AF affects well-being when it is uncomfortable and leads to pronounced limitations in daily life with the patients trying to maintain or restore well-being through adapting and developing strategies for self-care. Patients base the handling of AF on their personal experience.

Children with acute otitis media were excluded because they are routinely treated with antibiotics. Children with tonsillitis were excluded because a separate study was being carried out of tonsillitis. There were 70 girls and 84 boys. Seventy eight (51%) children were less than 2 years old, 42 (27%) between 2 and 6 years, and 34 (22%) over 6 years old. The mean age was 3 years 4 months with a range of 2 months to 14 years.The outpatients received a questionnaire for follow up of the symptoms and signs of the disease. Re-examination was performed in 83 of 97 outpatients seven days after the first visit, and the questionnaire was returned. The follow up was conducted by telephone in another 13 patients, and one patient returned the questionnaire by mail. The inpatients were treated in the hospital until afebrile and were not routinely re-evaluated.Blood was taken for routine haematologic tests (total white blood cell counts (WBC) and differential counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and CRP). Nasopharyngeal mucus aspirates for rapid diagnosis of virus was taken from 135 children.

A dyadic mindfulness-based CBT programme improved HRQoL and reduced psychological distress up to 12 months post atrial fibrillation. The sense of coherence strongly mediated the HRQoL; consequently, the sense of coherence is an important determinant to consider when designing programmes for atrial fibrillation patients.

Background: The well-being of relatives of patients having chronic heart diseases (CHD) has been found to be negatively affected by the patient’s condition. Studies examining relatives of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) indicate that their well-being may be affected in a similar manner, but further research is needed. Aim: To explore and describe critical incidents in which relatives of patients experience how AF affects their well-being and what actions they take to handle these situations. Design and method: An explorative, descriptive design based on the critical incident technique (CIT) was used. Interviews were conducted with 19 relatives (14 women and five men) of patients hospitalised in southern Sweden due to acute symptoms of the AF. Results: The well-being of relatives was found to be affected by their worries (patient-related health), as well as the sacri-ficing of their own needs (self-related health). In handling their own well-being, these relatives adjusted to and supported the patient (practical involvement), along with adjusting their own feelings and responding to the mood of the patients (emotional involvement). Conclusion: The well-being of relatives of patients with AF was affected depending on the patients’ well-being. In their attempt to handle their own well-being, the relatives adjusted to and supported the patients. Further research is needed in order to evaluate the effects of support to relatives and patients respectively and together.