Maria Björk’s research while affiliated with Jönköping University and other places

What is this page?


This page lists works of an author who doesn't have a ResearchGate profile or hasn't added the works to their profile yet. It is automatically generated from public (personal) data to further our legitimate goal of comprehensive and accurate scientific recordkeeping. If you are this author and want this page removed, please let us know.

Publications (5)


Content validity of the electronic faces thermometer scale for pain in children: is a picture worth more than a thousand words?
  • Article
  • Full-text available

April 2024

·

29 Reads

Frontiers in Pain Research

Angelica Höök

·

·

Maria Björk

·

[...]

·

Introduction Early recognition of pain in children is crucial, and their self-report is the primary source of information. However, communication about pain in healthcare settings can be challenging. For non-verbal communication regarding different symptoms, children prefer digital tools. The electronic Faces Thermometer Scale (eFTS) utilizes a universal design with colors, face emojis, and numbers on an 11-point scale (0–10) for pain assessment. The aim of this study was to establish content validity of the eFTS for pain assessments in children. Methods A mixed methods design was used. The study took place at a university hospital in eastern Sweden, involving 102 children aged 8–17 years who visited outpatient clinics. Participants were presented with 17 pictures representing varying pain levels and asked to assess hypothetical pain using the eFTS. A think-aloud approach was employed, prompting children to verbalize their thoughts about assessments and the eFTS. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and comparative statistics, together with a qualitative approach for analysis of think-aloud conversations. Results A total of 1,734 assessments of hypothetical pain using the eFTS were conducted. The eFTS differentiated between no pain (level 0–1) and pain (level 2–10). However, no clear agreement was found in the differentiation between hypothetical pain intensity levels (level 2–10). The analysis revealed that children utilized the entire scale, ranging from no pain to high pain, incorporating numbers, colors, and face emojis in their assessments. Discussion The variability in assessments was influenced by prior experiences, which had an impact on the statistical outcome in our study. However, employing the think-aloud method enhances our understanding of how children utilize the scale and perceive its design, including the incorporation of emotion-laden anchors. Children express a preference for using the eFTS to assess their pain during hospital visits.

Download

Pediatric Nurses' Person-Centered Approach to Nausea Management in Children With Cancer

January 2023

·

31 Reads

Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nursing

Background: Nausea is a problematic side effect of childhood cancer treatment. However, it is not clear what interventions and assessments pediatric oncology nurses make when caring for a child with nausea. A person-centered approach can illuminate nausea management in pediatric care. The aim was to investigate how pediatric nurses retrieve the patient's narrative, establish partnership, and document nausea in hospitalized children with cancer. Methods: Individual interviews with nurses were conducted and analyzed using deductive content analysis with the framework of person-centered care. Results: The pediatric nurses described retrieving the patient's narrative regarding their nausea by listening to and observing the child. The pediatric nurses tried to establish a partnership with the child by allowing previous knowledge and the child's own preferences guide the interventions that focus on decreasing the child's nausea. The pediatric nurses also documented the effect of the given interventions and described the child's nausea using subjective words. When planning for the child's care it was rare for the nurses to have a documented care plan, but they did review documentation of previously administered interventions to plan for future care. Discussion: The results highlight the pediatric nurses' willingness to listen to the child, but also emphasize the need to further include the child and the parents in the partnership and documentation of nausea management. Collaboration with the child and the parents contributes to higher quality care and a partnership with trust.


Dental health care for children with Down syndrome: Parents’ description of their children's needs in dental health care settings

February 2022

·

182 Reads

·

5 Citations

European Journal Of Oral Sciences

A visit to the dental clinic may be challenging for a child with Down syndrome due to medical and oral health problems as well as communication problems. The aim of the present study was to explore how parents of children with Down syndrome describe their child's needs in the dental health care setting. In a survey concerning parental experiences with dental health care in Sweden, free comments were analysed with content analysis and resulted in five categories: “Need for continuity of care in dental health care”; “Need for dental health care professionals to have knowledge and expertise in caring for children with Down syndrome and other disabilities”; “Need for dental health care professionals to use a caring approach with children with Down syndrome”; “Need for the child with Down syndrome to be prepared to participate in their dental health care visit” and “Need for the child with Down syndrome to be given the same rights as typically developing children”. To support children with Down syndrome in an optimal way, dental health care needs to be tailored to meet the child's unique needs. In addition, dental health care professionals need knowledge of and expertise in the care of children with Down syndrome.


Toothbrushing habits of children with DS as reported by their parents (n ¼ 101).
Parents' perceptions of oral health, general health and dental health care for children with Down syndrome in Sweden Parents' perceptions of oral health, general health and dental health care for children with Down syndrome in Sweden

October 2020

·

258 Reads

·

15 Citations

Acta odontologica Scandinavica

Aim To describe parental perceptions of general health, oral health and received dental health care in Swedish children with Down syndrome (DS). Methods Online questionnaire, quantitative data analysis (Chi-square test). Results Parents of 101 children with DS (52 boys, 49 girls, mean age: 9.6 years) participated. Seventy percent rated their child’s general health and 74% their child’s oral health as good or very good. Parents, who rated their child’s oral health as poor (8%), also reported that dental procedures were difficult. Children received dental care at general (55%) and specialist clinics (53%). Ninety-four percent of parents of children receiving specialist dental health care were satisfied compared to 70% of parents with children in general clinics. The parents most valued characteristics of dental professionals were patience (63%) and their ability to engage the child (68%). Parents wanted multidisciplinary collaboration. Conclusion Most parents rated their child’s general and oral health as good or very good. Children with poor oral health were also reported to have difficulties coping with dental procedures. Parents wanted dental care to be tailored to meet their child’s unique needs. They wanted dental professionals to have knowledge about children with a need for special care. Lastly, they requested multidisciplinary collaboration.


Patterns of support to adolescents related to disability, family situation, harassment and economy

April 2019

·

28 Reads

·

2 Citations

Child Care Health and Development

Introduction Adolescents need support from family, friends and teachers to increase their involvement in everyday life. Their environment and their own characteristics also influence their ability to participate in an everyday supportive environment. Aim The aim of the study was to investigate patterns of support from parents, teachers and very important persons such as peers to the ability of adolescents to participate in everyday life, as well as the importance of interpersonal relations as experienced by the adolescents. Method The study has a cross‐sectional design. The data compiled and analysed in this study are part of a longitudinal study of adolescents and their development into adults ‐ LoRDIA (Longitudinal Research on Development In Adolescence). A combination of person‐ and variable‐oriented design was used to capture patterns of support. Results Adolescents with a complicated home situation and low economic prerequisites who received little support from parents and friends participated to a lower degree in home activities. A substantial number of these adolescents had self‐reported neurodevelopmental disorders and, as a group, were more often exposed to harassment. However, these adolescents participated to a higher extent in school activities, although they received little support from the teachers. The adolescents who received most support from parents and teachers were those with a country of origin other than Sweden and those who lived with both of their parents and had more siblings than average. However, this did not mean that they participated to a higher extent in home and school activities.

Citations (3)


... In addition, some evidence suggests that among care-givers of SHCN individuals, social support is poorer due to stigma and that this may affect less access to dental care and dental knowledge [56][57][58]. Also, on the dentist level, an aspect to consider is the role dentists play in the prevention and promotion of oral health among children and care-givers [45]. ...

Reference:

The Use of Audiovisual Distraction Tools in the Dental Setting for Pediatric Subjects with Special Healthcare Needs: A Review and Proposal of a Multi-Session Model for Behavioral Management
Dental health care for children with Down syndrome: Parents’ description of their children's needs in dental health care settings

European Journal Of Oral Sciences

... Regular visits to the dentist are very important for the prevention of oral diseases in disabled children and their parents for obtaining essential information about oral hygiene maintenance and dietary advice specific to their child's disability from a dentist [23]. ...

Parents' perceptions of oral health, general health and dental health care for children with Down syndrome in Sweden Parents' perceptions of oral health, general health and dental health care for children with Down syndrome in Sweden

Acta odontologica Scandinavica

... LA NOUVELLE REVUE -ÉDUCATION ET SOCIÉTÉ INCLUSIVES 98-99 2022). Cette tendance a également été observée chez les adolescents présentant des troubles neurodéveloppementaux (Møller Christensen et al., 2019). De premières recherches ont suggéré que la volonté des enseignants de scolariser les élèves en situation de handicap est corrélée à la gravité et à la nature de leur handicap, les attitudes les plus favorables concernant les personnes présentant des troubles de l'apprentissage (Diebold et Voneschenbach, 1991 ;Shotel et al., 1972). ...

Patterns of support to adolescents related to disability, family situation, harassment and economy
  • Citing Article
  • April 2019

Child Care Health and Development