Professionals In Sweden Research Articles

Motståndets motstånd

This article focuses on how gendered power operates in the neoliberal welfare regime and the circumstances created for welfare professionals in Sweden to act politically. Based on interviews with key informants in two cases of collective resistance among midwives and social workers, attention is focused on the practices of power used by politicians and managers. Drawing on resistance theory and concepts developed through previous research on equality, the result shows how fear is created and used and how distance is upheld through different techniques of power, which serve to prevent both collective mobilization and avoid these issues of deteriorated working conditions and care being politicized in terms of inequality

Strategic analysis of barriers and solutions to development of sustainable buildings using PESTLE technique

The construction industry is growing and due to its devastating impacts on environment, the development of sustainable buildings is imperative. Nonetheless, the number of sustainable buildings is still few compared to conventional buildings. This study analyses the barriers to development of sustainable buildings and solutions to lessen these barriers. To that end, barriers were classified into political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental barriers using the PESTLE technique. Then, questionnaires were emailed to the industry professionals in Sweden, United States and New Zealand to evaluate the impact of 42 barriers and 20 solutions on development of sustainable buildings. Findings showed that the most important barriers were social and economic barriers, including ‘long payback period and investment risks’, ‘high initial costs’ and ‘lack of demand for sustainable buildings’ and the most effective solutions were, ‘financial incentives from government’, ‘using past successful sustainable projects as references’ and ‘engaging professionals and staff with sustainable building experience’. Also using Building Information Modelling (BIM) technology in projects could help reducing barriers. This study analysed the barriers affecting the development of sustainable buildings in developed countries, but it also provides a comprehensive reference and new insight for further studies on sustainable building development in developing countries.

A comprehensive model for assessing the quality in higher education institutions

PurposeThis study aims to propose a comprehensive model for assessing the quality of academic programs in higher education institutions (HEIs) by adopting the TQM philosophy.Design/methodology/approachBased on a sample of 377 responses from higher education academics, experts and professionals in Sweden, partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique was used to empirically test the proposed hypotheses and validate the model.FindingsThe model reveals that the input-based factors have a stronger impact on the process-based factors; while process-based factors have less impact on the output-based factors. The input-based factors: adoption of international pedagogy standards (IPS), education infrastructure (EDI), and work/study environment (WSE) through the process-based factors quality of students (QOS) and quality of faculty staff (QFS) is found to have a significant impact on output-based factor quality of academic programs (QAP).Research limitations/implicationsThis study has been conducted in Sweden. Inclusion of other countries provides opportunities for further analysis by conducting cross-comparison between different cultures in higher education, and including additional stakeholders such as policymakers, parents and students.Practical implicationsThis research also contributes to practice by providing an in-depth understanding of the relationships among variables that affect the quality of academic programs in HEIs, and provides insights to internally assess the quality levels of their academic programsOriginality/valueThis study contributes to the knowledge by providing a holistic view in which it integrates input, process and output perspectives in a conceptual model to assess the quality of academic programs at the higher education level.

Centralizing Government Communication? Evidence from Finland and Sweden

How governments manage their communication is one crucial indicator of the balance of power within the cabinet and inside the executive branch as a whole. Existing research offers few insights into the process by which governments come to choose one form of communication over another and about the factors driving centralization. This article addresses this gap through a comparison of two countries, Finland and Sweden, examining not only the organizational forms of government communication but also the causal mechanisms at work. Combining theoretical lessons from studies in political communication, political science, and public administration, it develops a centralization argument, focusing on the centripetal factors facilitating coordination and control. Drawing on over 40 interviews with journalists and political or media advisors in the two countries and on government documents, the article offers clear evidence of a trend toward centralization, particularly in Sweden. This trend should be understood as part of a broader process whereby prime ministers and their offices establish stronger control of the entire executive branch.Related ArticlesHankivsky, Olena. 2013. “Gender Mainstreaming: A Five‐Country Examination.” Politics & Policy 41 (5): 629‐655. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12037König, Pascal D., and Georg Wenzelburger. 2014. “Toward a Theory of Political Strategy in Policy Analysis.” Politics & Policy 42 (3): 400‐430. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12076Selling, Niels, and Stefan Svallfors. 2019. “The Lure of Power: Career Paths and Considerations among Policy Professionals in Sweden.” Politics & Policy 47 (5): 984‐1012. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12325

Attitudes among paediatric healthcare professionals in Sweden towards sperm donation to single women: a survey study

BackgroundThe number of families conceived through sperm donation to single women is increasing. However, there is limited knowledge about health care professionals’ attitudes towards solo-mothers by choice, and there is some indication that professionals’ personal opinions influence their care of individuals who use alternate ways to build a family. The primary aim of the study was to investigate attitudes towards, and experiences of, families following sperm donation to single women among healthcare professionals working in primary child healthcare.MethodsBetween April and November 2016 a total of 712 physicians, registered nurses and psychologists working within primary healthcare in Sweden were invited to participate in a cross-sectional online survey study. The study-specific questionnaire contained the following four domains: Attitudes towards legalization and financing, Attitudes towards the family and the child’s health, Clinical experience and Knowledge about sperm donation to single women.ResultsThe majority of the participants were positive or neutral towards sperm donation being allowed to single women in Sweden. However, one third believed that children risk worse mental health and social stigma. Half of healthcare professionals had own clinical experience of caring for solo-mothers by choice and their children, and of these one third perceived that these families had more need of support than other parents. One out of four indicated that they did not have sufficient knowledge to be able to provide adequate care to these families.ConclusionsThe present results indicate that while there was a relatively large support for sperm donation being allowed to single women in Sweden among health care professionals, many expressed concerns about the child’s health, as well as low confidence in their knowledge about the specific needs in this patient group. There is a need for educational interventions targeted to healthcare professionals in primary child healthcare in order to provide adequate care to solo-mothers by choice and their children.

Perceptive Dialogue for Linking Stakeholders and Units During Care Transitions - A Qualitative Study of People with Stroke, Significant Others and Healthcare Professionals in Sweden.

Introduction:Care transitions are a complex set of actions that risk poor quality outcomes for patients and their significant others. This study explored the transition process between hospital and continued rehabilitation in the home. The process is explored from the perspectives of people with stroke, significant others and healthcare professionals in Stockholm, Sweden.Method:Focus group interviews (n = 10), semi-structured individual interviews (n = 23) and interviews in dyad (n = 4) were conducted with healthcare professionals, people with stroke and significant others, altogether 71 participants. Data was collected and analyzed using Grounded Theory.Results:One core category “Perceptive dialogue for a coordinated transition”, and two categories “Synthesis of parallel processes for common understanding” and “The forced transformation from passive attendant to uninformed agent” emerged from the analysis. The transition consisted of several parallel processes which made it difficult for the stakeholders to get a common understanding of the transition as a whole. Enabling a perceptive dialogue was as a prerequisite for the creation of a common understanding of the care transition.Conclusion:This study elucidates that a perceptive dialogue with patients/significant others as well as within and across organizations is part of a coordinated and person-centred transition. There is an extensive need for increased involvement of patients and significant others regarding dialogue about health conditions, procedures at the hospital and preparation for self-management after discharge.

Theoretical knowledge and self-assessed ability to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a survey among 3044 healthcare professionals in Sweden.

Theoretical knowledge and ability to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are unknown with regard to provided training. The aim of this study was to evaluate in-hospital healthcare professionals' (HCPs) theoretical knowledge of CPR and their self-assessed ability to perform CPR and also to assess possible affecting factors. A questionnaire was sent to n = 5323 HCPs containing a nine-question knowledge test and a Likert scale measuring self-assessed ability. A factor score of self-assessed ability and a ratio scale of correct answers were dependent variables in multiple linear regression. Only 41% of the responding HCPs passed the knowledge test with seven or more correct answers. Nurses had the highest pass rate (50%) and the highest attendance rate at CPR training (56%). The ability to perform defibrillation was strongly agreed by 43% and the ability of leadership by only 7%. Working on a monitored ward, CPR training 0-6 months ago and being a nurse or physician were factors associated with more correct answers and higher ratings of abilities. The overall theoretical knowledge was poor and ratings of self-assessed abilities to perform CPR were low. Working on a monitored ward, recently attended CPR training and being a nurse or physician were factors associated with higher theoretical knowledge and higher ratings of self-assessed ability to perform CPR. These findings imply prioritisation of CPR training.

3. When conflicting ideologies on body and sexuality are at stake: Sexual-health counselling targeting young women with FGC in Sweden

The starting point of this study is challenges that may arise from culturally conflicting ideas about health, body and sexuality in multicultural societies. We explore how such challenges take shape, using as a case the provision of sexual-health counselling in Sweden targeting young women with female genital cutting (FGC). Currently, professionals in Sweden are required to work with both prevention and support in relation to women with FGC. They are guided by policies that embed culture-specific ideas about sexuality, body and health, including powerful messages labelling cut women as sexually and bodily imperfect. Such messages, studies have shown, may have a negative impact on body image and sexual health among concerned women. This has important implications for professionals' encounters with young cut, sexually inexperienced women, as they are in a state of developing their own sexual self-image. Of interest in this empirical exploration is: How are dominant ideas about FGC and its alleged impact on sexuality, played out in practice? How do professionals handle conflicting cultural ideas about FGC and sexuality in encounters? And, is it possible to work empowering and preventive against FGC without evoking body shame or feelings of loss of sexual capacity among those concerned?

Exploring the antecedents of the mental health of business professionals in Sweden.

Business professionals are an important occupational group that carries responsibility for the economic welfare of organizations and of society at large. These professionals have recently been reported to be experiencing increased mental strain, which may have a significant effect on the role they play in organizations and in society. Understanding the causes of this strain is thus an important endeavour. This study explores the antecedents of the mental health of business professionals. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between business professionals' mental health and its demographic, work-related, and other triggers. T-tests and descriptive statistics were used to explore the gender of the respondents in relation to these triggers and mental health. Compared with their male counterparts, female business professionals report poorer mental health; however, no gender differences were found in job satisfaction or life satisfaction. According to this study, age, overtime pay, higher salary and position as a manager have a positive relation with mental health, whereas working overtime has a negative relation with mental health. Job satisfaction and life satisfaction are important determinants of the mental health of business professionals. Business professionals are important to the economic welfare of their organization and of society as a whole. Our study suggests that demographic characteristics, work-related aspects and subjective dimensions of well-being have a profound effect on the mental health of business professionals.

Understanding racism in Swedish healthcare

Abstract Background Despite the removal of the term ’race’ from statutory documents in Sweden, after the Second World War, racism continues to exist in various institutions including healthcare. Racism can persist in the absence of a biological notion of ’race’ but becomes harder to explain when there is no official recognition. There is evidence of discrimination by patients and healthcare professionals, although fragmented and under-researched. As healthcare should be built on equity and solidarity, accounts of racism constitute a serious breach. Our research focuses on conceptualising racism in healthcare in Sweden to develop means of improving equity in care for populations characterised by migration-driven diversity. Methods Data from 28 qualitative interviews with both patients and healthcare professionals in Sweden was collected. Results Preliminary results indicate that patients from minority ethnic groups report that healthcare providers deem their symptoms as insignificant, due to their ethnicity. Consequently, they experience a loss of integrity and trust in healthcare, often leading them to avoid seeking healthcare. Healthcare professionals conceptualise racism in varied ways, ranging from denying racism, normalising and individualising racism to viewing racism as a structural problem. Patients did not report their experiences of racism, as racism was often subtle. Likewise, healthcare professionals mostly chose not to report their experiences for fear of being constructed as difficult colleagues. Conclusions The lack of space for discussing racism within healthcare constitutes a problem for healthcare professionals and patients and contributes to rendering experiences of racism invisible. This may be detrimental for achieving responsive healthcare and creates an unhealthy working environment for some healthcare professionals. Key messages Promoting a constructive dialogue on racism in healthcare. Aiding in developing anti-racist practices in healthcare.

The Lure of Power: Career Paths and Considerations among Policy Professionals in Sweden

This article analyzes career paths and career considerations among policy professionals in Sweden. It builds on a longitudinal dataset where the professionals' careers are mapped and interviews conducted over a six‐year period. We found that: (1) skills such as the ability to navigate the political system make policy professionals employable in a variety of organizations; (2) considerations regarding different aspects of power were central to their career decisions; and (3) the barriers in their labor market are related to ideological commitments, loyalties, and value hierarchies that make policy professionals reluctant to move anywhere their skills could take them.Related ArticlesCorbett, Jack. 2013. “Politicians and Professionalization in the Pacific Islands: Revisiting Self‐Regulation?” Politics & Policy 41 (6): 852‐876. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12050Francia, Peter L., and Paul S. Herrnson. 2007. “Candidate Attitudes toward Negative Campaigning.” Politics & Policy 35 (2): 246‐272. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2007.00059.xSvallfors, Stefan. 2016. “Out of the Golden Cage: PR and the Career Opportunities of Policy Professionals.” Politics & Policy 44 (1): 56‐73. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12149

Attitudes towards embryo donation among healthcare professionals working in child healthcare: a survey study

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to investigate attitudes towards embryo donation and embryo donation families among professionals working in primary child healthcare, and their experiences of these families.MethodsA cross-sectional online survey was conducted in Sweden between April and November 2016. A total of 712 primary healthcare physicians, registered nurses and psychologists were approached to participate in this study. The study-specific questionnaire measured attitudes and experiences in the following four domains: legalisation and financing, the family and the child’s health, clinical experience of meeting families following embryo donation, and knowledge of embryo donation.ResultsOf the 189 women and 18 men who completed the questionnaire (response rate 29%), relatively few (13%) had clinical experience of caring for families following embryo donation. Overall, 69% supported legalisation of embryo donation for infertile couples, and 54% agreed it should be publicly funded. The majority (88%) agreed the child should have the right to know the donors’ identity. Respondents did not believe that children conceived through embryo donation are as healthy as other children (50%), citing the risks of poor mental health (17%) and social stigmatization (18%). Approximately half reported low confidence in their own knowledge of embryo donation (47%) and wanted to know more (58%).ConclusionsThese results indicate relatively large support among healthcare professionals in Sweden for the legalisation of embryo donation. In order to provide adequate healthcare to families following embryo donation, there is a need to develop educational resources to increase knowledge about the medical and psychosocial consequences of embryo donation among healthcare professionals working in primary healthcare.

Uncommon sense: A review of challenges and opportunities for aggregating disaster risk information

The ambition to integrate disaster risk information from multiple stakeholders exists at different scales in any country and serve to control the risk of losses within companies, organizations and countries as a whole. Against the backdrop of extensive deliberations with risk management professionals in Sweden, this paper is based on an interdisciplinary scoping study of literature aimed to enhance our understanding about and possibility of aggregating disaster risk information from organizations across administrative levels and societal sectors. Whilst conceiving that aggregation involves collecting and synthesizing information, the paper exposes a number of barriers and opportunities related to these processes. Major impediments include unawareness of information needs, fragmented and highly distributed knowledge; distrust, prestige and secrecy, lack of empirical and quantitative data, heterogeneous ways of assessing and describing risk as well as the vast volume of information vis-à-vis the time and cognitive abilities available to process it. Remedial measures include multi-stakeholder risk assessment processes, trainings and exercises, allowances and regulations as catalysts for inter-organizational collaboration, trainings on the management of sensitive information, standardizations and the increased use of visualizations and GIS to support analysis and presentation of disaster risk information. The paper highlights existing research that may be particularly conducive for addressing problems communicated by risk management professionals as well as concerns that hitherto have not been thoroughly addressed by research. It also stresses the need to further strengthen the rigor of normative proposals by establishing cause-effect relationships and the influence of contextual factors.

Digital Health and the Embodying of Professionalism: Avatars as Health Professionals in Sweden

This paper explores virtual health professionals (VHPs), digital health technology software, in Swedish health care. The aim is to analyze how health professionalism is (re)negotiated through avatar embodiments of VHPs and to explore the informants’ notions of what a health professional is, behaves and looks like. The paper builds on ethnographic fieldwork with informants working directly or indirectly with questions of digital health technology and professionalism. Discourse theory is used to analyze the material. Subjectification, authenticity, and diversity were found to be crucial for informants to articulate health professionalism when discussing human avatars, professional attire, gendered and ethnified embodiments. The informants attempted to make the VHPs credibly professional but inauthentcally human. A discursive struggle over health professionalism between patient choice and diversity within health care was identified where the patient’s choice of avatars—if based on prejudices—might threaten healthcare professionalism and healthcare professionals by (re)producing racism and sexism.

Workplace bullying among healthcare professionals in Sweden: a descriptive study.

Workplace bullying is a taboo event which occurs worldwide, although the prevalence varies significantly between and within countries. Nurses have been regarded an occupational risk group for bullying at the work place. Bullying in health and social care contexts is sometimes reported as frequent and, other times, as not occurring, which sparked our interest in mapping the occurrence of bullying in the health and social care system in Sweden. Thus, the purpose of the study was to examine the prevalence of bullying, and to discuss cultural traditions and environmental factors that affect bullying in workplaces. The sample (n=2810) consisted of employees at inpatient wards at four hospitals, and employees at municipal eldercare wards in Sweden. A questionnaire including NAQ-22 R was distributed and subsequently analysed with descriptive statistics using SPSS. The youngest group of respondents scored higher than the older groups. Using contrasting estimates of bullying, the prevalence varied between 4.1 and 18.5%, with the lowest prevalence in regards to self-reported exposure. According to the cut-off scores, NAQ-22 R, 8.6% of the respondents were occasionally exposed to bullying while 2.3% were considered to be victims of severe bullying. Work-related negative acts were more common than personal negative acts. The variations in prevalence of bullying as a result of contrasting estimation strategies are discussed from perspective of the 'law of Jante', the 'tall poppy syndrome' and shame. Bullying deteriorates the working conditions which may have an impact on quality of patient care.

Factors influencing use of telegenetic counseling: perceptions of health care professionals in Sweden

Genetic counseling services are increasing in demand and limited in access due to barriers such as lack of professional genetic counselors, vast geographic distances, and physical hurdles. This research focuses on an alternative mode of delivery for genetic counseling in Sweden, in order to overcome some of the mentioned barriers. The aim of this study is to identify factors that influence the implementation and use of telegenetic counseling in clinical practice, according to health care professionals in Southeast Sweden. Telegenetic counseling refers to the use of video-conferencing as a means to provide genetic counseling. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews with 16 genetic counseling providers took place and phenomenographic analysis was applied. Significant excerpts were identified in each transcript, which led to sub-categories that constructed the main findings. Three categories emerged from the data: (1) requirements for optimal use, (2) impact on clinical practice, and (3) patient benefits. Each category consists of two or three sub-categories, in total seven sub-categories. These findings could potentially be used to improve access and uptake of telegenetic counseling in Sweden and in other countries with a similar health care system. This could benefit not only remote patient populations, as described in previous research, but also large family groups and patients experiencing obstacles in accessing genetic counseling, such as those with a psychiatric illness or time constraints, and be a useful way to make genetic counseling available in the new era of genomics.

Mobile Technology for Social Inclusion of Migrants in the Age of Globalization: A Case Study of Newly Arrived Healthcare Professionals in Sweden

Mobile Technology for Social Inclusion of Migrants in the Age of Globalization: A Case Study of Newly Arrived Healthcare Professionals in Sweden

How Can Safer Care Be Achieved? Patient Safety Officers' Perceptions of Factors Influencing Patient Safety in Sweden.

This study aimed to survey health care professionals in Sweden on the factors that they believe have been most important in reaching the current level of patient safety and achieving safer care in the future as well as the characteristics of the county councils that have been the most successful in achieving safe care. The study population consisted of 222 patient safety officers, that is, health care professionals with strategic positions in patient safety work in the county councils. A postal questionnaire was used for data collection. The survey response rate was 70%. The factors that were considered most important for the current level of patient safety were efforts to reduce the use of antibiotics; Swedish patient safety law; and internal discussions with the county council management, heads of health care units, health care providers, and so on. The factors that were considered most important to achieve safer care in the future were improved communication between health care practitioners and patients, improved organizational culture, improved communication, and patient safety knowledge as a compulsory component of basic education for health care practitioners. Several factors rated highly for achieving the current level of patient safety are part of the government-supported financial incentive plan. Patient safety is attributed to a broad range of factors, and many solutions might contribute to improved patient safety in the future. The most successful county councils are characterized by leadership support for patient safety, well-organized patient safety work, long-term commitment to patient safety, and an organizational culture that is conducive to patient safety.

Transgender and gender diverse people's experience of non-transition-related health care in Sweden

ABSTRACTIntroduction: The transgender population is a marginalized group in society and research suggests that they experience significant barriers when accessing health care. However, little is known about transgender and gender-diverse people and their experiences of encounters with healthcare professionals in Sweden.Aim: To explore transgender and gender-diverse people's experiences of accessing health care in Sweden.Method: Semi-structured interviews with 12 self-identified transgender or gender-diverse individuals were analyzed in a latent thematic analysis.Results: Participants experienced difficulties in having their gender identity acknowledged in encounters with healthcare staff. Most healthcare professionals were believed to lack knowledge about transgender people, and participants felt they needed to take a lot of responsibility themselves to ensure they received adequate care. Due to negative experiences, or fear of them, some participants delayed seeking health care or they chose to withhold their transgender identity during healthcare consultations.Discussion: Participants’ experiences suggest that healthcare professionals in Sweden may be insufficiently equipped to provide competent and gender affirming care for transgender individuals. There appears to be an urgent need for interventions specifically designed to improve the quality of health care for these individuals. Further research is needed to determine what specific interventions would be most effective, and to elucidate the specific needs of differing groups within the transgender community to promote optimal care for each person.

Workplace Skill Investments – An Early Career Glass Ceiling? Job Complexity and Wages Among Young Professionals in Sweden

Despite higher educational investments, women fall behind men on most indicators of labour market success. This study investigates whether workplace skill investments set men and women off on different tracks in which the human capital acquired through higher education is either devalued or further developed. A survey sample of Swedish men and women who recently graduated from five educational programmes, leading to occupations with different gender composition, is analysed ( N ≈ 2300). Results show that, a few years after graduation, men are more likely than women to acquire complex jobs and that this difference contributes to early career gender gaps in wages and employee bargaining power. The findings do not support the notion that child-related work interruptions provide a main mechanism for sorting women into less complex jobs.