Background The use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to cope with mental distress and pain issues has helped many patients in primary health care in Sweden. However, the effects of CBT to reduce sick leave has not been equally convincing. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an evolution of traditional CBT and we aimed to study if education based on ACT of the staff rather than the patients could reduce sick leave in primary health care. Methods This was a prospective trial in 6 primary health care centers in Kalmar (total amount of registered subjects of 28,930) in which the staff (physicians, nurses and therapists) received group-based education according to ACT during 2018 and 2019. The effects were compared with 5 similarly sized control health care centers in the neighboring Region of Jönköping in which no such education took place. The main aim was to study changes in sick leave in the 6 primary care centers of Kalmar and to keep track of more general trends by studying sick leave also in Jönköping, letting sick leave in the year 2017 to be the reference period for both areas. Results The staff at the health care centers in Kalmar reported to having attended a mean of 5.2 ± 2 educational ACT-sessions with psychiatrist Kadowaki in Kalmar. Sick leave for ICD-10 F43 (reaction to severe stress and related adjustment-disorders) was reduced from a mean value of 28.7 ± 9.1ongoing sick leaves/month in 2017 to 22.6 ± 7.0 sick leaves/month in 2018 (-21%, p = 0.033) and to 18.1 ± 10 sick leaves/month in 2019 (-37%, p = 0.038). The corresponding sick leave for any diagnosis (total sick leave) was reduced from 132 ± 39 sick leaves/month in 2017 to 118 ± 38 sick leaves/month in 2018 (-11%, p = 0.056) and to 102 ± 37 sick leaves/month in 2019 (-21%, p = 0.021). The corresponding sick leave comparisons in the control health centers did not show any significant changes (all p-values ≥ 0.24). Conclusions Total monthly mean sick leave was reduced 21% in the health care centers in Kalmar during the second year of the educational ACT intervention of the staff while it was unchanged in Jönköping. This suggests a significant effect to induce a reduction in long-term sick leave for patients in primary health care in which the staff received education according to ACT. The results of this trial could serve as a basis for a randomized trial in order to ascertain causality. Trial registration Pre-registration November 9, 2018 on ClinicalTrials.gov with number NCT03737019.

Objectives To describe nurses’ experiences of caring for individuals who have attempted suicide in specialized palliative care and to describe if the care of these individuals changed after the suicide attempt. Methods A qualitative, descriptive study was conducted. Nine nurses working in specialized palliative care units were interviewed following a semi-structured interview guide. Conventional content analysis was used in the analysis process. Results The results are presented in 3 categories: “A suicide attempt evokes strong emotions,” “Health-care efforts changed after the suicide attempt,” and “Experiences for the rest of working life.” Suicide attempts aroused emotions in nurses such as frustration, compassion, and feelings of being manipulated. The relationship between the nurse and the individual was strengthened after the suicide attempt, and their conversations became deeper and changed in nature. Health-care efforts relating to the individual increased after the suicide attempt. Significance of results The results of the study can create an awareness that the palliative process also includes the risk of suicide and can be used to create conditions for nurses to be able to handle questions about suicide without fear. The results of the study can be used as an “eye opener” to the fact that suicidality occurs in palliative care. In summary, there is a critical need for nursing education in suicide risk assessment and continued follow-up care for patients at risk of suicide within palliative care.