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Introduction and objective: Telemedicine is rapidly expanding, and this article discusses the implications of patient empowerment and user involvement in telemedicine in relation to frail patients. Methods: We present the basic ideas of empowerment and user involvement behind telemedicine, exemplifying them with a case of user resistance to telemedicine. Four logics of empowerment are employed to identify the underlying rationale in specific cases of telemedicine. Results: Telemedicine is often considered a way to increase empowerment and user involvement in healthcare. The majority of the geriatric patients in the described case refused to engage in telemedicine, preferring instead to be hospitalized. The case appeared to be driven primarily by a professional logic of empowerment. Discussion: User involvement and empowerment are discussed in terms of their demands and implication for users, such as intrusion on the private sphere and the responsibility for treatment, as well as expectations that the capabilities and resources of patients and relatives may increase. Conclusion: Although telemedicine is acknowledged as relevant, a mechanical approach too often hampers empowerment for the patient. Some patient groups may not feel safe using telemedicine, in which case user involvement and empowerment are not possible.

Bakgrunnen for bacheloroppgavens tematikk er vår interesse for fagområdet HR og personalledelse, med en fordypning i kunstig intelligens og rekruttering. Temaet for oppgaven er bruken av kunstig intelligente systemer i rekrutteringsprosesser, og om dette vil bidra til å redusere diskriminering. I denne oppgaven besvarer vi følgende problemstilling: Hvordan kan kunstig intelligens redusere diskriminering i en rekrutteringsprosess? Formålet med forskningen er å belyse tematikken for de som jobber i rekrutterings- og bemanningsbransjen. Vi har valgt å avgrense oppgaven til å undersøke mulighetene og utfordringene ved å ta i bruk kunstig intelligens i rekruttering og om kunstig intelligens kan bidra til et objektivt, fremfor et subjektivt valg av kandidater. Vi har i oppgaven valgt en kvalitativ metode fordi vi ønsket en dypere innsikt fra våre informanter. Vi gjennomførte derfor syv dybdeintervjuer med personer som hovedsakelig jobber med HR og rekruttering. Hensikten med oppgaven var å få et innblikk i hvordan kunstig intelligens vurderes av de som rekrutterer, og hvordan bruken av det påvirker objektiviteten i seleksjonsprosessen. Resultatene våre viser at flere av våre informanter har positive tanker og fremtidsrettede ideer om hva kunstig intelligens kan bidra til i rekrutterings- og seleksjonsprosesser. Noen av våre informanter har likevel vist seg å være skeptiske til bruken av kunstig intelligens, dersom det er snakk om å erstatte de som jobber med å rekruttere fullt ut med kunstig intelligente systemer. Vi oppdaget ingen direkte fordommer eller stereotypier hos informantene, men heller et snev av skepsis. Vi har konkludert med at ved å benytte kunstig intelligente systemer som et hjelpemiddel i rekrutterings- og seleksjonsprosesser, kan man oppdage at diskriminerende tanker og fordommer om kandidaten, kan reduseres, men absolutt ikke utelukkes.

Background: Vaccination is used worldwide to prevent infectious diseases. However, vaccination programmes in western countries face challenges in sustaining high coverage rates. The aim of this study was to explore how parents in Denmark make a decision about whether to allow their child to receive a Bacille Calmette Guerin vaccine at birth for the purpose of achieving non-specific effects on the immune system. Methods: A total of five focus groups were conducted with expectant mothers and fathers. Written information about the vaccine and information about the hypothesis of non-specific effects of the vaccine were delivered in order to discuss considerations and determinants of parents' decisions. Results: Heritable factors and the possibility of stimulating the immune system of the child to achieve less atopic diseases and fewer infections were identified as arguments in favour of receiving the BCG vaccine. Arguments against receiving BCG mainly focused on concerns about its described and non-described side effects. Both arguments for and arguments against the vaccine were seen as parents attempt to make an individual risk evaluation for their child. Attitudes and beliefs in the local network were identified as important for parents' decisions. Discussion: It is discussed how "lay epidemiology" characterizes parents' risk evaluation as an individual addition to the population-based risk declaration. It is furthermore discussed how health professionals should engage with both the empirical element and the value element of "Lay epidemiology". Conclusion: "Lay epidemiology" forms the basis for the parental decision of whether to allow their child to receive a BCG vaccination. Attitudes and beliefs about the causes and distribution of illnesses in the family or local network influence parents' risk evaluations. It would be ideal for parents if health professionals focused their communication about the BCG vaccine on individual risk evaluations.

Objectives: People of rural Botswana rely on walking as their principal mode of transport over long distances and rugged geographical terrain. For those who suffer from Muscle, Bone and Joint (MuBoJo) disorders, navigating spaces and places contributes to everyday burdens that are not well represented in the literature. In this qualitative study we observed the use of walking sticks amongst villagers in rural Botswana and examined how they might support MuBoJo health. Methods: Ethnographic fieldwork over eight months included participant observation, document review, and 70 interviews with 48 participants (35 villagers and 13 healthcare providers). Analysis included constant comparative methods followed by a structured approach to identify and assemble walking stick text for interpretation.Results: Observations and discussions revealed that many walking sticks were handcrafted from natural or household objects. From a therapeutic perspective, homemade and commercial aids were improperly fitted and poorly maintained. Villagers reported walking stick use to: uphold posture and balance; relieve MuBoJo pain; honour fashionable tradition; and assist visually impaired persons to negotiate rough terrain. Non-use was related to fear of dependency on sticks and inability to go without aids once used. Villagers frequently self-prescribed mobility aids, were self-taught in their use, and habitually used sticks on the ipsilateral side of lower extremity involvement. When prescribed by healthcare providers, villagers claimed little or no instruction for use; no educational notes were identified in villager health cards. Conclusions: Many walking sticks are homemade and most are used without professional instruction. To promote MuBoJo health amongst villagers in Botswana, it is essential that healthcare providers are educated to assess and train villagers for mobility aid fit, use, and maintenance. Frequent follow-up observations also are important. Engaging trusted opinion leaders might be valuable to initiate and sustain community-based interventions for walking sticks to support muscle, bone and joint health.

To compare the capacity of the MYCaW questionnaire, a priority list of concerns covered by validated questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews to identify patients' personalized concerns and related changes. Design: In a pragmatic trial on the effectiveness of energy healing as rehabilitation after colorectal cancer, a sub-sample of 31 participants completed the MYCaW questionnaire and the priority list and were interviewed before, during and after the treatment period. Setting: Treatments were provided in healers' clinics in Denmark. Main outcome measures: For each participant convergences and divergences of the outcome measures are identified, and strengths and weaknesses of the three methods in regard to capturing personalized concerns and changes are discussed. Results: Three patterns were identified: (1) in the intervention groups concerns stated in MYCaW were adjusted after experience with the treatment, while concerns stated in interviews and the priority list remained stable throughout the study; (2) emotional concerns were reported more often in interviews than in MYCaW, physical concerns were predominant in MYCaW, and quality of life was marked as a primary concern most frequently on the priority list; (3) participants reported greater improvement in interviews than in MYCaW. Conclusions: Relevant concerns in the MYCaW questionnaire seem to require that participants are well acquainted with the treatment under study. The priority list directs participants to particular areas of concerns and markings are stable. Interviews are well suited to disclose concerns regarding sensitive issues, e.g. anxiety of relapse, and experiences of subtle, non-specific changes.