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- Good, Elin, 1983-
(författare)
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Interrogating Atherosclerotic Plaque Biology Through Responses to Cardiovascular Risk Management and Imaging
- 2023
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Atherosclerosis causes more deaths than any other disease worldwide, and the cause of death is most commonly a rupture of a vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque, resulting in a thrombotic event in the heart or brain. The major risk factors for plaque progression are well known, but all the mechanisms that drive atherosclerotic plaques towards catastrophic events are not yet fully elucidated. This thesis revolves around the atherosclerotic plaque; how plaques can be analysed using cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging and the study of biological responses to cardiovascular risk management. In Study I we interrogated the quality of cardiovascular risk management in patients diagnosed with high-grade carotid stenosis and found that cardiovascular risk management was deficient in all aspects, despite the very high risk for events in these patients. Thus, we designed the next two studies to address the unmet clinical need for improved cardiovascular risk management in patients with carotid atherosclerosis while at the same time asking mechanistic questions about the effect of this approach on lymphocyte phenotypes (Study II) and on plaque composition (Study III). In Study II, the effect of cardiovascular risk management on Natural Killer cell, Natural Killer T cell and T lymphocyte subpopulations were studied in patients with carotid atherosclerosis. Our results show a polarisation away from a senescent phenotype towards more naïve i.e., juvenile cell types suggesting a transition towards a possibly less pro-inflammatory lymphocyte profile. In Study III, we applied a newly developed quantitative Dixon MRI technique to the quantification of lipid rich necrotic core and hemorrhage inside atherosclerotic plaques. Employing this technique, we explored the relationships between these high-risk plaque compositional features and circulating lipoproteins as they changed over time in response to cardiovascular risk management. In the current study there was no evidence for such a linear relationship. To further study the associations between inflammation and quantitative plaque measurements we explored in Study IV the relationship between inflammation in atherosclerotic plaques as measured by 18F-FDG uptake and features of high-risk plaque as measured by quantitative Dixon MRI. To facilitate the use of carotid MRI in larger cohorts we developed in Study V a technique for the segmentation of the carotid artery using supervised machine learning. Taken together these studies describe the importance of cardiovascular risk management, the complexity of atherosclerotic plaque biology and they propose new strategies for quantitative plaque imaging.
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| 2. |
- Säfström, Emma, 1980-
(författare)
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Continuity of care after hospitalization due to cardiac conditions : Patients' perceptions, validity and reliability of a measure, and associations with outcomes
- 2023
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Cardiac conditions are a common cause of hospitalization worldwide. The need for healthcare continues after hospital discharge and most commonly includes follow-up within primary healthcare centers or specialized outpatient cardiology clinics. This transition from the hospital to outpatient or primary-care settings jeopardizes the continuity of care. Continuity of care refers to the coordination of healthcare between different healthcare personnel and settings over time. There are three types of continuity of care: informational, relational, and management continuity. Continuity of care is essential after hospitalization due to cardiac conditions, and is associated with several positive clinical outcomes; however, available patient-reported measures of continuity of care during the posthospital period needs further validation. Accurate measurements would improve our ability to evaluate implementations designed to enhance continuity of care. Moreover, there is a lack of knowledge about whether the associations between continuity of care, perceived control, and self-care could explain variations in health-related quality of life and hospital readmissions in patients with cardiac conditions.Aim: The overall aim of this thesis was to contribute to improving care after hospitalization for patients with cardiac conditions by describing continuity of care from the patient’s perspective and increasing the understanding of how continuity of care can be measured and how it can influence patient outcomes.Method: All four studies had a cross-sectional design using a consecutive sampling procedure (I–IV). Study I was a single-center study and studies II–IV were multicenter studies. Data was collected using structured telephone interviews (I), questionnaires (II–IV), and review of medical charts (I–IV). The timescale for data collection ranged from one week (I) to six weeks after discharge (II–IV). The Patient Continuity of Care Questionnaire (PCCQ), a 27-item questionnaire to measure patients’ perceptions of continuity of care, was translated and culturally adapted to Swedish. The factor structure was reviewed (II), and a short version including 12 of the items was evaluated (III). A conceptual model was constructed to examine the associations between continuity of care, perceived control, self-care, health-related quality of life, and hospital readmissions (IV). The data was analyzed using descriptive and non-parametric statistics (I), confirmatory factor analysis, test-retest estimation (II), the Rasch measurement model (III), and structural equation modeling (SEM) (IV).Results: Patients in study I were hospitalized due to heart failure, and in study II–IV, patients hospitalized due to angina pectoris, atrial fibrillation, heart failure and myocardial infarction were included. Most patients received a written discharge summary. Despite this, many patients lacked knowledge about whom to contact regarding deterioration or questions after discharge. The patients described feeling unsafe and experienced a lack of clarity about their primary healthcare contact (I). The confirmatory factor analysis of the Swedish version of the PCCQ overall confirmed the sixfactor structure, but minor revisions were made to achieve a satisfactory model fit. The ordinal alpha for the subscales was satisfactory and ranged between 0.82 and 0.95 (II). In the 12-item short version (PCCQ-12) (III), two pairs of items showed signs of response dependence and the first two response options were disordered in all items. Apart from this, the PCCQ-12 was found to be a unidimensional questionnaire with sound psychometric properties and the ordinal alpha was 0.94. Patients most commonly reported lower levels of continuity of care on matters relating to management continuity after discharge. In particular, women, older patients, and those hospitalized due to angina pectoris reported lower levels of continuity. In study IV, the conceptual model suggested that patients who perceive higher levels of continuity of care also experience higher levels of perceived control and perform self-care to a greater extent, significantly improving their health-related quality of life and reducing the risk of hospital readmission. The association between continuity of care and self-care was mediated by perceived control.Conclusion: Patients’ perceptions of continuity of care after hospitalization due to cardiac conditions can be measured using the PCCQ. The longer, revised PCCQ can be used to evaluate the three types of continuity individually, and the PCCQ-12 can be used in a time-restricted setting or to reduce respondents’ burden. Even though most patients received a written discharge summary, this was not enough for them to perceive continuity of care after hospitalization. An area of concern is management continuity and elderly patients, women, and those hospitalized due to angina pectoris. Finally, according to the conceptual model, interventions aiming to improve health-related quality of life or reduce readmission should include actions to facilitate continuity of care.
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| 3. |
- Friedrichsen, Maria, 1966-, et al.
(författare)
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Assistant nurses' experiences of thirst and ethical dilemmas in dying patients in specialized palliative care — A qualitative study
- 2023
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Ingår i: Journal of Advanced Nursing. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0309-2402 .- 1365-2648. ; 79:11, s. 4292-4303
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AimsTo describe assistant nurses' experiences of thirst and ethical challenges in relation to thirst in terminally ill patients in specialized palliative care (PC) units.DesignA qualitative, reflexive thematic design with an inductive analysis was used.MethodsData were collected during November 2021-January 2023. Twelve qualitative interviews with assistant nurses working in five different specialized PC units in different hospitals in Sweden were conducted. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed with a reflexive thematic analysis. The study was guided by the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR).ResultsTwo main themes were found in this study. (1) 'A world of practice for thirst relief' where assistant nurses present a task-oriented world where the knowledge of thirst is an experience-based unspoken knowledge where mainly routines rule. (2) Ethical challenges presents different ethical problems that they meet in their practice, such as when patients express thirst towards the end of their life but are too severely ill to drink or when they watch lack of knowledge in the area among other health professionals.ConclusionThirst in dying patients is a neglected area that assistant nurses work with, without communicating it. Their knowledge of thirst and thirst relief are not expressed, seldom discussed, there are no policy documents nor is thirst documented in the patient's record. There is a need for nurses to take the lead in changing nursing practice regarding thirst.Patient or Public ContributionNo patient or public contribution.ImpactIn palliative care, previous studies have shown that dying patients might be thirsty. Assistant nurses recognize thirst in dying patients, but thirst is not discussed in the team. Nurses must consider the patient's fundamental care needs and address thirst, for example in the nursing process to ensure patients quality of life in the last days of life.Reporting MethodThe study was guided by the SRQR.What does this Article Contribute to the Wider Global Clinical Community?Thirst is a distressing symptom for all humans. However, when a patient is dying, he or she loses several functions and can no longer drink independently. The knowledge from this article contributes to our understanding of current practice and shows an area that requires immediate attention for the improvement of fundamental palliative care delivery.
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| 4. |
- Brons, Maaike, et al.
(författare)
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Patterns in the Use of Heart Failure Telemonitoring: Post Hoc Analysis of the e-Vita Heart Failure Trial
- 2023
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Ingår i: JMIR cardio. - : JMIR Publications. - 2561-1011. ; 7
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Research on the use of home telemonitoring data and adherence to it can provide new insights into telemonitoring for the daily management of patients with heart failure (HF). Objective: We described the use of a telemonitoring platform—including remote patient monitoring of blood pressure, pulse, and weight—and the use of the electronic personal health record. Patient characteristics were assessed in both adherent and nonadherent patients to weight transmissions. Methods: We used the data of the e-Vita HF study, a 3-arm parallel randomized trial performed in stable patients with HF managed in outpatient clinics in the Netherlands. In this study, data were analyzed from the participants in the intervention arm (ie, e-Vita HF platform). Adherence to weight transmissions was defined as transmitting weight ≥3 times per week for at least 42 weeks during a year. Results: Data from 150 patients (mean age 67, SD 11 years; n=37, 25% female; n=123, 82% self-assessed New York Heart Association class I-II) were analyzed. One-year adherence to weight transmissions was 74% (n=111). Patients adherent to weight transmissions were less often hospitalized for HF in the 6 months before enrollment in the study compared to those who were nonadherent (n=9, 8% vs n=9, 23%; P=.02). The percentage of patients visiting the personal health record dropped steadily over time (n=140, 93% vs n=59, 39% at one year). With univariable analyses, there was no significant correlation between patient characteristics and adherence to weight transmissions. Conclusions: Adherence to remote patient monitoring was high among stable patients with HF and best for weighing; however, adherence decreased over time. Clinical and demographic variables seem not related to adherence to transmitting weight.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01755988; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01755988
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| 5. |
- Carnesten, Hillewi, 1969-, et al.
(författare)
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Struggling with frightening experiences in a transformed reality : A mixed methods study of healthcare workers’ experiences during the pandemic.
- 2023
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact health care workers’ (HCWs’) mental health. Research show that psychological distress and hard challenges abide with strong commitment to contribute. Yet, in-depth understanding of HCWs’ experiences of the changed caring reality during the pandemic is missing. Mixed methods research (MMR) accommodates several features apart from employing either quantitative or qualitative methods. This presentation focuses on examples from the 13-step mixed method by Leech and Onwuegbuzie.Methods: 97 HCWs in one hard-hit region in Sweden answered a web-based questionnaire measuring symptoms of stress (using DSM-5 criteria for post-traumatic stress syndrome, PTSD) in relation to perceived sense of coherence (SOC-scale) and self-compassion (SCS) as well as HCWs’ experiences. First, qualitative data (experiences of the pandemic) was analyzed by qualitative content analysis, then quantitative data (associations between PTSD and SOC/SCS) were analyzed with linear regression adjusted for covariates. Thirdly, a synthesis, the meta-inference of qualitative and quantitative data, explained a new comprehensive understanding. Results: By analyzing the categories and subcategories from the qualitative analysis in relation to symtoms of stress and SOC/SCS, a synthesis emerged. This was undertaken by merging and comparing the findings and discussing the new comprehensive understanding. Finally, to fully outline the mixed methods approach, qualitative and quantitative data were synthesized into a new comprehensive whole, a meta inference. Conclusion: This study moves away from dichotomic traditions between qualitative or quantitative approaches. By broadening the methodological departure this study may provide a new comprehensive understanding and contribute to enhance quality in MMR.
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| 6. |
- Neubeck, Lis, et al.
(författare)
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The Core Curriculum for Cardiovascular Nurses and Allied Professionals
- 2023
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Ingår i: European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. - : OXFORD UNIV PRESS. - 1474-5151 .- 1873-1953. ; 22:7, s. e62-e113
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This 2023 update of the Core Curriculum in Cardiovascular Nursing (2015) embraces the formation of the Association of Cardiovascular Nursing and Allied Professionals and reflects the diverse professional backgrounds of our members, including nurses, allied health professionals, and healthcare scientists (in this document referred to collectively as Nurses and Allied Professionals).
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| 7. |
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| 8. |
- Screever, Elles M., et al.
(författare)
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Comorbidities complicating heart failure: changes over the last 15 years
- 2023
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Ingår i: Clinical Research in Cardiology. - : Springer Heidelberg. - 1861-0684 .- 1861-0692. ; 112:1, s. 123-133
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims Management of comorbidities represents a critical step in optimal treatment of heart failure (HF) patients. However, minimal attention has been paid whether comorbidity burden and their prognostic value changes over time. Therefore, we examined the association between comorbidities and clinical outcomes in HF patients between 2002 and 2017. Methods and results The 2002-HF cohort consisted of patients from The Coordinating Study Evaluating Outcomes of Advising and Counseling in Heart Failure (COACH) trial (n = 1,032). The 2017-HF cohort were outpatient HF patients enrolled after hospitalization for HF in a tertiary referral academic hospital (n = 382). Kaplan meier and cox regression analyses were used to assess the association of comorbidities with HF hospitalization and all-cause mortality. Patients from the 2017-cohort were more likely to be classified as HF with preserved ejection fraction (24 vs 15%, p < 0.001), compared to patients from the 2002-cohort. Comorbidity burden was comparable between both cohorts (mean of 3.9 comorbidities per patient) and substantially increased with age. Higher comorbidity burden was significantly associated with a comparable increased risk for HF hospitalization and all-cause mortality (HR 1.12 [1.02-1.22] and HR 1.18 [1.05-1.32]), in the 2002- and 2017-cohort respectively. When assessing individual comorbidities, obesity yielded a statistically higher prognostic effect on outcome in the 2017-cohort compared to the 2002-HF cohort (p for interaction 0.026). Conclusion Despite major advances in HF treatment over the past decades, comorbidity burden remains high in HF and influences outcome to a large extent. Obesity emerges as a prominent comorbidity, and efforts should be made for prevention and treatment. [GRAPHICS] .
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| 9. |
- Säfström, Emma, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
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Associations between continuity of care, perceived control and self-care and their impact on health-related quality of life and hospital readmission - A structural equation model
- 2023
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Ingår i: Journal of Advanced Nursing. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0309-2402 .- 1365-2648. ; 79:6, s. 2305-2315
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- AimThe aim of this study is to examine whether a conceptual model including the associations between continuity of care, perceived control and self-care could explain variations in health-related quality of life and hospital readmissions in people with chronic cardiac conditions after hospital discharge. DesignCorrelational design based on cross-sectional data from a multicentre survey study. MethodsPeople hospitalized due to angina, atrial fibrillation, heart failure or myocardial infarction were included at four hospitals using consecutive sampling procedures during 2017-2019. Eligible people received questionnaires by regular mail 4-6 weeks after discharge. A tentative conceptual model describing the relationship between continuity of care, self-care, perceived control, health-related quality of life and readmission was developed and evaluated using structural equation modelling. ResultsIn total, 542 people (mean age 75 years, 37% females) were included in the analyses. According to the structural equation model, continuity of care predicted self-care, which in turn predicted health-related quality of life and hospital readmission. The association between continuity of care and self-care was partly mediated by perceived control. The model had an excellent model fit: RMSEA = 0.06, 90% CI, 0.05-0.06; CFI = 0.90; TLI = 0.90. ConclusionInterventions aiming to improve health-related quality of life and reduce hospital readmission rates should focus on enhancing continuity of care, perceived control and self-care. ImpactThis study reduces the knowledge gap on how central factors after hospitalization, such as continuity of care, self-care and perceived control, are associated with improved health-related quality of life and hospital readmission in people with cardiac conditions. The results suggest that these factors together predicted the quality of life and readmissions in this sample. This knowledge is relevant to researchers when designing interventions or predicting health-related quality of life and hospital readmission. For clinicians, it emphasizes that enhancing continuity of care, perceived control and self-care positively impacts clinical outcomes. Patient or Public ContributionPeople and healthcare personnel evaluated content validity and were included in selecting items for the short version.
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| 10. |
- Säfström, Emma, 1980-, et al.
(författare)
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Development and psychometric properties of a short version of the Patient Continuity of Care Questionnaire
- 2023
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Ingår i: Health Expectations. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1369-6513 .- 1369-7625. ; 26:3, s. 1137-1148
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- IntroductionHospitalization due to cardiac conditions is increasing worldwide, and follow-up after hospitalization usually occurs in a different healthcare setting than the one providing treatment during hospitalization. This leads to a risk of fragmented care and increases the need for coordination and continuity of care after hospitalization. Furthermore, international reports highlight the importance of improving continuity of care and state that it is an essential indicator of the quality of care. Patients' perceptions of continuity of care can be evaluated using the Patient Continuity of Care Questionnaire (PCCQ). However, the original version is extensive and may prove burdensome to complete; therefore, we aimed to develop and evaluate a short version of the PCCQ. MethodsThis was a psychometric validation study. Content validity was evaluated among user groups, including patients (n = 7), healthcare personnel (n = 15), and researchers (n = 7). Based on the results of the content validity and conceptual discussions among the authors, 12 items were included in the short version. Data from patients were collected using a consecutive sampling procedure involving patients 6 weeks after hospitalization due to cardiac conditions. Rasch analysis was used to evaluate the psychometric properties of the short version of the PCCQ. ResultsA total of 1000 patients were included [mean age 72 (SD = 10), 66% males]. The PCCQ-12 presented a satisfactory overall model fit and a person separation index of 0.79 (Cronbach's alpha: .91, ordinal alpha: .94). However, three items presented individual item misfits. No evidence of multidimensionality was found, meaning that a total score can be calculated. A total of four items presented evidence of response dependence but, according to the analysis, this did not seem to affect the measurement properties or reliability of the PCCQ-12. We found that the first two response options were disordered in all items. However, the reliability remained the same when these response options were amended. In future research, the benefits of the four response options could be evaluated. ConclusionThe PCCQ-12 has sound psychometric properties and is ready to be used in clinical and research settings to measure patients' perceptions of continuity of care after hospitalization. Patient or Public ContributionPatients, healthcare personnel and researchers were involved in the study because they were invited to select items relevant to the short version of the questionnaire.
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