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Background: This study aims to explore the varied experiences of patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis in Norway. The study emphasizes challenges and implications of being diagnosed with drug-resistant tuberculosis, including the impact on psychosocial health during the diagnosis, disease, treatment, isolation and recovery phases. Norway is a low endemic country of tuberculosis. Most patients are immigrants, and some of them have recently arrived in the country. Patients undergoing treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis endure prolonged and demanding treatment that could affect their psychosocial health. Methods: This qualitative study conducted 16 in-depth interviews with individuals aged 18 years and above who were diagnosed with drug-resistant tuberculosis. All participants completed the treatment between 2008 and 2020. Fourteen participants were immigrants, and eight of them had resided in Norway for less than four years before diagnosis. Data analysis followed the six-phase reflexive thematic analysis framework, focusing on identifying patterns in participants' experiences, thoughts, expectations and attitudes. Results: The narratives of the participants highlighted the complexities of navigating the diagnosis of drug-resistant tuberculosis, treatment, side effects and life after treatment. Immigrants encountered additional challenges, including language barriers and adapting to new social environments. All participants reported experiencing physical health issues that additionally affected their mental health and social activity. Several participants had a delayed or prolonged diagnosis that complicated their disease trajectory. Participants with suspected or confirmed contagious pulmonary tuberculosis underwent hospital isolation for periods ranging from weeks to six months. The participants reported mental health issues, social isolation and stigma, however few were offered follow-up by a psychologist. Many participants had persistent problems at the time of the interviews. Three main themes emerged from the analysis: Delayed and prolonged diagnosis; Psychosocial impact of isolation during treatment; The life after tuberculosis. Conclusion: This study highlights the enduring impact of drug-resistant tuberculosis on patients and the significance of timely diagnosis, psychosocial support and post-treatment follow-up. The participants universally faced serious implications of the disease, including stigma and isolation. Participants who experienced delayed diagnosis, reflected on missed early intervention opportunities. We recommend further research in low endemic countries to evaluate the international and local recommendations on psychosocial support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Perceived health is a subjective measure of an individual’s health based on self-reported, and self-knowledge about one’s health status. It is related to one’s functional status, morbidity, and mortality and serves as an important indicator in determining an individual’s health status and health-related quality of life. The main purpose of this study is to explore (i) how a sample of adult inmates perceived their health and (ii) identify factors that may be associated with their perceived health. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, where data collection involved the use of a structured questionnaire. The study sites were six prisons. A total of 144 inmates, 13 women (14%) and 131 men (91%) took part in the study. Results: The odds of having perceived good health were reduced by increasing age of the inmate (OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.90–0.98) and increased by high level of education (OR = 4.11, 95% CI = 1.09–15.50) and long time spent in prison (OR = 3.56, 95% CI = 1.09–15.50), adjusting for ethnicity and a previous history of murder/manslaughter (p > .02). In the same adjusted analysis, the odds of perceived good health were decreased with medium high and high depressive score (OR = 0.06, 95% CI = 0.02–0.17 and OR = 0.06, 95% CI = 0.00–0.48, respectively). Conclusions: Psychological distress, time spent in prison, level of education and age were independent predictors of perceived health. High levels of psychological distress predict poor perceived health. Low level of education predict poor perceived health, while time spent in prison and age predict good perceived health. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

As Norwegian society becomes increasingly multicultural and linguistically diverse and prison services continue to see larger numbers of immigrants, our knowledge about the interplay between communication and language and behavioural problems needs to be improved and addressed. The study focuses on language and communication problems associated with misconduct behaviour among immigrant and Norwegian prisoners. A cross-sectional study of immigrant and Norwegian inmates took part in six prisons in Norway, with a total of 250 inmates, where 88(35%) were immigrants and 162(65%) were Norwegian. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups: manslaughter/murder (p=.045) and assault/robbery (p=.008) and crime against property (p=.004). Norwegian inmates presented three times more risk of misconduct behaviour than immigrant inmates. Those who had communication problems less then once a month presented higher risk of misconduct behaviour than those who had communication problems more often. Those who have communication problems quite often seem to adapt to the situation: they adjust to it and are, in a way, able to put up with the situation. Those who have communication problems more rarely, on the other hand, seem to react with more built-up internal anger and, consequently, with more severe aggression. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

As a way of facilitating a positive development with regard to adaptation, all refugees are expected to go through the foreign language training programme as soon as possible after settlement. This is seen as a way to help refugees gain a greater participation in the host society. The current study aimed at evaluating the role of trauma and psychological distress on motivation for foreign language acquisition among refugees. A total of 12 schools participated in the study. The schools were situated in Middle of Norway. In all, 239 questionnaires were handed out, of which 191 (80%) were completed. It was found that, the most violent traumatic events seem to be negatively related with motivation for foreign language acquisition. Coping strategies came out as a positive predictor of motivation for language training. Continent of origin appears to make a difference, showing that Asian refugees were more motivated for language acquisition than Africans. The current study suggests that refugees' past traumatic experiences influence their motivation to learn a foreign language. If successful foreign language acquisition is to be achieved, the refugees must be given the opportunity to deal with their traumatic past while embarking on acquisition of foreign language. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The objective of the study was to examine differences between asylum seekers, living in asylum seekers' centres, and refugees, who officially have been granted asylum, when they were acutely admitted to a psychiatric hospital. All 53 asylum seekers and 45 refugees, acutely admitted to a Norwegian psychiatric hospital from 1995 to 2001 were included. The number of admissions by coercion, diagnosis, length of hospital stay and years residing in Norway at the time of the admissions were compared between the two groups. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was more frequent among asylum seekers (43.4%) than among refugees (11%), while schizophrenia was more frequent among refugees (62.2%) than among asylum seekers (15%). The refugees (24.4%) were more often admitted by coercion than asylum seekers (11%). The high proportion of PTSD among asylum seekers compared to refugees may be explained by experiences in Norway after arrival into the country. The stresses of life in reception centres and the risk of being expelled from the country may contribute more to these admittances than experiences in the asylum seekers countries of origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As a response to the political decision by the Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services to establish some kind of "medication free treatment" for patients with severe mental illness throughout the country, a 6-bed ward unit dedicated to offer such treatment was in 2017 established in Tromsø, Norway by the North Norway Health Care Region. The aim of the present study was to explore the experiences of patients admitted to this ward unit., Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 persons who had received treatment from the ward during the period January 2017 to October 2021. Analysis was done in line with Systematic Text Condensation and interviews were recorded, transcribed and analyzed using software NVivo., Results: The importance of engaging in a dialogue about the possibilities of living a life without medication was unanimously validated, along with a focus on empowerment, motivation, activity and flexibility. Not everyone reported fulfillment of their own wishes or the ward's goal of tapering down, and reflected upon emotions such as ambivalence or fear. Three core concepts were identified to describe the participants' experiences: 1) Tapering off, 2) Relations, and 3) Frames and content. A fourth concept overarches the process formed by these concepts; 4) Processes across categories., Conclusion: The study contributes to a deeper understanding of what "medication free" truly means, going beyond simply taking or not taking medications. It adds nuance to the debate surrounding medication free treatment. The ability to taper off medications is linked to intrapersonal factors, such as readiness and personal commitment, as well as the therapeutic environment, including the frames and values present on the ward. "Medication free" is more complex than it may initially appear, as many participants continue to use some form of psychotropic drugs. The sense of being part of something new and "exclusive" can be understood in light of what participants felt was lacking in previous treatment. It appears to be a need of rediscovering the significance of empowerment and empathic relationships in treatment of severe mental illness, in order to foster a sense of coherence and meaning., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The study was approved by Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics (REK) South East Norway (REK 2016/1708) and by the Data Protection Official at University Hospital of North Norway (UNN) (02135) regarding GDPR. To participate was voluntary and all participants received a symbolic compensation afterwards. Information has been processed with de-identified data. Informed consent was obtained from all participants. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: In January 2017, the Norwegian government mandated the establishment of an inpatient unit for "medication-free treatment" for patients with severe mental illness at the University Hospital of North Norway in Tromsø. This study aims to explore the employees' experiences with this unit., Method: Focus group interviews were conducted October 2021 - February 2022. For analysis, the participants were divided into three groups; S (staff working at the medication-free unit), M (people involved in management at the unit) and T (therapists working elsewhere in the hospital). The analysis followed the Systematic Text Condensation and interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using NVivo software., Results: Health professionals described their experiences with medication-free treatment through five main concepts: 1) Employees' motivation; 2) Frames; 3) Network; 4) Relations; and 5) Patients' motivation. Staff and management expressed strong motivation for an alternative to "treatment as usual," focusing more on recovery and relationships than on the absence of medication. Therapists from other hospital areas highlighted resource allocation concerns and expressed a desire to learn from the unit. Challenges were acknowledged by all groups., Conclusion: The term "medication-free treatment'' might be misleadning. While patiens at the unit can use medications, there is a strong emphasis on patient autonomy and the option to taper off medication and live a life without them. The study adds valuable knowledge about the the experiences of employees working at a medication-free unit, and provides insights into the complexity of treating severe mental illness, both with and without medication. It highlights the importance of sufficient time, stability and resources to focus on each patient's strengths and challenges. All employees agree that tailored measures in long-term treatment and a clear focus on recovery should be integral, even without an emphasis on "medication-free treatment"., Competing Interests: Declarations Ethics approval and consent to participate The study has approval from Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics (REK) South East Norway (REK 2016/1708) and by the Data Protection Official at University Hospital of North Norway (02135) regarding GDPR. Participants were informed of the research and publishing intentions of the interviews. Informed consent was obtained from the participants. Consent for publication Not applicable. Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Rationale, Aims, and Objectives: Patients with mental health problems experience numerous transitions into and out of hospital. This study explores former patients' views of pathways in transition between district psychiatric hospital centres (DPCs) and community mental health services., Method: A descriptive qualitative design was chosen. Three focus group interviews with a total of 10 informants from five different communities were conducted. Interviews were transcribed and analysed thematically where themes describe promoting or inhibitory factors to the transition phase., Results: The informants shared their experiences on issues promoting and preventing successful care pathways in mental health. Four main paired themes were identified: (a) patient participation/activation/empowerment versus paternalism and institutionalization, (b) patient-centred care versus care interpreted as humiliation, (c) interprofessional collaboration or teamwork versus unsafe patient pathways in mental health services, and (d) sustainable integrated care versus fragmented, noncollaborative care., Conclusions: Shared decision making was reported more precisely as informed shared decision making. Shared information between all parties involved in care pathways is key., (© 2019 Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)