Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (OzFITS) 2021: Study Design, Methods and Sample Description.

(1) Background: Caregiver feeding practices during the first two years of a child’s life influence nutrition, growth, and development, as well as long term taste preferences and dietary patterns. Suboptimal feeding practices lead to poorer health outcomes, such as obesity, that persist into adulthood. Although the importance of early life nutrition is well-established, there are no Australia-wide surveys of dietary intakes of children under two years of age. The 2021 Australian Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (OzFITS) aims to fill this gap. This paper describes the methods and study sample of OzFITS 2021. (2) Methods: OzFITS 2021 is a cross-sectional study of children aged 0 to 23.9 months of age and their caregiver across Australia. Data were collected between April 2020 and April 2021. A telephone-based survey was completed with a caregiver to obtain information on child and caregiver characteristics and feeding practices. For exclusively breastfed infants, the number of breastfeeds in a 24 h period was reported. Dietary intakes for mixed fed children were estimated using a one-day food record, with 30% of caregivers completing a second food record on a non-consecutive day. (3) Results: We enrolled 1140 caregiver and child dyads. Of those eligible to complete a food record, 853 (87%) completed the food record. Compared to the Australian population, caregivers were more likely to be university-educated (>75%), married or in a de facto relationship (94%), and have a household income >$100,000/y (60%). (4) Conclusions: OzFITS 2021 is the first national study to examine food and nutrient intake in Australian children aged under 2 years. The study will provide information on breastfeeding rates and duration, use of breast milk substitutes, and timing of solid food introduction. Dietary intake data will allow the comparison of core food groups and discretionary food intake to Australian guidelines and estimate the prevalence of inadequate intake of key nutrients, like iron. Healthcare practitioners and policymakers can use the study findings as a source of evidence to inform the next iteration of infant feeding guidelines.

TÜRK VE İSVİÇRE MEDENİ KANUNLARINA GÖRE EŞLERİN BİRLİKTE EVLÂT EDİNMESİ KURALI

Modern hukuk sistemlerinde, aile hukuku düzenlemelerinde ve dolayısıyla evlât edinmeye ilişkin düzenlemelerde çocuğun yararının sağlanması ilkesine öncelik verilmektedir. Bununla birlikte farklı toplumsal, sosyal ve kültürel yapılara sahip ülkelerde, söz konusu ilkenin hukukî düzenlemelere yansıması değişiklik göstermektedir. Türk ve İsviçre Medenî Kanunlarının eşlerin birlikte evlât edinmesi kuralı bakımından birbirinden ayrılan yönleri, söz konusu farklı yansımanın örneklerindendir. Türk Medenî Kanunu’nda ve Türk aile hukukunun kaynağı olan İsviçre Medenî Kanunu’nda kural, eşlerin birlikte evlât edinmesidir. Birlikte evlât edinme, eşler için zorunluluk olmakla birlikte; sadece eşlere tanınmış bir haktır. Eşlerin birlikte evlât edinmesi zorunluluğunun temelinde, çocuğun yararı ilkesi yatmaktadır. Böylelikle çocuğun, ana ve babanın bulunduğu gerçek bir aile ortamına kavuşması amaçlanmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, eşlerin birlikte evlât edinmesi kuralının uygulanma koşulları, birlikte evlât edinmenin özel bir türü olan üvey çocuğun evlât edinilmesi ve birlikte evlât edinmenin istisnası, Türk Medenî Kanunu ile İsviçre Medenî Kanunu’na göre karşılaştırmalı olarak incelenmiştir.

Maternal smoking during pregnancy: Trends and determinants in the conception to community study.

Despite earlier declines, maternal smoking during pregnancy continues to be a public health problem. We examined trends and factors associated with maternal smoking during and between pregnancy over six years. Participants were 27 532 pregnant women in Tasmanian public hospitals whose smoking status was gathered by midwives during perinatal care between July 2008 and June 2014. Generalized linear modeling was used to examine the trends in prevalence of maternal smoking over time and factors associated with change in smoking status both within and between pregnancies. Smoking during pregnancy decreased from 25.9% in 2008 to 16.4% in 2014 (57.9% decline). Multivariable regression analysis suggested that maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy, living in a highly socioeconomically disadvantaged area, and being an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander significantly increased the risk of maternal smoking during pregnancy. Being older, married, or in a de facto relationship, and intending to breastfeed were associated with reduced risk of smoking during pregnancy. Between index (first birth recorded in data set) and last pregnancy, 35.1% of smokers quit, but 5.1% of nonsmokers started smoking. Only 8.1% of mothers who smoked during the first half of pregnancy quit by the second half. Maternal smoking during pregnancy is decreasing. To sustain the decline, preventive efforts must address the role of social determinants of health (eg, mothers who drink alcohol, live in highly disadvantaged areas, are younger and single) among women who smoke during pregnancy.

De Facto Marriage: When Ending a Cohabitation Costs as Much as a Divorce

I look at the effects of making the exit costs of cohabitation as high as divorce on new and existing partnerships. I exploit the Family Law Amendment Act, introduced in Australia in 2008, as an exogenous shock to the cost of exiting cohabitation. This law defines cohabiting partnerships as de facto relationships and makes the termination of a de facto relationship equivalent to a divorce. I hence exploit the time discontinuity produced by the reform to identify its effects on the stability of new and existing couples. I find that when terminating a cohabitation becomes as costly as getting divorced, (i) new unions are more stable (ii) existing cohabitants affected by the reform in their third year are more likely to split, while (iii) the probability of starting a cohabitation and the duration of premarital cohabitation do not change. This paper is the first to look at changes in the exit cost of cohabitation and it does it while disentangling the effect on new and existing partnerships.

Fatherhood too soon. Anxiety, depression and quality of life in fathers of preterm and term babies: a longitudinal study

Introduction Fathers are increasingly recognized as playing a critical role in the family unit and emotional development of children. The birth of a preterm baby can be confronting, yet there is limited research that explores how preterm birth might impact on father’s emotional wellbeing and quality of life. The aim of the study was to monitor quality of life and psychological wellbeing in a group of fathers to explore if a preterm birth altered outcomes in these two domains. Methods Institutional ethics committee approval was obtained. Australian men (N = 1000) were recruited in the antenatal period via their pregnant partner, and completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) in the third trimester and again 6 weeks after the birth of their baby. Birth records were independently audited to determine which fathers experienced preterm birth. Results Data was available for 1000 and 950 fathers at each time point. Overall, 72 (7.2%) of fathers experienced preterm birth and 928 (92.8%) had a term birth. Fathers of preterm infants were significantly older (p = 0.002) and less likely to be married or in a defacto relationship (p = 0.043). Preterm babies were more likely to be delivered by cesarean section, have a low birthweight and require admission to a special care or neonatal intensive care unit (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in HADS total, anxiety or depression subscale and SWLS scores in the antenatal period. Six weeks after the birth, fathers of preterm babies were significantly more likely to meet the case criteria for anxiety compared to fathers of term babies (25 vs. 12%, p = 0.02). This was due to persisting anxiety in preterm fathers (p < 0.001). They also reported significantly lower SWLS scores compared to fathers of term infants (27.31 vs. 27.88, p = 0.011). However, there were no differences in depression or HADS total scores. Conclusion Following birth of a preterm baby, persisting anxiety may affect quality of life of fathers. Routine screening of fathers of preterm babies may identify men who could benefit from referral for psychological intervention.

A love interrupted: A Tribe Called Quest’s resilient path of rhythm

In 2016, the rap group A Tribe Called Quest returned with their long-awaited sixth and final album, We Got It From Here... Thank You 4 Your Service. Behind it was a long and turbulent story without which the record’s full significance cannot be properly understood. In this longform critical essay, hip hop scholar and critic James McNally examines that history, drawing on an extensive archive of historic interviews and visual material to illuminate the impact this pivotal group made on hip hop’s golden age. It maps the disruption in music and values created by the freewheeling collective they belonged to, the Native Tongues; in particular the new, looser, more expressive modes of Blackness and everyteen vitality they injected into hip hop’s late-1980s moral and stylistic universe. Unpacking the tropes of familiality the Native Tongues promoted, the essay is drawn in particular to the de facto sibling relationship between Tribe’s two core MCs – Malik ‘Phife’ Taylor and Kamaal ‘Q-Tip’ Fareed (born Jonathan Davis). It argues their friendship – as ultimately embodied in the sound of Tribe’s music, but also, increasingly, as public biographical knowledge – was central to the group’s appeal. Engaging with their fraternal ambivalence as well as their love, and with the group’s drawn-out implosion after 1998’s The Love Movement, the essay explores themes around masculine friendship and platonic male love, around estrangement, reconciliation and resilience, and, ultimately – following the interruption of We Got It From Here… by Taylor’s untimely death – the personal tragedy of loss. Bringing these themes together, ‘A Love Interrupted’ provides a critical reading of A Tribe Called Quest’s poignant final album.

Factors associated with engagement in online self-help programs among people with suicidal thoughts

BackgroundThe effectiveness of internet-based self-help programs for mental health may be limited by low engagement. Identifying factors associated with engagement in online interventions assists in developing strategies to improve efficacy through greater engagement. The aim of the current study was to identify factors associated with engagement among people with suicidal thoughts who completed an online program. Method418 adults with suicidal ideation were recruited online into a randomized controlled trial of a 6-week internet-based self-help program. Program usage for the intervention and active control conditions was measured as the number of logins and modules accessed. Predictors of program usage and between-group differences were examined, including sociodemographic variables, user preferences and mental health status. ResultsBoth the control group and the intervention group accessed approximately three modules (M = 3.1, SD = 2.0 v. M = 2.8, SD = 2.1, respectively), although participants in the intervention group had a significantly higher number of logins (17.3 vs 9.7, p < 0.001). Across both conditions, individuals with more severe suicidal thoughts had better engagement with their respective program. More logins for both programs were also associated with being female, married or in a de-facto relationship, not employed, less severe depression and less willingness to seek help from informal sources. LimitationsMetrics of adherence may not directly reflect engagement with the program. There may be additional unmeasured factors associated with engagement. ConclusionsThe findings suggest that different engagement strategies may be required depending on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Tailoring interventions to at-risk subgroups may optimise health and functional outcomes.

The Impact of Age, Gender, and Marital Status on Age-Associated Cognitive Decline

Age-associated cognitive decline is a normal, non-pathological and inevitable human occurrence. Therefore, it remains a research priority to assess the role of certain protective factors, such as age, gender, and marital status, that influence age-associated cognitive decline to intervene in the stemming of its progress and guide theory, policy, and practice. The study used a dissociative paradigm, using two measures to assess both short-term and visuo-spatial memory, to clarify the unestablished results of whether cognitive ageing occurs in one subsystem (i.e., modular) or across the whole brain (i.e., generalised). Participants (N = 126; 79 females and 46 males) from Sydney, New South Wales were recruited and divided into three age groups: 18 - 27, 27 - 62, and 62+. Participants completed an online questionnaire, with computer administered tasks, assessing visuo-spatial and short-term memory. A Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) revealed no significant covariate effects; covariates entered included participants’ total scores from psychometrically established measures addressing engagement with social networks, depressive symptomology, personal wellbeing, and resilience. Consistent with previous findings, results from a Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) supported the notion that being married is a protective factor in slowing down the progression of age-associated cognitive decline (i.e., visuo-spatial memory), in comparison to being single or in a de facto relationship. Older adults who were married performed lower on visuo-spatial memory tasks than younger adults. Support for the generalised model of ageing was revealed. Future directions and implications of the study’s findings indicate the need to maximise protective interventions for those who are single or in a de facto relationship, and the brain as a whole system, to prevent unwarranted cognitive decline.

Outcomes of a randomized controlled trial assessing a smartphone Application to reduce unmet needs among people diagnosed with CancEr (ACE).

BackgroundSmartphone technology represents an opportunity to deliver practical solutions for people affected by cancer at a scale that was previously unimaginable, such as information, appointment monitoring, and improved access to cancer support services. This study aimed to determine whether a smartphone application (app) reduced the unmet needs among people newly diagnosed with cancer.MethodsA single blind, multisite randomized controlled trial to determine the impact of an app‐based, 4‐month intervention. Newly diagnosed cancer patients were approached at three health service treatment clinics.ResultsEighty‐two people were randomized (intervention; n = 43 and control; n = 39), average age was 59.5 years (SD: 12.9); 71% female; 67% married or in a de facto relationship. At baseline, there were no differences in participants’ characteristics between the groups. No significant effects, in reducing unmet needs, were demonstrated at the end of intervention (4‐month) or 12‐month follow‐up. Overall, 94% used the app in weeks 1‐4, which decreased to 41% in weeks 13‐16. Mean app use time per participant: Cancer Information, 6.9 (SD: 18.9) minutes; Appointment Schedule, 5.1 (SD: 9.6) minutes; Cancer Services 1.5 minutes (SD: 6.8); Hospital Navigation, 1.4 (SD: 2.8) minutes.ConclusionsDespite consumer involvement in the design of this smartphone technology, the app did not reduce unmet needs. This may have been due to the study being underpowered. To contribute to a meaningful understanding and improved implementation of smartphone technology to support people affected by cancer, practical considerations, such as recruitment issues and access to, and confidence with, apps, need to be considered.Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registration (ACTRN) Trial Registration: 12616001251415; WEF 7/9/2016.

Screening for sexual health concerns in survivors of gynecological cancer.

To assess the impact of a screening tool, the Brief Sexual Symptom Checklist for Women, on referral rates to physiotherapists, sexual counselors, and psychologists for sexual issues among patients attending the practices of two gynecological oncologists. A prospective observational cohort study. A retrospective cohort of consecutive patients matched for age, diagnosis, and stage was used as a control group. Seventy-eight women were recruited to the intervention group. Diagnoses were endometrial carcinoma (38%), ovarian carcinoma (33%), and cervical carcinoma (24%). Sixty percent had completed adjuvant treatment, and 89% were married or in a de facto relationship. More than half of participants reported at least one sexual difficulty and were not satisfied with their sexual function. The most commonly reported sexual issue was decreased sexual desire. Twelve of 77 (15%) women screened in the intervention group were referred to a sexual counselor and/or a physiotherapist for a sexual issue. Twelve percent of women in the intervention group were referred to a sexual counselor, compared with 5% in the control group (p = 0.072). There was no difference in the proportion of women referred to a pelvic floor physiotherapist between the two groups (8% of women in the intervention group vs. 8% in the control group; p = 1.000). In the current study, the Brief Sexual Symptom Checklist for Women identified sexual health concerns in over half of gynecological cancer survivors and resulted in a non-significant trend to more referrals for sexual counseling.

An energy flow approach for progressive collapse assessment

This paper explains the correlation of energy flow and the rate energy flow to the susceptibility of progressive collapse (PC) for typical mid-rise steel framed buildings. Energy-time histories of structural members were analysed to determine the energy flow behaviour throughout the structural system. All structural elements, including all connections, were represented numerically to (more accurately) determine the building’s susceptibility to PC, including the sequence of failing members. Assessing PC susceptibility with the incorporation of the rate of energy flow for a structure that accounts for the effects of connection resistance functions constitutes a novel approach. Advanced nonlinear transient dynamic finite element simulations were used to reveal the energy flow and its flow rate, and the de facto relationship with building response and failure. In addition, the efficacy of the current DOD approaches for PC assessment are examined in a comparative study with the proposed energy flow approach.

In flag-rante: Julia Gillard and the infamous ‘flag scene’ in ABC’s At Home with Julia

Abstract In 2011, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation financed and produced a controversial sitcom based on the life, characteristics, and politics of incumbent Prime Minister Julia Gillard. At Home with Julia (2011) examined Gillard’s private life by fictionalizing her de facto relationship with partner Tim Mathieson. Before, during, and after it aired, the series became a media spectacle as print, digital and broadcast journalists debated the propriety of the parody/satire. Media hype peaked in response to a fleeting scene in which the main characters appear cuddling under the Australian flag. Drawing on scholarship about postfeminism, this article examines the representation of single/unmarried women in popular culture and the characterization of political women in television dramas. The media commentary surrounding At Home with Julia denounced the ‘flag scene’ in the strongest terms, yet this reportage also conveyed an underlying unease towards the series’ candid depiction of sexuality. Most significantly, journalists collectively failed to adequately distinguish between Gillard, the prime minister, and ‘Julia’, the fictional character. Such a failure, this article suggests, enabled and excused the media’s subsequent and far more visceral sexualization of Australia’s first female prime minister. Although the public clearly understood the fictional premise of At Home with Julia, the Australian media fabricated a ‘sex’ scandal that came to be read onto the body of Gillard herself.

Health status of people who have provided informal care or support to an adult with chronic disease in the last 5 years: results from a population-based cross-sectional survey in South Australia.

Objective The aim of the present study was to compare the health status of South Australians with recent experience of caring for an adult with chronic disease with non-carers drawn from the same population. Methods Data were collected via the South Australian Health Omnibus, an annual population-based, cross-sectional survey. Respondents were asked whether they had provided care or support in the last 5 years to someone with cancer, heart disease, respiratory disease, mental illness, neurological disease or dementia. Health status was measured using the Short Form-12 version 1 (SF-12) physical and mental component scale summary scores (PCS and MCS respectively), with poor health status defined as ≥0.5 standard deviation below the normative mean. Logistic regression explored characteristics associated with poor health status. Results Of 3033 respondents analysed, 987 (32.5%) reported caring experience. Poor PCS and MCS were associated with carer status, lower-than-degree-level education, employment status other than employed and annual household income less than A$60000. Being Australian born was a protective factor for PCS, whereas factors protective for MCS were being married or in a de facto relationship and age ≥65 years. Conclusions Providing care or support in the last 5 years is independently associated with poorer health status, but not with the magnitude found in studies of current carers. Future research should explore health status recovery after completion of the caring role, and investigate whether relationships between health and socioeconomic status differ for carers versus non-carers. What is known about the topic? Population-based survey studies in Australia and overseas have consistently found that informal carers have worse health status than non-carers. What does this paper add? Including recent as well as current carers in a population-based sample was associated with less effect on health status compared with studies focused on current carers only. This finding is consistent with the possibility that health status recovers during the 5 years after caring. What are the implications for practitioners? Support for Australian carers is warranted to ensure their continuing contributions to society and return to productivity after their caring role is completed.

Who enrols and graduates from web-based pharmacy education – Experiences from Northern Sweden

IntroductionAs a response to the shortage of prescriptionists in Northern Sweden, a web-based Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy program was introduced at Umeå University in 2003. This study explored who is likely to enrol and graduate from the web-based bachelor program and whether the program has addressed the shortage of prescriptionists in rural Northern Sweden. MethodsData from three different sources were included in this study; the initial cohort including students admitted to the program in 2003 (survey), the entire cohort including all people admitted to the program between 2003 and 2014 (university's admissions data) and the alumni cohort including graduates who participated in an alumni survey in 2015. ResultsA typical student of the web-based pharmacy program is female, over 30 years of age, married or in a de-facto relationship and has children. Furthermore, the students graduating before 2009 were more likely to live in Northern Sweden compared to those graduating later. Discussion and conclusionThe results indicate that the introduction of a web-based bachelor of pharmacy program at Umeå University was to some extent able to address the shortage of prescriptionists in Northern Sweden. Web-based education may potentially help address the maldistribution of health professionals by providing flexible education opportunities.