Markku Ojanen - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Markku Ojanen

Objectives The purpose of the study was to investigate the physical and psychological prerequisit... more Objectives The purpose of the study was to investigate the physical and psychological prerequisites of functioning as well as social environment at work and personal factors in relation to working ability and general subjective well-being in a group of office workers. Methods The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study of office workers using path analysis. The study comprised 88 volunteers,

Supportive Care in Cancer, 2004

To investigate potentially health-enhancing domains of cancer patients&amp;amp;amp;#39; s... more To investigate potentially health-enhancing domains of cancer patients&amp;amp;amp;#39; social relationships we evaluated various dimensions of social support as experienced in early cancer. In consecutive samples of 72 melanoma and 103 breast cancer patients diagnosed 3-4 months earlier, we evaluated the cancer-specific social network and received social support by the Structural-Functional Social Support Scale (SFSS) validated within the study. In addition, social support was measured by the MOS Social Support Survey as perceived support, and by Seeking Social Support items from the Ways of Coping Questionnaire as coping activity. SFSS measures the number of people who have been aware of the patient&amp;amp;amp;#39;s cancer and the amount of social support the patients have received from them. A large number of people from various potential support-providing sources had been aware of the patients&amp;amp;amp;#39; cancer, and the patients had received support through these interactions. A greater number of support providers did not mean an increase in the support received. Social support was distinguished into subgroups according to its source, but the division into functional support types was weak. Support assessed as perceived support or as a coping activity did not cover the received disease-specific support of several sources. With the SFSS, it was possible to obtain detailed information on the disease-specific social network and social support. It may be beneficial to distinguish support according to the sources and to also measure support beyond the closest relationships. We hope that our measure and the results obtained will assist in identifying the targets for psychosocial interventions.

Supportive Care in Cancer, 2008

Goals of work Noncancer life stresses affect psychosocial stress processes and have an impact on ... more Goals of work Noncancer life stresses affect psychosocial stress processes and have an impact on quality of life (QOL) of the patients. However, investigating life stresses in cancer is a recent development. We evaluated the life stresses of newly diagnosed melanoma, breast cancer, and prostate cancer patients in detail and investigated their impact on QOL outcomes after localized cancer diagnosis. Materials and methods Life change events from the previous year (negative events, positive events, total impact of events, impacts of the negative events, and impacts of loss events) and chronic ongoing life strains were measured with the Life Experience Survey and the Chronic Strains Survey in newly diagnosed patients 3 months after the diagnosis. Also, perceived symptoms and QOL were measured, and in melanoma and breast cancer, these were repeated up to 2 years later. Results Noncancer life stress was common in newly diagnosed cancer patients: Both acute and chronic life stresses were experienced by four-fifths. Loss events (fateful negative events or social loss events) were reported by one-third. Many patients had a preceding chronic illness. Along with the cancer and treatment stresses, the noncancer life stresses predicted poorer QOL, particularly psychological and depressive symptoms. Different life stresses predicted slightly different domains of QOL, and depressive symptoms tended to be predicted by several kinds of life stresses. Baseline life stresses had impact also on later QOL in breast cancer.

Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 2012

ABSTRACT No abstract available.

Pain, 2005

The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of a workplace physical exercise intervention... more The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of a workplace physical exercise intervention on the perceived intensity of headache and the intensity of symptoms in the neck and shoulders, as well as on the extension and flexion strength of the upper extremities. The study was a cluster randomized controlled trial. The cross-over design consisted of physical exercise intervention (15 weeks) and no-intervention (15 weeks). The subjects (n=53) were office workers (mean age 46.6 (SD 8.4)) who reported headache (n=41) symptoms in the neck (n=37) or shoulders (n=41), which had restricted their daily activities during the last 12 months. Pain symptoms were measured using the Borg CR10 scale and muscular strength with a 5RM test. Statistical analyses were based on linear mixed models. Physical exercise intervention resulted in a slight, but statistically significant, decrease in the intensity of headache and neck symptoms, as well as an increase in the extension strength of the upper extremities. The mean decrease in headache during the 5-week period was 0.64 CR10 (95% CI 0.28-1.00) (P=0.001) or 49% (95% CI 22-77), and 0.42 CR10 (95% CI 0.11-0.72) (P=0.002) or 49% (95% CI 13-85) in the intensity of neck symptoms. The mean increase in the extension strength of the upper extremities was 1.3 kg (95% CI 0.5-2.1) (P=0.001) or 4% (95% CI 1-6). The intervention had no effect on the intensity of shoulder symptoms or the flexion strength of the upper extremities. Specific exercise may be clinically important to alleviate headache and neck symptoms.

Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 2007

There is no certainty about the contributing factors or the psychological processes involved in c... more There is no certainty about the contributing factors or the psychological processes involved in cancer progression. Many studies have suffered from poor theoretical basis, methodological flaws, and only one or few psychosocial factors investigated at a time. We examined the simultaneous contribution of several theory-based psychosocial elements to survival time in melanoma. A consecutive sample of patients with localized (Clarke II-IV) melanoma (N=59) were evaluated with validated questionnaires on coping with cancer, anger expression, perceived social support, noncancer life stresses, and domains of quality of life (QOL) 3-4 months after diagnosis. Cox regression analyses were used to determine the predictors of survival time from the date of diagnosis to the date of death or the last follow-up. After controlling for age, gender, and Breslow depth for the tumor, the baseline psychological variables related to the cancer-prone Type C response pattern, namely, anger nonexpression (repression), hopelessness, and better single-item self-reported QOL predicted shorter survival. Before hopelessness was added to the model, the amount of depressive symptoms and heavy perceived impact of diagnosis were also predictive. In addition, longer survival was strongly predicted by Cognitive Escape-Avoidance coping, which included items close to the concept of denial/minimizing. Anger nonexpression, hopelessness, and overpositive reporting of QOL--all proposed to include in the Type C response style or reflect emotional nonexpression--seem to comprise a set of factors that reduce survival, whereas denial/minimizing response to the diagnosis as such predicts longer survival.

Behavior Modification, 2007

The present study compares the impact of individualized treatment provided by trainee therapists ... more The present study compares the impact of individualized treatment provided by trainee therapists based on a traditional cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) model. Fourteen therapists were given initial training in CBT and ACT. Outpatients (N = 28) were randomized to either approach, with each therapist treating one client within each model, linked to a functional analysis. Clients treated within an ACT model showed better symptom improvement than the CBT clients, despite the fact that students felt initially less knowledgeable about ACT and were more fearful throughout when it was used. CBT improved client self-confidence more rapidly than ACT, and ACT improved acceptance more than CBT. Both processes predicted better outcomes; acceptance remained predictive when controlling for self-confidence but not vice versa. Overall, therapists with limited training in both models got better results with ACT and the processes of change fit with the ACT model.

Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 1998

This study reports the 10-year evaluation of the Finnish National Schizophrenia Project. The aims... more This study reports the 10-year evaluation of the Finnish National Schizophrenia Project. The aims of the national project were achieved. The number of long-stay schizophrenic patients in psychiatric hospitals decreased by 63% between 1982 and 1992. Both the treatment of schizophrenic patients and the structure of mental health services have changed greatly in Finland. Psychosocial treatment methods in particular have developed. The major innovations of the Project are the acute psychosis teams now serving over 50% of the country, and social skills training programmes. The 10-year evaluation of the Finnish National Schizophrenia Project shows that it is possible to conduct successfully nation-wide projects to develop the treatment of schizophrenic patients and psychiatric practices across an entire country.

Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, 2006