The aim of this study is to describe the experiences of people with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in their everyday lives by using the World Health Organization's International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health. Five people with COPD and four spouses participated in the study. The data were collected by thematic personal interviews and were analyzed by deductive content analysis. The findings describe the impairment of body function of people with COPD, they provide knowledge of those factors that promote the well-being of people with COPD, how they cope on a daily basis, and the importance of their spouse. Knowledge about COPD for all health-care professionals is a precondition to ensure that people receive the help they need. People with COPD found it important to have a care relationship with their own treatment unit. The findings of the present study showed that peer support was an important matter.

The aim of this study was to investigate the negative impact of illness on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or chronic bronchitis. The study population consisted of the participants (N ¼ 8028) of a health examination survey conducted in Finland. The sample in the present substudy was composed of 4718 participants who had complete information about spirometry. Variables age, gender, body mass index (BMI), illnesses, smoking in lifetime, education, FEV1% and incomes were entered in blockwise bivariate regression analysis to examine the relationships between capability for day-to-day activities (physical, psychological and social functioning) of those with COPD. Also, COPD (n ¼ 277) and chronic bronchitis (n ¼ 630) were compared with the general population (n ¼ 3817). Study results showed that women with COPD had worse HRQoL than men, regarding the activities in daily living (ADL; odds ratio [OR] 2.63, 95% confidence interval [Cl] 1.15-5.99), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL; OR 4.23, 95% Cl 1.92-9.29) and exercise (OR 2.66, 95% Cl 1.21-5.84). Compared with the general population, people with chronic bronchitis were associated with poor ADL, IADL and exercise, (OR 1.58, 95% Cl 1.32-1.92). Those with COPD, had difficulties managing in ADL (OR 4.02, 95% Cl 2.98-5.44), IADL (OR 3.27, 95% Cl 2.43-4.39), exercise (OR 3.35, 95% Cl 2.47 to 4.53). In this representative population-based sample, COPD and chronic bronchitis mean a significantly poor capability in physical functioning. People with chronic bronchitis experienced their daily life to be worse compared with the general population. Reductions in physical functioning for women and especially with COPD were also noteworthy.

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Tutkimuksessa selvitettiin millaisia tarpeita ja toiveita kotona asuvilla muistisairailla ja heidän läheisillään on kotona asumista tukevaan teknologiaan liittyen. Tutkimukseen osallistui 25 kotona asuvaa muistisairasta henkilöä ja 25 heidän läheistään. Metodina käytettiin etnografista tutkimusotetta. Aineistonkeruumenetelminäolivat avoin haastattelua ja havainnointi. Analyysimenetelmänä käytettiin sisällön analyysiä. Tarpeet ja toiveet voitiin luokitella kolmeen pääluokkaan, jotka olivat itsemääräämisoikeuden säilyminen, sosiaalisten suhteiden säilyminen ja liikkumisen oikeus ja turvallisuus. Haasteita olivat yksinäisyyden kokemus, muistin ja toimintakyvyn heikkenemiseen liittyvät ongelmat ja rajoitettu liikkuminen. Muistisairas ihminen koki lukitut ovet itsemääräämisoikeutensa rajoittamisena. Muistin heikkenemisen hän koki hämmentävänä ja toivoi siihen apua teknologiasta. Läheisen kokemus liittyi muistin heikkenemisen konkreettisiin seurauksiin päivittäisissätoiminnoissa ja kommunikoinnissa. He kaipasivat erityisesti näiden haasteiden ratkaisemiseen teknologialta apua. Huoli fyysisestä turvattomuudesta oli läheisillä suurempi, kun taas muistisairaat ihmiset kokivat enemmän psykososiaalista turvattomuutta. English abstract Based on the experiences of people with dementia and their love ones, the study explored how technology can be used to meet the people’s needs. Ethnographic approach was used when interviewing and observing people with dementia and their love ones. The target group involved 25 people with dementia living in their own homes with a family care-giver or alone and their love ones. Data were analysed using content analysis. When exploring the experiences that people with dementia and their family members had of everyday challenges and needs as regards technology, it was found that people with dementia described the confusing experience of deteriorating memory, whereas family members focused more on the concrete consequences the disorder had to the affected person’s activities of daily living and communication. Family members worried about physical insecurity, while people with dementia discussed insecurity from psychological and social perspectives. Their objective was to remember better, and to use the devices for this purpose. Their family members, on the other hand, stressed safety issues. Social needs, retention of autonomy and mobility needs were among the most important daily living needs mentioned by people with dementia. Their challenges involved experienced loneliness, problems related to the deterioration of memory and ability to function, as well as restricted mobility. Locked doors were seen as a restriction on mobility and self-determination.

This article focuses on the introduction of team learning and shared knowledge creation using computer-based learning environments and teams as networks in the development of healthcare organizations. Using computer technology, care units can be considered learning teams and the hospital a network of those learning teams. Team learning requires that the healthcare workers' intellectual capital and personal competence be viewed as an important resource in developing the quality of action of the entire healthcare organization.