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Introduction: Public contribution is increasingly prioritised by research institutions, funding bodies, and policymakers globally. However, the evidence base for the impact of public contribution remains limited. Researchers and public contributors' experiences of such activities are also rarely reported. We worked alongside a Public Advisory Group (PAG) consisting of informal caregivers of people with dementia during a series of studies to inform the development and adaptation of a guided low-intensity behavioural activation intervention for people with dementia (INVOLVERA). The overall aim of the current study was to explore the experience, process, and impact of involving caregivers of people with dementia as public contributors during the intervention development phase of INVOLVERA.

Methods: Public contribution activities were recorded using impact logs from PAG meetings, from which public contributors' suggestions for the intervention were extracted and categorised, and the implementation rate calculated. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with public contributors (n = 4) and researchers (n = 3), and analysed using manifest content analysis.

Results: Public contributors made 158 suggestions across nine PAG meetings, with 76% of these implemented by the researchers. Analysis of interviews generated three categories: Perceived impacts, Interactions and facilitators, and Future challenges and opportunities. Interviews suggested public contribution activities positively impacted the research (e.g., improving intervention acceptability) and those involved (e.g., new knowledge and skills). Public contributors provided valuable recommendations for involving people with dementia and male caregivers in future activities.

Conclusions: Findings illustrate a positive impact of public contribution activities on the research and those involved. This underscores the important role of public contribution during the development of complex interventions and further emphasises the need for comprehensive reporting on the impact of such activities. We believe this study strengthens the evidence base for public contribution and offers practical insights into fostering effective partnerships with public contributors.

Public Contribution: A PAG consisting of wives and daughters (n = 4) of people with dementia worked alongside the researchers throughout the intervention development phase of the project. Contributions included (1) sense-making and interpreting results from a series of intervention development studies, (2) co-designing the intervention, and (3) disseminating findings, including co-writing the current paper.

Background: The utilization of the Internet of Things (IoT) can significantly enhance health care. However, successful implementation of IoT requires a holistic approach including factors beyond technology alone.

Objective: This paper seeks to advance understanding of the factors influencing the successful implementation of IoT solutions in the health care sector, expanding beyond a purely technological focus.

Methods: Using data from 22 semistructured interviews with a diverse group of stakeholders—including health care professionals, researchers, municipal and regional officials, and private companies—this study examines 5 leading IoT projects in Sweden.

Results: Grounded in sociotechnical systems theory, the research identifies five critical subsystems impacting IoT implementation: (1) laws and regulations, which present challenges due to their complexity and misalignment with rapid technological advances; (2) organizational support, highlighting the essential commitment and resources from management to drive innovation; (3) user focus, emphasizing the importance of engaging end-users—such as patients and health care providers—in the design and implementation of IoT solutions; (4) resources, encompassing both financial investments and human capital needed for effective deployment; and (5) infrastructure, which addresses the technological foundations required to support IoT systems reliably.

Conclusions: By shifting attention from adoption to the complexities of implementation, this study fills a critical gap in the literature, which has largely emphasized adoption and technical aspects over practical implementation challenges. The findings provide a nuanced understanding of the primary factors influencing IoT implementation in health care, illuminating both the challenges and potential avenues for successful integration. Ultimately, this research advances the sociotechnical systems theory and also offers valuable insights for managers and policymakers tasked with driving digital transformation in health care systems.

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): RR2-10.2196/44562

Background

The development of effective eHealth strategies is critical to enhancing healthcare systems' efficiency and outcomes. However, there is limited comparative analysis of eHealth strategies across health systems, particularly in terms of their vision, objectives, implementation methods, and follow-up processes. This study compares the eHealth strategies of nine health systems, focusing on three key dimensions: vision and objectives, means to achieve objectives, and structures for follow-up.

Methods

A comparative qualitative analysis was conducted using publicly available eHealth strategy documents from nine health systems: Australia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Sweden, the UK (NHS England), Catalonia (Spain), and the USA (Veterans Affairs). The analysis mapped these systems' visions, objectives, implementation methods, and follow-up structures.

Results

Findings show that most systems articulate clear visions and strategic goals. However, there is considerable variability in the level of detail regarding the means of achieving objectives and structures for follow-up. Australia and Estonia present the most comprehensive strategies, with clear tasks, responsibilities, timelines, and follow-up mechanisms. In contrast, countries like Sweden and Catalonia provide less detailed strategic plans, particularly in terms of follow-up processes.

Conclusions

While most studied health systems include clear visions and strategic goals, there is variability in the detail and comprehensiveness of their implementation and evaluation frameworks. Strategies with detailed implementation plans and follow-up processes, such as those from Australia and Estonia, offer valuable models. Further research is recommended to explore the practical impact of these strategies on healthcare delivery, patient outcomes, and system efficiency. Additionally, the role of stakeholder involvement in shaping these strategies warrants further investigation.

Background: While people with dementia commonly experience depression, access to psychological treatment is low. A guided low-intensity behavioral activation intervention may represent a solution. Considering implementation barriers and facilitators is important during intervention development to increase the future implementation potential of an intervention. However, involving patients and informal caregivers in identifying implementation barriers and facilitators during intervention development is rarely done. Involving patients and informal caregivers may be particularly important for low-intensity interventions, given the active role they are expected to adopt for successful intervention implementation, e.g., they are seen as active agents as opposed to passive recipients. Study aims were to: (1) develop an understanding of the existing healthcare and community support in the Swedish context for people with dementia and informal caregivers, and (2) identify people with dementia and informal caregivers’ perceived barriers and facilitators to intervention uptake informed by Normalization Process Theory (NPT).

Methods: Following an interview guide informed by NPT, semi-structured interviews were held with people with dementia (n = 8) and informal caregivers (n = 19). Interview transcripts were analyzed using the NPT coding manual, with an inductive approach adopted for data related to the core theoretical NPT constructs, but not represented within its sub-constructs.

Results: Nine deductive and three inductive categories related to three core NPT constructs (Coherence, Cognitive Participation, Collective Action) were identified. Barriers included: (1) extensive intervention material, (2) dementia symptoms, and (3) lacking acceptance of the dementia. Facilitators included: (1) intervention having potential to fill a large psychological treatment gap, (2) understanding and agreeing upon the intervention purpose and potential benefits, (3) intervention guide having professional experience in dementia, and (4) a trusting face-to-face relationship with the intervention guide.

Conclusions: Implementation barriers and facilitators were identified alongside evidence-based implementation strategies to be adopted in the future. Additional barriers and facilitators were identified to those recognized by dementia healthcare and community interest-holders, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the potential diversity of perspectives among different groups within the healthcare triad. By integrating these diverse perspectives early in the intervention development, we aim to develop an intervention optimized for implementation within real-world settings, meeting global health priorities to support people with dementia and their families live well with dementia.

Background:

Sweden's healthcare system, known for its equity and efficiency, faced criticism in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic due to its high mortality rate compared to other Nordic countries. This study aims to explore the Swedish public health system's response to emerging respiratory infectious diseases, particularly COVID-19, using a realist approach. It analyzes contextual factors, interventions, mechanisms, and outcomes to provide a comprehensive understanding of the response, including debates around voluntary versus mandatory measures and the protection of vulnerable groups such as older adults.

Objective:

To explore how and why Sweden's socio-political and healthcare context influenced the interventions employed and their acceptability at both individual and collective levels.

Methods:

A realist approach was employed, combining qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with 11 public health experts, including researchers and infectious disease specialists. Data were analyzed using both deductive and inductive approaches and interpreted through the Context-Intervention-Mechanism-Outcome (CIMO) framework.

Results:

Key contextual factors included high trust in authorities, political decentralization, and the structure of the healthcare system. Notable interventions involved targeted vaccination campaigns, recruitment of retired healthcare workers, and increased digitalization. Mechanisms driving outcomes included trust, acceptance, and stakeholder engagement, which facilitated adaptation and acceptability of interventions. Interviewees highlighted challenges related to the timing and adequacy of measures, particularly for older adults in long-term care.

Conclusion:

While Sweden's public health response was effective in several areas, it faced challenges due to decentralization, voluntary non-pharmaceutical interventions, and workforce burnout. The realist approach highlights the importance of context-sensitive mechanisms such as trust and cooperation, and the need for stronger coordination and tailored strategies for vulnerable populations. These findings provide valuable insights for strengthening public health systems and pandemic preparedness globally.

Background

Despite depression being prevalent in people with dementia, contributing to negative health outcomes and placing increased burden on individuals and family members, access to psychological interventions is limited. A potential solution is guided low-intensity behavioral activation, supported by informal caregivers and guided by healthcare professionals. However, it is necessary to adapt interventions to meet the needs and preferences of key stakeholders to enhance acceptability and relevance. Study objectives were to: (1) explore needs and preferences concerning the content and delivery model of the guided low-intensity behavioral activation intervention; and (2) adapt the intervention to ensure cultural appropriateness, relevancy, and acceptability to people with dementia and their caregivers in Sweden.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with key stakeholders, including healthcare professionals (n = 18), community stakeholders (n = 7), people with dementia (n = 8), and informal caregivers (n = 19). A draft of the written low-intensity behavioral activation intervention and a description of the proposed intervention delivery model were provided to participants. Open-ended questions explored the perceived relevance of the intervention, alongside needs and preferences concerning content and delivery. A manifest content analysis approach was adopted.

Results

Content analysis resulted in three categories: Content, Delivery procedures, and Illness trajectory. Results highlighted a need to consider the intervention Content via increased cultural adaptation to the Swedish context, and increasing the inclusiveness of intervention content. Delivery procedures were identified as needing to be flexible given the unpredictable nature of caring for people with dementia, with the provision of additional guidance to informal caregivers supporting the intervention. Illness trajectory was viewed as essential to consider, with the intervention regarded as suitable for those early in the dementia trajectory, alongside a need to reduce workbook text to minimize burden given dementia symptomology.

Conclusions

The intervention and proposed delivery model were generally well received by all stakeholders. We were able to identify key adaptations to enhance cultural appropriateness, relevancy, and acceptability for a currently neglected population. Results will inform a feasibility study to explore the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and study procedures to inform the design of a future superiority randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Additive manufacturing (AM) is an innovative printing technology that can manufacture 3-dimensional solid objects by adding layers of material from model data. AM in oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) provides several clinical applications such as surgical guides and implants. However, the adoption of AM in OMFS is not well covered. The purpose was to study the adoption of AM in OMFS in university and non-university hospitals in Sweden. Three research questions were addressed: What is the degree of using AM solutions in university and non-university hospitals?; What are AM solutions used?; How are the AM solutions accessed (production mode) in university hospitals and non-university hospitals?

METHODS: A survey was distributed to OMF surgeons in Sweden. The questionnaire consisted of 16 questions. Data were analyzed through descriptive and content analysis.

RESULTS: A total of 14 university and non-university hospitals were captured. All 14 hospitals have adopted AM technology and 11 of the hospitals adopted AM in OMFS. Orthognathic and trauma surgery are two major types of surgery that involve AM technology where material extrusion and vat polymerization are the two most used AM technologies in OMFS. The primary application of AM was in medical models and guides.

CONCLUSION: Majority of Swedish university hospitals and non-university hospitals have adopted AM in OMFS. The type of hospital (university or non-university hospital) has no impact on AM adoption. AM in OMFS in Sweden can be perceived to be a mature clinical application.