Wenche Østerlie | Norwegian University of Science and Technology (original) (raw)

Wenche Østerlie

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Papers by Wenche Østerlie

Research paper thumbnail of Challenges of informed choice in organised screening

Journal of Medical Ethics, Jan 1, 2008

Despite much research on informed choice and the individuals' autonomy in organised medic... more Despite much research on informed choice and the individuals' autonomy in organised medical screening, little is known about the individuals' decision-making process as expressed in their own words. To explore the decision-making process among women invited to a mammography screening programme. Women living in the counties of Sør- and Nord-Trøndelag, Norway, invited to the first round of the Norwegian Breast Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) in 2003. Qualitative methods based on eight semistructured focus-group interviews with a total of 69 women aged 50-69 years. The decision to attend mammography screening was not based on the information in the invitation letter and leaflet provided by the NBCSP. They perceived the invitation letter with a prescheduled appointment as if a decision for mammography had already been made. This was experienced as an aid in overcoming the postponements that easily occur in daily lives. The invitation to mammography screening was embraced as an indication of a responsible welfare state, "like a mother taking care." In a welfare state where governmental institutions are trusted, mass screening for disease is acknowledged by screening participants as a valued expression of paternalism. Trust, gratitude, and convenience were more important factors than information about benefits, harms, and risks when the women made their decisions to attend screening. These elements should be included in the ethical debates on informed choice in preventive medicine.

Research paper thumbnail of Opplever legene at partnerne er gode støttespillere i yrkeskarrieren? 2296–9

Research paper thumbnail of Brittle bones, pain and fractures–Lay constructions of osteoporosis among Norwegian women attending the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT)

Social Science & Medicine, Jan 1, 2008

Research paper thumbnail of Risk categorisation through standard deviations–the challenge of bone density measurements: A focus group study among women attending the Nord-Trøndelag …

Health, Risk & Society, Jan 1, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Focus Groups in a Medicine-Dominated Field: Compromises or Quality Improvements?

International …, Jan 1, 2007

Mammography screening has traditionally been viewed as a field for medical research. The medical ... more Mammography screening has traditionally been viewed as a field for medical research. The medical science discourse, however, is highly quantitative, and its claims for validity somewhat opposed to those of qualitative research. To communicate research in a cross-disciplinary field, it is necessary to adapt one's research to several paradigms. The authors conducted focus group interviews with women due to be screened in a national breast cancer screening program. Their prospective design, both strategic and random sampling, and free discussions during focus groups are all questions of satisfying a medical science discourse in the frames of qualitative research. Focus group research showed itself adaptable through the data collection phase in a crossdisciplinary research project on mammography screening.

Research paper thumbnail of Challenges of informed choice in organised screening

Journal of Medical Ethics, Jan 1, 2008

Despite much research on informed choice and the individuals' autonomy in organised medic... more Despite much research on informed choice and the individuals' autonomy in organised medical screening, little is known about the individuals' decision-making process as expressed in their own words. To explore the decision-making process among women invited to a mammography screening programme. Women living in the counties of Sør- and Nord-Trøndelag, Norway, invited to the first round of the Norwegian Breast Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP) in 2003. Qualitative methods based on eight semistructured focus-group interviews with a total of 69 women aged 50-69 years. The decision to attend mammography screening was not based on the information in the invitation letter and leaflet provided by the NBCSP. They perceived the invitation letter with a prescheduled appointment as if a decision for mammography had already been made. This was experienced as an aid in overcoming the postponements that easily occur in daily lives. The invitation to mammography screening was embraced as an indication of a responsible welfare state, "like a mother taking care." In a welfare state where governmental institutions are trusted, mass screening for disease is acknowledged by screening participants as a valued expression of paternalism. Trust, gratitude, and convenience were more important factors than information about benefits, harms, and risks when the women made their decisions to attend screening. These elements should be included in the ethical debates on informed choice in preventive medicine.

Research paper thumbnail of Opplever legene at partnerne er gode støttespillere i yrkeskarrieren? 2296–9

Research paper thumbnail of Brittle bones, pain and fractures–Lay constructions of osteoporosis among Norwegian women attending the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT)

Social Science & Medicine, Jan 1, 2008

Research paper thumbnail of Risk categorisation through standard deviations–the challenge of bone density measurements: A focus group study among women attending the Nord-Trøndelag …

Health, Risk & Society, Jan 1, 2012

Research paper thumbnail of Focus Groups in a Medicine-Dominated Field: Compromises or Quality Improvements?

International …, Jan 1, 2007

Mammography screening has traditionally been viewed as a field for medical research. The medical ... more Mammography screening has traditionally been viewed as a field for medical research. The medical science discourse, however, is highly quantitative, and its claims for validity somewhat opposed to those of qualitative research. To communicate research in a cross-disciplinary field, it is necessary to adapt one's research to several paradigms. The authors conducted focus group interviews with women due to be screened in a national breast cancer screening program. Their prospective design, both strategic and random sampling, and free discussions during focus groups are all questions of satisfying a medical science discourse in the frames of qualitative research. Focus group research showed itself adaptable through the data collection phase in a crossdisciplinary research project on mammography screening.

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