Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is frequently used by patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Some MS patients experience unexpected improvements of symptoms, which they relate to their use of CAM. The aim of this study was to obtain knowledge and develop understandings of such self-defined unexpected improvement of MS symptoms. Two cases were constructed based on documents and 12 qualitative interviews. Our aim was not to make generalisations from the cases, but to transfer knowledge as working hypotheses. We identified four health-related change processes: the process of losing bodily competence; the process of developing responsibility; the process of taking control; and the process of choosing CAM. The patients explained unexpected improvements in their MS symptoms as results of their own efforts including their choice and use of CAM. In our theoretical interpretations, we found the patients’ redefinition of history, the concept of treatment and the importance of conventional health care to be essential, and leading to a change of patients’ position towards conventional health care from recipients to explorers. The explorers can be perceived as boundary walkers reflecting limitations within the conventional health care system and as initiators regarding what MS patients find useful in CAM.

3 AbstractBreast cancer patients are frequent users of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). They often have complex reasons for, and experiences from, their use of CAM.Bodily experiences are important and almost unexplored elements in CAM use. Our aim was to explore the meaning and importance of bodily experiences among breast cancer patients who were using CAM as a supplement or an alternative to conventional treatment (CT). Our findings based on qualitative interviews with 13 women suggest that bodily experiences were particularly important when positioned outside conventional health care prior to medical diagnosis and as user of CAM as alternative to CT. We introduce three central modes of embodiment related to CAM use: the right to one"s body, the body used as a gauge, and the body used as a guide. Patients" positioning between treatment systems should be further explored from a bodily perspective to safeguard and optimize patients" treatment choices. Keywordscancer, breast; embodiment/bodily experiences; health care, alternative and complementary; illness and disease, experiences; knowledge construction; safety, patient 4The most common cancer worldwide is breast cancer, representing 16% of all cancer diagnoses in women (World Health Organization, 2008). Breast cancer patients experience many physical and psycho-social challenges during their breast cancer continuum (Arman, Rehnsfeldt, Lindholm, Hamrin, & Eriksson, 2004;Bredin, 1999;Carter, 1993;Thomas-MacLean, 2004), and an increasing number of breast cancer patients in Western countries choose to use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to strengthen their health and well-being (Boon, Olatunde, & Zick, 2007;Kremser et al., 2008; Lengacher et al., 2002;Molassiotis et al., 2006;Nahleh & Tabbara, 2003). An international review revealed that the prevalence of CAM use varied between 63 % and 83 % among breast cancer patients using at least one type of CAM (Di Gianni et al., 2002).There is, however, a great variation in these rates, depending on the definition of CAM used in each study, the setting of the study and the sample size.In this article we will describe use of CAM among breast cancer patients in a Norwegian and Danish health care context. In these countries, breast cancer counted for 23% (Cancer Registry of Norway, 2009) No applicable official definition of CAM exists in Denmark, but the situation is quite similar to Norway. CAM in a Danish context can be defined as therapies that go beyond the treatments offered by the state-financed health system (Baarts & Pedersen, 2009). In general, the prevalence of CAM use in Scandinavia is higher among women, individuals with higher education, and people with poor self-reported health (Hanssen et al., 2005).In Denmark, patients with breast and gynecological cancer seem to be more likely to seek CAM treatments than patients with all other types of cancer (Kimby, Launsø, Henningsen, & Langgaard, 2003), and breast cancer patients using CAM seem to be healthier and more likely to hav...

Using the frameworks of the life course perspective and continuity theory, this study focuses on the association among working people between gender and specific leisure activities, social interests and individuals' preferred retirement age. The study is based on the first wave of the Norwegian Life Course, Aging and Generation (NorLAG) study, concentrating on workers 40-61 years old, thinking about retirement (n=2339). Results indicate that some leisure activities and interests are associated with preferences for early retirement, while other activities and interests are associated with preferences for later retirement. Different leisure activities and interests are related to men's and women's retirement preferences. Single women prefer to retire later than married women. Findings suggest that leisure activities and social interests have different relevance for men's and women's preferences for leaving the labor force. Women active in voluntary work prefer later retirement, while men engaged in fishing and hunting prefer early retirement.

In this article, we examine the social networks that enable working children on the streets of Addis Ababa to cope and exercise agency under adverse circumstances. Based on qualitative interviews with 45 children, we explore how they take part in new and existing social networks. We analyse the work of social networks and explain how they help the individual child to attain physical and economic security, secure living quarters, food supply, and formal and informal schooling. Finally, we discuss to what extent the networks can be considered as social capital for the children.

IntroductionTo be next of kin to a home-dwelling person with dementia is known to be a heavy burden, especially early in the process. Studies have revealed a need for information and support during the disease process. Likewise, there is support for the positive impacts of physical and social activities for wellbeing in home-dwelling people with dementia. It is important to obtain experiences from next of kin whose spouses or parents participate in such physical and social activities.AimThe aim of this study was to elucidate the experiences of next of kin to home-dwelling persons in an early stage of dementia who had an opportunity to participate in organized physical and social activities.MethodThe study has a qualitative design. Focus group interviews were conducted with ten next of kin to home-dwelling dementia sufferers, who participated in physical and social activities in an activity center. The interview texts were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.FindingsIn the analysis, two categories emerged: “a break in the everyday” and “being attended and cared about.” Two sub-categories identified in each of the two main categories were: “need of relief ” and “meaningful activities;” and “being confirmed” and “sharing experiences and getting advice and help,” respectively. These categories were interpreted in an overall theme: “contentment with adapted activities and group meetings provided with a person-centered approach.”ConclusionAdapted physical and social activities led by highly qualified personnel can provide needed relief and support to the next of kin, and meaningful activities to the dementia sufferers. However, it is crucial that the personnel provide person-centered care and are able to meet the needs of the dementia sufferers and their next of kin, to help to give them a new everyday life.