Background

Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT) is a physiotherapeutic method used in rehabilitation to increase physical and emotional balance. The aim was to identify and describe perceived therapeutically efficient components of BBAT.

Methods

Twenty-four experienced BBAT therapists participated in focus group interviews. The data were analysed with content analysis.

Results

One central theme, the therapeutic space consisted of two categories; the therapeutic encounter and the therapeutic tools, which emerged as the core of the perceived therapeutically efficient components. The therapeutic encounter entailed the therapeutic approach, affect attunement, continuous interaction during treatment, affect mirroring and communicating by use of a person-centred approach. The therapeutic tools included adjustment and adaptation, the use of manual, verbal and non-verbal guiding, and creating an atmosphere of safety and sanctuary.

Conclusion

The significance of interaction by use of a person-centred approach combined with the ability to continuously adjust the treatment constituted useful guidelines when designing rehabilitation using BBAT treatment.

Currently, there is limited knowledge on how the Swedish strategy with more lenient public health restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced people's life satisfaction. Here, we investigated self-reported life satisfaction during the first wave of the pandemic in Sweden, and perceived changes in life satisfaction in relation to various sociodemographic factors. A total of 1082 people (mean age 48 (SD 12.2); 82% women) responded to an online survey during autumn 2020 including the "Life Satisfaction Questionnaire-11". A majority (69%) were satisfied with life as a whole, and with other important life domains, with the exception of contact with friends and sexual life. An equal share reported that life as a whole had either deteriorated (28%) or improved (29%). Of those that perceived a deterioration, 95% considered it to be due to the pandemic. Regarding deteriorated satisfaction with life as a whole, higher odds were found in the following groups: having no children living at home; being middle aged; having other sources of income than being employed; and having a chronic disease. The Swedish strategy might have contributed to the high proportion of satisfied people. Those who perceived a deterioration in life satisfaction may, however, need attention from Swedish Welfare Authorities.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the experiences of a digital management programme for hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA), including education and exercises as well as an option to chat with an assigned physical therapist for feedback, questions and support.

SETTING: This study was conducted at a regional hospital in the southern part of Sweden.

METHODS: Nineteen patients (10 women), median age of 66 (q1-q3, 57-71) years, with confirmed hip or knee OA were interviewed after completing their first 6 weeks in the programme, using a semistructured interview guide. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and were qualitatively analysed using systematic text condensation.

RESULTS: Three categories emerged during the interviews:(1) Management options for mitigating the consequences of OA; (2) Experiences of the digital programme and (3) Perceived effects of the digital programme over time. The participants had mostly positive experiences of the programme. Particularly important for these experiences were no waiting list, the flexibility of taking part in the programme with regards to location and time and the possibility to have daily contact with a physical therapist. These aspects were also emphasised as advantages compared with traditional care.

CONCLUSIONS: Digital management of OA, including education and exercise, was experienced as a valid alternative to traditional treatment in enabling the implementation of OA guidelines in a wider community. Easy access, exercising at one's own convenience, flexible options, daily follow-up and support by a physical therapist were mentioned as the most important features. In addition, the results will contribute to further development and improvement of digital OA management programmes.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with progressive mobility and walking difficulties. Although these aspects have been found to be central from a patient perspective, the perceived significance of walking is less well understood. Objective: To explore the significance of walking as perceived and experienced by individuals with PD. Methods: Eleven persons with PD (seven men; median age, 71 years; median PD duration, 7 years) participated. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, which were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were qualitatively analysed by systematic text condensation. Results: The ability to walk had a complex and multifaceted impact on the participants, including physical, psychological and emotional aspects as well as on the ability to be active in daily life and to participate in society. The central role of coping strategies was prominent in filtering emotional reactions to physical changes, and when managing the activities and participation in everyday situations. The sense of unpredictability, uncertainty and loss of control were underlying phenomena in all categories. Furthermore, inability to manage walking difficulties had a negative impact on the participants' self-concept. Conclusions: The central meaning of being able to walk appears to be intimately linked to an individual's social identity, emotional well-being and integrity. Consequently, being able to walk independently was a prerequisite to an autonomous life and participation in society. This implies that rehabilitation and other mobility interventions also need to consider individual emotional, psychological, and social implications, and to facilitate appropriate compensatory and coping strategies.

During preventive home visits, the purpose of this study was, to identify the prevalence of fall risk and any associated factors. Participants (n=1471) were cognitively sound community-dwelling older adults (≥ 70 years) without home-help service, living in a Swedish municipality. The Downton Fall Risk Index and nine single items were used. Tiredness/fatigue, age ≥ 80, inability to walk one hour, inability to climb stairs and worrying were significantly associated with fall risk. Preventive home visits incorporating fall risk screening proved valuable, providing information for interventions aimed at preventing falls, maintaining independence and facilitating health among community dwelling participants.

Background

Focusing clinical investigations on outcomes that are meaningful from an end-user perspective is central in clinical research, particularly in chronic disorders such as Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, little is known about how end-users such as people with PD (PwPD) and health care professionals (HCPs) view and prioritize therapeutic outcomes.

Purpose

To compare the perspectives of PwPD and HCPs regarding prioritized areas for outcome measurement in clinical PD trials.

Methods

Concept mapping was used to identify prioritized outcomes (statements) through focus groups (n = 27; 12 PwPD, 12 HCPs, three researchers), statement sorting and importance rating (n = 38; 19 PwPD, 19 HCPs), followed by quantitative (multidimensional scaling, cluster analysis, procrustes analysis) and qualitative analysis.

Results

Sorting of 99 statements by PwPD and HCPs yielded 2D maps (PwPD/HCPs stress values, 0.31/0.21) with eight clusters per group. The correlation between raw sorting data of PwPD and HCPs was 0.80, and there was a significant concordance (m₁₂ = 0.53; P < 0.001; i.e., r = 0.68) between the spatial arrangements in their respective maps. Qualitatively, the maps from the two groups represented partially different perspectives. There were no significant differences between PwPD and HCP item importance ratings.

Conclusion

Although similarities dominated, there were differences in how the relationships between items were perceived by the two groups, emanating from different perspectives, i.e., the clinical biomedical (“disease”) versus the lived experience (“illness”). This study illustrates the clinical importance of attention to the perspective of PwPD; taking this into account is likely to provide evidence from clinical investigations that are meaningful and interpretable for end-users.

Inquiry-based learning (IBL) is a research-based model promoting self-directed learning. The aim was to describe how five physiotherapists experienced their learning during their participation in two inquiry-based online courses. Primary data was their written self-reflections. Triangulation was done based on the self-reflections and the free text comments from three course evaluation surveys. Data analyses were done by qualitative content analysis. Autonomy emerged as the main theme, which was structured into three categories: (i) learning processes; (ii) perceiving increased self-efficacy; and (iii) transfer and implementation of theories and skills to practice. Being able to choose the research topic according to professional interest increased motivation and perceived meaning. Interacting with peers brought new perspectives and deeper understanding. The data triangulation revealed partially new aspects. Retrospectively, the participants expressed having gained new skills, which was augmented by their perception of professional relevance and the integration of theory in the clinical practice. Expressions of increased self-efficacy and the transfer of knowledge, understanding and skills to clinical practice, was interpreted as important parts of autonomy. In conclusion, courses with a research-based design may promote motivation and self-efficacy. Forum for peer support and collaboration was perceived to augment the creativity and broaden the understanding.

OBJECTIVES: The Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI) is widely used in several neurological conditions including multiple sclerosis (MS), but its psychometric properties have not been documented in Scandinavia. Therefore, the aim of the study was to translate RMI from UK English into Danish and conduct an initial psychometric testing of the Danish RMI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Danish translation conducted by the forward-backward method was first field-tested regarding user-friendliness and relevance. It was then psychometrically tested among 40 outpatients with MS regarding unidimensionality (corrected item-total correlations, adherence to an assumed Guttman response pattern), reliability, and construct validity. RESULTS: Field testing found the Danish RMI relevant and user-friendly. Corrected item-total correlations were ≥0.47 and item responses fitted the Guttman pattern. There was a 47.5% ceiling effect, and reliability was 0.91. Correlations supported construct validity. CONCLUSION: The Danish RMI is user-friendly, unidimensional, reliable, and valid. The results correspond to those previously reported with the original UK RMI version. Ceiling effects are limiting but sample related. Larger samples representing a wider variety of MS severities are needed for firmer evaluation of the Danish RMI.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to explore the frequency of malnutrition risk and associated risk of falling, social and mental factors among elderly without home-help service. The aim was also to explore factors associated with risk of falling.

Design

A cross-sectional design was used.

Setting

Elderly persons own homes.

Participants

Data were collected during preventive home visits to 565 elderly (age range 73–90 years) without home-help service. Those with complete SCREEN II forms were included in the study (n=465).

Measurements

Measurements included rating scales regarding malnutrition risk (SCREEN II) and risk of falling (Downton). In addition, single-items: general health, satisfaction with life, tiredness, low-spiritedness, worries/anxiety and sleeping were used.

Results

According to the SCREEN II, 35% of the sample had no malnutrition risk, 35% had moderate risk and 30% had high malnutrition risk. In an ordinal regression analysis, increased malnutrition risk was associated with being a woman living alone (OR 4.63), male living alone (OR 6.23), lower age (OR 0.86), poorer general health (OR 2.03–5.01), often/always feeling tired (OR 2.38), and an increased risk of falling (OR 1.21). In a linear regression analysis, risk of falling was associated with higher age (B 0.020), not shopping independently (B 0.162), and low meat consumption (B 0.138).

Conclusion

There are complex associations between malnutrition risk and the gender-cohabitation interaction, age, general health, tiredness, and risk of falling. In clinical practice comprehensive assessments to identify those at risk of malnutrition including associated factors are needed. These have to be followed by individual nutritional interventions using a holistic perspective which may also contribute to reducing the risk of falling.

The aim was to investigate experiences of mealtimes and related tasks among people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and to link these conceptually to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Data were collected by use of semi-structured interviews of 19 people with PD. Inductive content analysis resulted in five categories: 1) Managing mealtime preparations and related tasks, 2) Compromised physical control, 3) Difficulties enjoying meals, 4) Difficulties eating together with others, and 5) Strategies to maintain conventional norms and independence. Deductive content analysis linked the categories to the ICF categories: body functions (mental, sensory, neuromusculoskeletal and movement-related functions); activities (self-determination and chores); participation (interpersonal interactions and relationships); and environmental factors (conventional norms, attitudes of friends and strangers). Emotional and involuntary movement functions were represented in all five inductively derived categories. Eating difficulties may have negative consequences on participation and the emotional wellbeing of people with Parkinson’s disease.