Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences

About: Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences is a education organization based out in Oslo, Norway. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 1420 authors who have published 3508 publications receiving 77843 citations.

Empowerment and Bariatric Surgery: Negotiations of Credibility and Control

Abstract: Today obesity is understood as a chronic illness. Programs developed to deal with obesity often build on an explicit aim to “empower” patients to take increased responsibility for their health, in line with contemporary neoliberal discourses. There is little empirically based knowledge about this so-called empowering process. In this article we focus on how an empowering program for patients diagnosed as morbidly obese worked on individuals’ identity. The program encompassed a course in lifestyle change, bariatric surgery, and aftercare. We conducted qualitative interviews with 9 individuals at different stages of their treatment process and applied discourse analysis to interpret their constructions and negotiations as they progressed through the program. We found that dimensions of control and credibility framed the respondents’ identity work. Based on the findings we suggest that contemporary discourses of empowerment as practice might leave the participants “trapped” within the ambivalence of freedom ...

Risk perception and medicines information needs in pregnant women with epilepsy--a qualitative study.

Abstract: Purpose To explore risk perception and medicines information needs in pregnant women with epilepsy (WWE). Method In-depth interviews with pregnant WWE treated with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Results Ten women aged 22–39 years in 20–34 weeks' gestation were interviewed. Avoiding seizures by taking AEDs in pregnancy outweighed perceived risks, but dose adjustments during and after pregnancy increased perceived risks of teratogenicity or seizures. The women had restrictive attitudes towards taking medicines for other indications than epilepsy. They appreciated their neurologist as a source for medicines information, though their needs for medicines information were reduced by long-term use of AEDs. Conclusions Pregnant WWE were confident in using AEDs through communication with their neurologist, but dose adjustments caused concern. Medicines information to pregnant WWE should focus on empowering the women to control the disease, supporting realistic risk perceptions of AEDs and other necessary medicines. In this article, we outline some medicines information strategies to pregnant WWE.

Perceptions of Intra-Organizational Collaboration and Media Workers’ Interests in Media Innovations

Abstract: This article contributes with a unique quantitative study of newspaper executives’ perceptions on the interest and collaboration contained within digital media innovation among staff in the editorial, business and IT departments. Two research questions are explored: (1) Do newspaper executives perceive that there is diverging interest in digital media innovation across the editorial, business and IT departments of their organization? (2) Amid digital media innovation, and also in relation to the interest in such activities among departments, do newspaper executives’ perceive that the collaboration between members of editorial, business and IT departments has increased? The empirical analysis draws upon two surveys of Norwegian newspaper executives conducted in April 2011 and April 2013. Results show that the various explorations of digital media are not perceived to have fostered increased collaboration between the actors in the three departments. However, there was a significant relationship related to the size of newspapers measured by circulation: larger newspapers had higher scores on intra-organizational collaboration. Media workers involved in production (editorial staff of the newsroom) and sales (business department) are perceived to be significantly less interested in digital innovation work compared to their colleagues in the IT department. Multivariate analysis revealed the technologists perceived interest in change to be a key predictor for perceived change in intra-organizational collaboration. This indicates the important role of the IT department, in relation to the newsroom and the business department, for innovation relating to the production and distribution of news.