The aim of this intervention study was to illuminate the meaning of ICT-based caregiver support as experienced by older family carers living in vast rural areas, caring for a spouse at home. In order to access, the support service participants were provided with a computer and high speed Internet in their homes. Semi structured webcam-interviews were carried out with 31 family carers. A strategy for webcam interviewing was developed to ensure quality and create a comfortable interview situation for the family carers. Interviews were analysed using content analyses, resulting in the themes: Adopting new technology with help from others and Regaining social inclusion. The results indicate that ICT-based support can be valuable for older family carers in rural areas as it contributes to improve quality in daily life in a number of ways. In order to fully experience the benefits, family carers need to be frequent users of the provided support. Adequate training and encouragement from others were essential in motivating family carers to use the support service. Access to Internet and webcamera contributed to reducing loneliness and isolation, strengthening relationships with relatives living far away and enabled access to services no longer available in the area. Use of the ICT-service had a positive influence on the relationship between the older carer and adult grandchildren. It also contributed to carer competence and promote feelings of regaining independence and a societal role.

Internet-based services ought to be an option for caregiver support in rural areas as it may reduce feelings of isolation for older spouse caregivers.

We conducted a pragmatic, mixed methods study comparing rural family caregivers receiving e-health caregiver support (n = 35) with a control group (n = 21) receiving conventional, non-e-health, caregiver support. After 18 months, the benefits of support were evaluated using the Care Effectiveness Scale (40-items exploring the domains of preparedness, enrichment and predictability). In all domains the e-health group scored significantly higher than the control group. The adjusted difference for overall benefits was 3.0 (P = 0.02) on the scale 0-10. In addition, semi structured interviews were conducted with a sub-sample of the caregivers. For the e-health group flexibility, availability and being able to individualise the support were essential factors. All caregivers in the control group found conventional support to be beneficial, but also stressed unmet needs related to the conventional support being standardised and non-flexible. The study suggests that providers of caregiver support should offer e-health support as an alternative to conventional caregiver support, as it can be more beneficial to family caregivers.

No abstract

Licensed nurses in Sweden seemed to have an overall positive attitude towards CAM. Although CAM practice was low, a substantial number wished to practise a CAM method in the future. Main barrier for CAM practise and communication was lack of knowledge and evidence, emphasizing the need for structural education, information and research on CAM in Sweden.

This study demonstrated long-term beneficial effects of the MBM course on perceived stress and empathy in medical and nursing students.

Our systematic evaluation demonstrated that the reporting rate of ADRs associated with anthroposophic and homeopathic solutions for injection is very low. Most reported ADRs were listed, and one quarter consisted of local reactions. These findings suggest a low risk profile for solutions for injection as therapeutically applied in anthroposophic medicine and homeopathy.

Despite increased recognition of self-care and self-awareness as core competences for health care professionals, little attention is paid to these skills during their education. Evidence suggests that a Mind–Body (MB) skills course has the potential to enhance self-care and self-awareness among medical students. However, less is known about the meaning of this course for students and how it affects their personal and professional life. Therefore, we examined the lived experiences with an MB skills course among Dutch medical and Swedish nursing students. This course included various MB techniques, such as mindfulness meditation and guided imagery. Guided by a phenomenological hermeneutical method, three main themes were identified: “ability to be more present,” “increased perception and awareness of self,” and “connection on a deeper level with others.” Overall, participation in the MB skills course served as a pathway to inner awareness and supported connecting with others as well as with the surrounding world.