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Objectives: To determine the total cancer incidence in relation to a 5-year exposure to caesium-137 (137Cs) from the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident. Methods: A closed cohort was defined as all individuals living in the three most contaminated counties in mid-Sweden in 1986. Fallout of 137Cs was retrieved as a digital map from the Geological Survey of Sweden, demographic data from Statistics Sweden, and cancer diagnosis from the National Board of Health and Welfare. Individuals were assigned an annual 137Cs exposure based on their place of residence (1986-1990), from which 5-year cumulative 137Cs exposures were calculated, accounting for the physical decay of 137Cs and changing residencies. HRs were adjusted for age, sex, rural/non-rural residence and pre-Chernobyl total cancer incidence. Results: The 734 537 people identified were categorised by exposure: the first quartile was low exposure (0.0-45.4 kBq/m2), the second and third quartiles were intermediate exposure (45.41-118.8 kBq/m2), and the fourth quartile was the highest exposure (118.81-564.71 kBq/m2). Between 1991 and 2010, 82 495 cancer cases were registered in the 3 counties. Adjusted HRs (95% CI) were 1.03 (1.01 to 1.05) for intermediate exposure and 1.05 (1.03 to 1.07) for the highest exposure compared to the reference exposure. Conclusions: We found a small overall exposure-response pattern of the total cancer incidence related to 137Cs after adjustment for age, sex, rural residence and pre-Chernobyl cancer incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AimTo determine the psychometric properties of the Sympathy–Acceptance–Understanding–Caring Competence (SAUC) model questionnaire for foreign-born parents evaluating nursing encounters in the Swedish Primary Child Health Care (PCHC) services.BackgroundMulticultural encounters in child health care from the nursing perspective are challenging and problematic worldwide. A suitable theory-based and validated questionnaire is needed for foreign-born parents to assess the quality of their encounters with nurses.MethodsThe SAUC questionnaire, modified for use by new, foreign-born parents using the Swedish PCHC services, was evaluated for its congruence with the theory of Confirming Encounter. The study was ethically approved and data were collected between March and August 2009 from 83 new, foreign-born parents seen at 50 clinics.Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify related factors, and goodness-of-fit tests were used to estimate theoretical consistency. Confirmatory Factor Analysis was used to verify the results.FindingsThe questionnaire had satisfactory theoretical consistency with the theory of Confirming Encounter. Three factors identified by exploratory factor analysis and confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis – person support, self-support, and self-perspective support – indicated internal consistency and validated the three factors implicit in the theory Confirming Encounter. In addition, a new factor, concordance, was identified that is compatible with the theory. To conclude, despite the fact that a modified questionnaire have its limitations results demonstrate that the SAUC-model questionnaire seems to be a reliable and valid nursing quality-control measure with which foreign-born parents can evaluate the qualities of a confirming encounter with nurses. However, we suggest the need for testing the questionnaire in a larger population. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Aim This article investigates attitudes towards and awareness of research and use of research findings among primary healthcare nurses, determinants of attitudes and evaluation of psychometric properties of an instrument measuring nurses' attitudes. Background The production of new knowledge is ongoing and the amount of research of relevance for health care has increased, but there remains a gap between what is known and what is done in practice. To enhance evidence-based practice and patient safety, the use of research findings needs to be encouraged and promoted. Method An explanatory study using a cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2005-2006. The survey included items about background data and the instrument attitudes towards and awareness of research and development in nursing. 1054 nurses participated in the study. Factor analyses and Cronbach's alpha were used to evaluate internal structure and internal consistency of the instrument. Result The nurses generally held positive attitudes towards research. Although most of the nurses reported using research in practice, 37% claimed that they never or rarely used research findings. Half of the respondents perceived they had the ability to analyse scientific reports/articles. This ability and research use were significant determinants of attitudes. Factor analysis of the scale resulted in a three-factor solution, which differs from the seven-factor structure previously identified by the originators of the instrument. Conclusion Our results support the view that implementation of research is a complex process involving several factors. The different factor structure identified suggests that further work is needed on this instrument. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine the total cancer incidence in relation to a 5-year exposure to caesium-137 ( 137 Cs) from the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident., Methods: A closed cohort was defined as all individuals living in the three most contaminated counties in mid-Sweden in 1986. Fallout of 137 Cs was retrieved as a digital map from the Geological Survey of Sweden, demographic data from Statistics Sweden, and cancer diagnosis from the National Board of Health and Welfare. Individuals were assigned an annual 137 Cs exposure based on their place of residence (1986-1990), from which 5-year cumulative 137 Cs exposures were calculated, accounting for the physical decay of 137 Cs and changing residencies. HRs were adjusted for age, sex, rural/non-rural residence and pre-Chernobyl total cancer incidence., Results: The 734 537 people identified were categorised by exposure: the first quartile was low exposure (0.0-45.4 kBq/m 2 ), the second and third quartiles were intermediate exposure (45.41-118.8 kBq/m 2 ), and the fourth quartile was the highest exposure (118.81-564.71 kBq/m 2 ). Between 1991 and 2010, 82 495 cancer cases were registered in the 3 counties. Adjusted HRs (95% CI) were 1.03 (1.01 to 1.05) for intermediate exposure and 1.05 (1.03 to 1.07) for the highest exposure compared to the reference exposure., Conclusions: We found a small overall exposure-response pattern of the total cancer incidence related to 137 Cs after adjustment for age, sex, rural residence and pre-Chernobyl cancer incidence., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: None declared., (Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.)