| 1. |
- Abrahamsen Grøndahl, Vigdis, 1964-
(författare)
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Patients’ perceptions of actual care conditions and patient satisfaction with care quality in hospital
- 2012
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- There are theoretical and methodological difficulties in measuring the concepts of quality of care and patient satisfaction, and the conditions associated with these concepts. A theoretical framework of patient satisfaction and a theoretical model of quality of care have been used as the theoretical basis in this thesis. Aim. The overall aim was to describe and explore relationships between person-related conditions, external objective care conditions, patients’ perceptions of quality of care, and patient satisfaction with care in hospital. Methods. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used. In the quantitative study (I-III), 528 patients (83.7%) from eight medical, three surgical and one mixed medical/surgical ward in five hospitals in Norway agreed to participate (10% of total discharges). Data collection was conducted using a questionnaire comprising four instruments: Quality from Patients’ Perspective (QPP); Sense of Coherence scale (SOC); Big Five personality traits – the Single-Item Measures of Personality (SIMP); and Emotional Stress Reaction Questionnaire (ESRQ). In addition, questions regarding socio-demographic data and health conditions were asked, and data from ward statistics were included. Multivariate statistical analysis was carried out (I-III). In the qualitative study 22 informants were interviewed (IV). The interviews were analysed by conventional content analysis. Main findings. Patients’ perceptions of quality of care and patient satisfaction ranged from lower to higher depending on whether all patients or groups of patients were studied. The combination of person-related and external objective care conditions explained 55% of patients’ perceptions of quality of care (I). 54.7% of the variance in patient satisfaction was explained, and the person-related conditions had the strongest impact, explaining 51.7% (II). Three clusters of patients were identified regarding their scores on patient satisfaction and patients’ perceptions of quality of care (III). One group consisted of patients who were most satisfied and had the best perceptions of quality of care, a second group of patients who were less satisfied and had better perceptions, and a third group of patients who were less satisfied and had the worst perceptions. The qualitative study revealed four categories of importance for patients’ satisfaction: desire to regain health, need to be met in a professional way as a unique person, perspective on life, and need to have balance between privacy and companionship (IV). Conclusions. Patients’ perceptions of quality of care and patient satisfaction are two different concepts. The person-related conditions seem to be the strongest predictors of patients’ perceptions of quality of care and patient satisfaction. Registered nurses need to be aware of this when planning and conducting nursing care. There is a need of guidelines for handling over‑occupancy, and of procedures for emergency admissions on the wards. The number of registered nurses on the wards needs to be considered. Healthcare personnel must do their utmost to provide the patients with person‑centred care.
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| 2. |
- Almerud, Sofia, 1969-
(författare)
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Vigilance & Invisibility : Care in technologically intense environments
- 2007
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- This thesis focuses on the relationship between technology and caring in technologically intense environments. The overall aim was to uncover the meaning of care in those environments as experienced by patients and caregivers. Moreover, the study aimed at finding a deeper understanding for the almost total dominance of technology in care in intensive care. The thesis includes three empirical studies and one theoretical, philosophical study. The research was guided by a phenomenological and lifeworld theoretical approach. Research data consist of quantitative parameters and qualitative interviews with caregivers and patients. Data was analysed and synthesised with aim of seeking meaning through openness, sensitivity and a reflective attitude. The goal was to reach the general structure of the phenomenon and its meaning constituents. The result shows that an intensive care unit is a cognitive and emotionally complex environment where caregivers are juggling a precarious handful of cards. Despite being constantly monitored and observed, intensive care patients express that they feel invisible. The patient and the apparatus easily meld into a unit, one item to be regulated and read. From the patients’ perspective, caregivers demonstrate keen vigilance over technological devices and measured parameters, but pay scant attention to their stories and experiences. Technology, with its exciting captive lure and challenging character, seduces the caregivers and lulls them into a fictive sense of security and safety. Technical tasks take precedence or have more urgency than caring behaviour. A malaise settles on caregivers as they strive for garnering the security that technology promises. Yet simultaneously, insecurity creeps in as they read the patient’s biological data. Technical tasks take precedence over and seemingly are more urgent than showing care. Listening, inspiring trust, and promoting confidence no longer have high priority. Trying to communicate ‘through’ technology is so complex, that it is a difficult challenge to keep in perspective what or who is the focus; ‘seeing’ or caring. Technology should be like a catalyst; do its ‘thing’ and withdraw ‘unnoticed’. This thesis has contributed in gaining deeper knowledge about care in technologically intense environments and the impact of technology. The main contribution is that caregivers need to be aware that the roar of technology silences the subtle attempts of the critically ill or injured person to give voice to his or her needs. In conclusion, the challenges for caregivers are to distinguish when to heighten the importance of the objective and measurable dimensions provided by technology and when to reduce their importance. In order to magnify the patients’ lived experiences. It is a question of balancing state-of-the-art technology with integrative and comprehensive care, of harmonizing the demands of subjectivity with objective signs.
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| 3. |
- Andersson, Bodil T.
(författare)
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Radiographers’ Professional Competence : Development of a context-specific instrument
- 2012
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Aims: The overall aim of this thesis was to explore and describe radiographers‟ professional competence based on patients‟ and radiographers‟ experiences and to develop a context-specific instrument to assess the level and frequency of use of radiographers‟ professional competence.Methods: The design was inductive and deductive. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used. The data collection methods comprised interviews (Studies I-II) and questionnaires (Studies III-IV). The subjects were patients in study I and radiographers in studies II-IV. In study I, 17 patients were interviewed about their experiences of the encounter during radiographic examinations and treatment. The interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis. In study II, 14 radiographers were interviewed to identify radiographers‟ areas of competence. The critical incident technique was chosen to analyse the interviews. Studies III and IV were based on a national cross-sectional survey of 406 randomly selected radiographers. Study III consisted of two phases; designing the Radiographer Competence Scale (RCS) and evaluation of its psychometric properties. A 42-item questionnaire was developed and validated by a pilot test (n=16) resulting in the addition of 12 items. Thus the final RCS comprised a 54-item questionnaire, which after psychometric tests was reduced to 28 items. In study IV, the 28-item questionnaire served as data. The level of competencies was rated on a 10-point scale, while their use was rated on a six-point scale.Results: In study I, the female patients‟ comprehensive understanding was expressed as feelings of vulnerability. The encounters were described as empowering, empathetic, mechanical and neglectful, depending on the radiographers‟ skills and attitudes. Study II revealed two main areas of professional competence, direct patient-related and indirect patient-related. The first focused on competencies in the care provided in close proximity to the patient and the second on competencies used in the activities of the surrounding environment. Each of the two main areas was divided into four categories and 31 sub-categories that either facilitated or hindered good nursing care. In study III the analysis condensed the 54-item questionnaire in two steps, firstly by removing 12 items and secondly a further 14 items, resulting in the final 28-item RCS questionnaire. Several factor analyses were performed and a two factor-solution emerged, labelled; “Nurse initiated care” and “Technical and radiographic processes”. The psychometric tests had good construct validity and homogeneity. The result of study IV demonstrated that most competencies in the RCS received high ratings both in terms of level and frequency of use. Competencies e.g. „Adequately informing the patient‟, „Adapting the examination to the patient‟s prerequisites and needs‟ and „Producing accurate and correct images‟ were rated the highest while „Identifying and encountering the patient in a state of shock‟ and „Participating in quality improvement regarding patient safety and care‟ received the lowest ratings. The total score of each of the two dimensions had a low but significant correlation with age and years in present position. The competence level correlated with age and years in present position in both dimensions but not with the use of competencies in the “Nurse initiated care” dimension.Conclusion: This thesis has shown that professional competence is important in the encounter between patient and radiographer. It has also demonstrated that radiographers‟ self-rated professional competence is based on nursing, technological and radiographic knowledge. From a radiographer‟s perspective, „Nurse initiated care‟ and „Technical and Radiographic processes‟ are two core dimensions of Radiographer Competence Scale. The 28-item questionnaire regarding level and frequency of use of competence is feasible to use to measure radiographers‟ professional competence.
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| 4. |
- Arvidsson, Susann, 1965-, et al.
(författare)
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Chronic musculoskeletal pain and sleep disturbances as predictors for lower vitality measured by the short form 36 (SF-36) - A eight-year follow up study
- 2006
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Ingår i: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. - London : BMJ Books. - 0003-4967 .- 1468-2060. ; 65:Suppl. 2, s. 656-656
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Subjects with chronic musculoskeletal pain or sleep disturbances have been shown to have a poor healthstatus as measured by the SF-36 health survey. Fatigue is commonly reported by subjects with chronic musculoskeletal pain and sleep disturbances. There is little known about the temporal relationship between chronic pain, sleep disturbances and changes of vitality.Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of chronic musculoskeletal pain and sleep disturbances with regard to changes in vitality as measured by SF-36 over an eight year period.Method: An eight year follow up of 2 425 subjects aged 20-74 from the general population that in 1995 answered the same postal questionnaire. The questionnaire assessed chronic musculoskeletal pain, sleep disturbances, and included the SF-36 health survey. Pain was considered "chronic" if persistent for three months or more. Sleep disturbances assessed were difficulty in falling asleep, frequent awakenings, early awakenings and not feeling rested. Main outcome measure was change of vitality as measured by SF-36 in those that at baseline reported vitality over the median value. Statistical analyses were done with use of logistic regression. Besides the studied variables, the logistic regression analyses also controlled for gender, age, socio-economic group, and the use of analgesics and sleeping pills.Results: At baseline 1212 subjects reported a vitality score on SF-36 above the median score of 75. There were 943 subjects (78%) responding at the eight-year follow up. Chronic pain at baseline predicted (OR=1,64, 95% CI 1,14-2,36%, p=0,01) worsening of vitality over time. Loss of vitality was also predicted by moderate problems with falling asleep (OR=2,17, 95% CI 1,31-3,60%, p<0,01), and problems with not feeling rested (moderate problems OR=2,08, 95% CI 1,23-3,50%, p=0,01, and major problems OR=4,76, 95% CI 1,53-14,78%, p=0,01).Conclusion: Loss of vitality in SF-36 over an eight-year period was predicted by chronic musculoskeletal pain, problems with falling asleep and problems with not feeling rested. Problems with frequent awakenings and early awakenings did not predict lower value of vitality over an eight-year period. It could thus be important to attend to sleeping problems and especially the feeling of not being rested in subjects with chronic musculoskeletal pain.
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| 5. |
- Arvidsson, Susann
(författare)
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Health promoting factors in people with chronic musculoskeletal pain or with rheumatic diseases: a descriptive and interventional study
- 2011
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Aim: The overall aim of this thesis with a salutogenic approach was to describe health promoting factors in people with chronic musculoskeletal pain and in people with rheumatic diseases, and to evaluate the effects of an intervention study with a self-care promoting PBL-program for people with rheumatic diseases having chronic musculoskeletal pain, sleep disturbances and/or fatigue. Methods: This thesis is comprised of four samples: a randomly selected sample from a Swedish general population (study I) and three different samples containing people with rheumatic diseases registered at a hospital for rheumatic diseases in the southwest of Sweden (studies II, III and IV). Study I had a longitudinal cohort design with an eight-year follow-up in a general population. There were 1109 participants without chronic pain and 700 participants with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Study II had a longitudinal cohort design with participants with rheumatic diseases (n=185) 12 months after rehabilitation at a hospital for rheumatic diseases. Study III had a descriptive qualitative design with a phenomenological approach based on a reflective life-world perspective. Twelve participants were interviewed about their experiences about health-promoting self-care. Study IV had a randomised controlled design with post-test six months after the one-year self-care promoting problem-based learning (PBL) program for people with rheumatic diseases. The participants were randomly assigned to the experimental group, 54 participants, or to the control group, 148 participants. Data in studies I, II and IV were analysed with statistics. In study III a Husserlian phenomenological approach based on a reflective life-world perspective was used in the data collection and analysis. Results: Study I: Although participants without chronic musculoskeletal pain reported better health-related quality of life (HRQL) than participants with chronic musculoskeletal pain, similar health factors were found to promote a better HRQL in the eight-year follow-up. The most important factors were feeling rested after sleep and having good sleep structure. Study II: The most important factors promoting better outcome in HRQL 12 months after rehabilitation in participants with rheumatic diseases were having a strong sense of coherence (SOC), feeling rested after sleep, having work capacity, and having good sleep structure. Study III: The meaning of health-promoting self-care as experienced by people with rheumatic diseases was that self-care takes place against a background of continual hope and belief to be able to influence health in positive ways. Self-care was a way of life and implied being ready to understand and respond to signals from the body. Three interrelated constituents elucidated the experiences: dialogue, power struggle and choice. Study IV: At the six month follow-up the participants in the experimental group had stronger empowerment after participation in the self-care promoting PBL-program compared with the control group which only got standard care for people with rheumatic diseases. There were no differences in HRQL, self-care ability, SOC, pain, quality of sleep or fatigue between the experimental group and the control group. The participants in the experimental group also stated that they had implemented lifestyle changes which they had not done without the PBL-program. Conclusion: The results of this thesis provide a valuable and useful insight in health promoting factors in people with chronic musculoskeletal pain and in people with rheumatic diseases, but also in that people with rheumatic diseases have benefit from taking part in patient education with a self-care promoting PBL-program. These results contribute to evidence supporting the introduction of a more salutogenic approach in rheumatology care and research.
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| 6. |
- Axelsson, Åsa B., 1955, et al.
(författare)
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European cardiovascular nurses and allied professions’ practical skills in cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- 2009
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Ingår i: Cardiology. - 0008-6312. - 9783805591430 ; 113:S1
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The purpose of this study was to test practical skills of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in European cardiovascular nurses and allied professions. Methods: Eighty-six delegates at the Spring Meeting on Cardiovascular Nursing in Malmö, Sweden, in 2008, were recruited for this study. Laerdal Resusci Anne SkillReporter manikins connected to a computer with the Laerdal PC SkillReporting System were used. The participants were told to perform CPR according to the “new”guidelines from 2005; 30:2 for three minutes. Results: 88% of the tested participants were nurses and 79% were female. Mean age were 42 years (range 19–63 years). They came from 14 different European countries, though one third was from Sweden. About two thirds had trained CPR within the last year. Seven per cent had no previous CPR training. According to practical skills the average inflations per minute were five (SD+1.5), average inflation volume 992 ml (SD+423) and average flow rate 857 ml/second (SD+401). According assessment of chest compressions the average compression rate was 121 (SD+22.5), average compression per minute 79.5 (SD+14.4), average compression depth 43.8 mm (SD+9.4) and average compression duty cycle 43.8% (SD+5.7). Hand position “too low”was the most common committed error. Conclusion: The practical skill in CPR among the tested delegates was rather satisfying regarding chest compressions. However, there were wide ranges as shown by large standard deviations. Regarding ventilations, too large volumes together with flow rates as high as those performed by many of these delegates may easily lead to gastric inflation during clinical CPR.
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Bala, Sidona-Valentina, et al.
(författare)
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Measuring person-centered care in nurse-led outpatient rheumatology clinics
- 2018
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Ingår i: International Conference on Probabilistic Models for Measurement.
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Person-centered care (PCC) is a key component to effective illness management and high-quality care but conceptually underdeveloped in outpatient care settings for long-term disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and there is a lack of instruments measuring patient perceived PCC.AIM: To conceptualize and operationalize outpatient PCC as a basis for measuring patient-perceived PCC in nurse-led outpatient rheumatology clinics.DESIGN: A conceptual outpatient PCC framework was developed based on theory and patient experiences.The resulting framework was operationalizedinto items that were tested regarding their accordancewith the theoretical framework and their measurement properties according to Rasch measurement theory (RMT) using the RUMM2030 software. RESULTS: The conceptual framework comprised five intermingled domains (personalization, shared decision-making, empowerment, communication, and social environment) that were operationalized into a 24-item PCC instrument for outpatient care in rheumatology (PCCoc/rheum). RMT analyses found items to successfully map out a quantitative continuum from lower to higher PCC levels, with generally acceptable model fit and a reliability of 0.88. Three items exhibiting multidimensionality, dysfunctional response categories, and/or unexpected hierarchical ordering were omitted. The revised PCCoc/rheum showed good accordance with the conceptual framework, improved fit, functioning response categories, and no DIF; reliability was 0.86.SUMMARY AND IMPLICATIONS: We found support for the PCCoc/rheum as a conceptually based outcome measure of patient perceived PCC. Results implied minor theoretical reconsiderations, and related scale revisions improved theoretical and clinical clarity. While in need of further testing, the PCCoc/rheum has great potential as a measure of outpatient PCC from a patient perspective.
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| 9. |
- Bala, Sidona-Valentina, et al.
(författare)
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Measuring person-centered care in nurse-led outpatient rheumatology clinics
- 2018
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Person-centered care (PCC) is a key component to effective illness management and high-quality care but conceptually underdeveloped in outpatient care settings for long-term disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and there is a lack of instruments measuring patient perceived PCC. AIM: To conceptualize and operationalize outpatient PCC as a basis for measuring patient-perceived PCC in nurse-led outpatient rheumatology clinics. DESIGN: A conceptual outpatient PCC framework was developed based on theory and patient experiences.The resulting framework was operationalizedinto items that were tested regarding their accordancewith the theoretical framework and their measurement properties according to Rasch measurement theory (RMT) using the RUMM2030 software. RESULTS: The conceptual framework comprised five intermingled domains (personalization, shared decision-making, empowerment, communication, and social environment) that were operationalized into a 24-item PCC instrument for outpatient care in rheumatology (PCCoc/rheum). RMT analyses found items to successfully map out a quantitative continuum from lower to higher PCC levels, with generally acceptable model fit and a reliability of 0.88. Three items exhibiting multidimensionality, dysfunctional response categories, and/or unexpected hierarchical ordering were omitted. The revised PCCoc/rheum showed good accordance with the conceptual framework, improved fit, functioning response categories, and no DIF; reliability was 0.86. SUMMARY AND IMPLICATIONS: We found support for the PCCoc/rheum as a conceptually based outcome measure of patient perceived PCC. Results implied minor theoretical reconsiderations, and related scale revisions improved theoretical and clinical clarity. While in need of further testing, the PCCoc/rheum has great potential as a measure of outpatient PCC from a patient perspective.
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| 10. |
- Bergsten, Ulrika, 1966-
(författare)
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Patients' and healthcare providers' experiences of the cause, management and interaction in the care of rheumatoid arthritis
- 2011
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Aim: The overall aim of this thesis was to explore and describe patients’ and healthcare providers’ experiences of the causes, management and interaction in the care of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Method: The thesis is based on four studies. Studies I and II contain data from an epidemiologic project involving patients who were recently diagnosed with RA. The patients answered an open-ended question about their conception of the cause of their RA (Study I). Qualitative data from 38 patients were analysed using the phenomenographic approach in order to identify variation in conceptions. The results of Study I formed the basis for categorizing the conceptions of 785 patients in the search for patterns of background factors (Study II). Study III aimed to explore how patients experienced their management of RA in everyday life. Data were collected by interviews with 16 patients and analysed according to Grounded Theory (GT). In study IV, the aim was to explore healthcare providers’ experiences of their interaction with patients’ management of RA. Data were collected by interviews with 18 providers representing different professions and analysed using GT. Findings: Patients’ conceptions of the cause of their RA revealed new aspects from the patient perspective that can complement pathogenetic models. Two descriptive categories emerged: consequences beyond personal control and overloaded circumstances, which included six categories of conceptions (Study I). The most common conceptions of the cause of RA were unexpected effects of events followed by work and family-related stress (Study II). Background factors that influenced the conceptions of the cause were age, sex and educational level. Patient management of RA involved using personal resources together with grasping for support from others in their striving for a good life. When linking these aspects together, four ways of management emerged: mastering, struggling, relying and being resigned (Study III). Healthcare providers’ experiences of their interaction with patients’ management shed light upon the important issue of delivering knowledge and advice. The providers’ attitudes constituted one cornerstone and patients’ responses the other. The providers reported that the interaction led to different outcomes: completed delivery, adjusted delivery and failed delivery. Conclusions: The findings contribute new knowledge from both patients’ and healthcare providers’ perspectives, which could be used to develop a more person-centred approach in rheumatology care. Person-centred care involves taking patients’ beliefs and values into account in addition to creating a trusting relationship between patient and provider. A successful person-centred approach requires an organisation that supports the person-centred framework.
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