| 11. |
- Arnetz, Judith E., et al.
(author)
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Development and evaluation of a questionnaire for measuring patient views of involvement in myocardial infarction care
- 2008
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In: European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1474-5151 .- 1873-1953. ; 7:3, s. 229-238
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND Patients' involvement in their healthcare has been associated with improved treatment outcomes in chronic illness. Less is known about the affects of patient involvement on the outcomes of acute illness, such as myocardial infarction. A better understanding of patients' views and behaviour during hospitalization might improve clinical practice and enhance patient involvement. AIM The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a questionnaire for measuring patients' perceptions of their involvement during hospitalization for myocardial infarction care. METHODS Focus groups with myocardial infarction patients provided the basis for the construction of the questionnaire. Questionnaire validity and reliability were evaluated in a small pilot study and a larger cross-sectional study among myocardial infarction patients at eleven Swedish hospitals. RESULTS The questionnaire demonstrated good validity and reliability, with six factors measuring patient views and behaviour regarding involvement. CONCLUSION The questionnaire appears to be a useful tool for evaluating the perceptions and behaviour of patients regarding patient involvement in myocardial infarction care. Use of this questionnaire may provide insight regarding areas of patient-staff interaction that need improvement. Pinpointing such areas may lead to improved patient involvement, satisfaction with care, and treatment outcomes.
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| 12. |
- Arnetz, Judith E., et al.
(author)
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Is patient involvement during hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction associated with post-discharge treatment outcome? : an exploratory study
- 2010
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In: Health Expectations. - : Wiley. - 1369-6513 .- 1369-7625. ; 13:3, s. 298-311
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective To investigate whether patient involvement during hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction (MI) was associated with health and behavioural outcomes 6–10 weeks after hospital discharge. Background Patient involvement has been associated with improved health outcomes in chronic disease, but less research has focused on the effects of patient involvement in acute conditions, such as MI. Design Self-administered questionnaire study. Questionnaire results were run against medical outcome data in a national database of cardiac patients. Setting and participants Cardiac patients (n = 591) on their first follow-up visit after hospitalization for MI at 11 Swedish hospitals. Main outcome measures Patient ratings of three questionnaire scales related to involvement; cardiovascular symptoms, medication compliance, participation in cardiac rehabilitation, and achievement of secondary preventive goals. Results More positive patient ratings of involvement were significantly associated with fewer cardiovascular symptoms 6–10 weeks after hospital discharge. In contrast, patients who attended cardiac rehabilitation and achieved the goals for smoking cessation and systolic blood pressure were significantly less satisfied with their involvement. No association was found between involvement ratings and medication compliance. Conclusion This study represents a first attempt to examine associations between patient involvement in the acute phase of illness and short-term health outcomes. Some significant associations between involvement and health and behavioural outcomes after acute MI were found. However, higher involvement ratings were not consistently associated with more desirable outcomes, and involvement during hospitalization was not associated with MI patient health and behaviour 6–10 weeks after hospital discharge to the extent hypothesized.
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| 13. |
- Arnetz, Judith E., et al.
(author)
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Physicians' and nurses' perceptions of patient involvement in myocardial infarction care
- 2008
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In: European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. - 1474-5151 .- 1873-1953. ; 7:2, s. 113-120
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Patients' involvement in their healthcare has been associated with better health outcomes. However, few studies have examined whether patient involvement affects the work of healthcare professionals. A better understanding of professionals' views and behaviour is necessary for improving clinical practice and optimizing patient involvement. Aim: To measure perceptions and behaviour regarding patient involvement among physicians and nursing staff caring for patients with acute myocardial infarction. Methods: A questionnaire study conducted in 2005 among cardiology staff at twelve Swedish hospitals. The questionnaire included six scales measuring staff views and behaviour. Results: Physicians, registered nurses, and practical nurses did not differ significantly in their views of patient involvement, but did differ significantly in behaviour (p<.001). All three groups felt that an actively involved patient enriched their work, at the same time increasing their work load and taking time from other tasks. Physicians discussed daily activities and lifestyle changes with myocardial infarction patients before hospital discharge to a greater extent than nursing staff (p<.001). Conclusion: Physicians and registered nurses viewed time constraints as a hinder for patient involvement, while practical nurses felt unsure in communicating with patients. Considering these organizational and professional issues may improve patient involvement and health outcomes in myocardial infarction care. (C) 2007 European Society of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.
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| 14. |
- Arnetz, Judith E., et al.
(author)
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Staff views and behaviour regarding patient involvement in myocardial infarction care : development and evaluation of a questionnaire
- 2008
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In: European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. - : Elsevier. - 1474-5151 .- 1873-1953. ; 7:1, s. 27-35
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND Healthcare legislation in several nations now dictates the responsibility of health care professionals to involve patients in decisions concerning care and treatment. However, few studies have examined the impact of patient involvement on the work of health care professionals. A better understanding of staff views and behaviour might enhance patient involvement. AIM The aim of this study was to develop and validate a questionnaire for measuring views and behaviour regarding patient involvement among physicians and nursing staff caring for patients with myocardial infarction. METHODS Focus groups among cardiology staff provided the basis for the construction of the questionnaire. Questionnaire validity and reliability were evaluated in a small pilot study and a larger cross-sectional study among cardiology staff at twelve Swedish hospitals. RESULTS The questionnaire demonstrated good validity and reliability, with two factors measuring staff views and four measuring behaviour. CONCLUSION The questionnaire appears to be a useful tool for evaluating the perceptions and behaviour of physicians and nursing staff regarding patient involvement in myocardial infarction care. Use of this questionnaire may provide insight regarding areas of staff-patient interaction that need improvement, as well as implications of patient involvement for the work of each professional group on cardiology wards.
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| 15. |
- Axenhus, Michael, et al.
(author)
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Changes in dementia diagnoses in Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic
- 2022
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In: BMC Geriatrics. - : BioMed Central. - 1471-2318 .- 1471-2318. ; 22:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused large disruptions to healthcare systems. Refocus on COVID-19 related care might have contributed to indirect effects on other healthcare areas. Care focused on acute conditions have been negatively affected although research into the effects on chronic and care intensive patient groups such as patients with dementia diseases is lacking. In this study we evaluated dementia diagnosis trends in Sweden during 2015–2020 according to International Classification of Disease version 10 coding of common dementia diseases.Methods: Regional and national statistics in the form of International Classification of Disease version 10 coding, COVID-19 incidence, mortality data, and population census data were collected from the National Institute of Health and Welfare. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify trends of dementia diagnosis during 2015–2020. Correlation test was performed between COVID-19 incidence, mortality rates, and dementia coding.Results: Dementia diagnosis incidence has been declining since 2015 and further decline was noted in many regions in Sweden during 2020. As COVID-19 incidence increased, fewer cases of dementia were diagnosed, a decrease that differentially impacted women and those who were advanced in age.Conclusions: Dementia diagnosis incidence in Sweden has been on a decline since 2015. The COVID-19 pandemic caused a further larger decline in dementia diagnosis incidence during 2020. COVID-19 incidence, but not mortality, was associated with decrease in dementia diagnosis incidence. There might be a large number of undiagnosed patients with dementia and healthcare reforms should be enacted to address this. Women and elderly are particularly vulnerable groups.
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| 16. |
- Baxter, Rebecca, et al.
(author)
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The thriving of older people assessment scale : Psychometric evaluation and short‐form development
- 2019
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In: Journal of Advanced Nursing. - : Wiley. - 0309-2402 .- 1365-2648. ; 75:12, s. 3831-3843
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim: To evaluate the psychometric properties and performance of the 32‐item Thriving of Older People Assessment Scale (TOPAS) and to explore reduction into a short‐form.Background: The 32‐item TOPAS has been used in studies of place‐related well‐being as a positive measure in long‐term care to assess nursing home resident thriving; however, item redundancy has not previously been explored.Design: Cross‐sectional.Method: Staff members completed the 32‐item TOPAS as proxy‐raters for a random sample of Swedish nursing home residents (N = 4,831) between November 2013 and September 2014. Reliability analysis, exploratory factor analysis and item response theory‐based analysis were undertaken. Items were systematically identified for reduction using statistical and theoretical analysis. Correlation testing, means comparison and model fit evaluation confirmed scale equivalence.Results: Psychometric properties of the 32‐item TOPAS were satisfactory and several items were identified for scale reduction. The proposed short‐form TOPAS exhibited a high level of internal consistency (α=0.90) and strong correlation (r=0.98) to the original scale, while also retaining diversity among items in terms of factor structure and item difficulties.Conclusion: The 32‐item and short‐form TOPAS' indicated sound validity and reliability to measure resident thriving in the nursing home context.Impact: There is a lack of positive life‐world measures for use in nursing homes. The short‐form TOPAS indicated sound validity and reliability to measure resident thriving, providing a feasible measure with enhanced functionality for use in aged care research, assessments and care planning for health promoting purposes in nursing homes.
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| 17. |
- Belin, Andrea Carmine, et al.
(author)
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Association study of two genetic variants in mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
- 2007
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In: Neuroscience letters. - : Elsevier BV. - 0304-3940. ; 420:3, s. 257-62
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Mitochondrial (mt) dysfunction has been implicated in Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). Mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) is needed for mtDNA maintenance, regulating mtDNA copy number and is absolutely required for transcriptional initiation at mtDNA promoters. Two genetic variants in TFAM have been reported to be associated with AD in a Caucasian case-control material collected from Germany, Switzerland and Italy. One of these variants was reported to show a tendency for association with AD in a pooled Scottish and Swedish case-control material and the other variant was reported to be associated with AD in a recent meta-analysis. We investigated these two genetic variants, rs1937 and rs2306604, in an AD and a PD case-control material, both from Sweden and found significant genotypic as well as allelic association to marker rs2306604 in the AD case-control material (P=0.05 and P=0.03, respectively), where the A-allele appears to increase risk for developing AD. No association was observed for marker rs1937. We did not find any association in the PD case-control material for either of the two markers. The distribution of the two-locus haplotype frequencies (based on rs1937 and rs2306604) did not differ significantly between affected individuals and controls in the two sample sets. However, the global P-value for haplotypic association testing indicated borderline association in the AD sample set. Our data suggests that the rs2306604 A-allele could be a moderate risk factor for AD, which is supported by the recent meta-analysis.
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| 18. |
- Bixo, Marie, 1957-
(author)
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Ovarian steroids in rat and human brain : effects of different endocrine states
- 1987
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Ovarian steroid hormones are known to produce several different effects in the brain. In addition to their role in gonadotropin release, ovulation and sexual behaviour they also seem to affect mood and emotions, as shown in women with the premenstrual tension syndrome. Some steroids have the ability to affect brain excitability. Estradiol decreases the electroshock threshold while progesterone acts as an anti-convulsant and anaesthetic in both animals and humans. Several earlier studies have shown a specific uptake of several steroids in the animal brain but only a few recent studies have established the presence of steroids in the human brain.In the present studies, the dissections of rat and human brains were carried out macroscopically and areas that are considered to be related to steroid effects were chosen. Steroid concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay after extraction and separation with celite chromatography. The accuracy and specificity of these methods were estimated.In the animal studies, immature female rats were treated with Pregnant Mare's Serum Gonadotropin (PMSG) to induce simultaneous ovulations. Concentrations of estradiol and progesterone were measured in seven brain areas pre- and postovulatory. The highest concentration of estradiol, pre- and postovulatory, was found in the hypothalamus and differences between the two cycle phases were detected in most brain areas. The preovulatory concentrations of progesterone were low and the highest postovulatory concentration was found in the cerebral cortex.In one study, the rats were injected with pharmacological doses of progesterone to induce "anaesthesia". High uptake of progesterone was found and a regional variation in the formation of 5<*-pregnane-3,20-dione in the brain with the highest ratio in the medulla oblongata.Concentrations of progesterone, 5a-pregnane-3*20-dione, estradiol and testosterone were determined in 17 brain areas of fertile compared to postmenopausal women. All steroids displayed regional differences in brain concentrations. Higher concentrations of estradiol and progesterone were found in the fertile compared to the postmenopausal women.In summary, these studies show that the concentrations of ovarian steroids in the brain are different at different endocrine states in both rats and humans and that there are regional differences in brain steroid distribution.
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| 19. |
- Björk, Sabine, et al.
(author)
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Exploring the prevalence and variance of cognitive impairment, pain, neuropsychiatric symptoms and ADL dependency among persons living in nursing homes : a cross-sectional study
- 2016
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In: BMC Geriatrics. - : BioMed Central. - 1471-2318 .- 1471-2318. ; 16
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Earlier studies in nursing homes show a high prevalence of cognitive impairment, dependency in activities of daily living (ADL), pain, and neuropsychiatric symptoms among residents. The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of the above among residents in a nationally representative sample of Swedish nursing homes, and to investigate whether pain and neuropsychiatric symptoms differ in relation to gender, cognitive function, ADL-capacity, type of nursing-home unit and length of stay. Methods: Cross-sectional data from 188 randomly selected nursing homes were collected. A total of 4831 residents were assessed for cognitive and ADL function, pain and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and the chi-square test. Results: The results show the following: the prevalence of cognitive impairment was 67 %, 56 % of residents were ADL-dependent, 48 % exhibited pain and 92 % exhibited neuropsychiatric symptoms. The prevalence of pain did not differ significantly between male and female residents, but pain was more prevalent among cognitively impaired and ADL-dependent residents. Pain prevalence was not significantly different between residents in special care units for people with dementia (SCU) and general units, or between shorter-and longer-stay residents. Furthermore, the prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms did not differ significantly between male and female residents, between ADL capacities or in relation to length of stay. However, residents with cognitive impairment and residents in SCUs had a significantly higher prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms than residents without cognitive impairment and residents in general units. Conclusions: The prevalence rates ascertained in this study could contribute to a greater understanding of the needs of nursing-home residents, and may provide nursing home staff and managers with trustworthy assessment scales and benchmark values for further quality assessment purposes, clinical development work and initiating future nursing assessments.
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| 20. |
- Bloniecki, Victor, et al.
(author)
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Are neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia linked to CSF biomarkers of synaptic and axonal degeneration?
- 2020
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In: Alzheimer's Research & Therapy. - : BioMed Central. - 1758-9193. ; 12:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The underlying disease mechanism of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in dementia remains unclear. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers for synaptic and axonal degeneration may provide novel neuropathological information for their occurrence. The aim was to investigate the relationship between NPS and CSF biomarkers for synaptic (neurogranin [Ng], growth-associated protein 43 [GAP-43]) and axonal (neurofilament light [NFL]) injury in patients with dementia.METHODS: A total of 151 patients (mean age ± SD, 73.5 ± 11.0, females n = 92 [61%]) were included, of which 64 had Alzheimer's disease (AD) (34 with high NPS, i.e., Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) score > 10 and 30 with low levels of NPS) and 18 were diagnosed with vascular dementia (VaD), 27 with mixed dementia (MIX), 12 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 30 with subjective cognitive impairment (SCI). NPS were primarily assessed using the NPI. CSF samples were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for T-tau, P-tau, Aβ1-42, Ng, NFL, and GAP-43.RESULTS: No significant differences were seen in the CSF levels of Ng, GAP-43, and NFL between AD patients with high vs low levels of NPS (but almost significantly decreased for Ng in AD patients < 70 years with high NPS, p = 0.06). No significant associations between NPS and CSF biomarkers were seen in AD patients. In VaD (n = 17), negative correlations were found between GAP-43, Ng, NFL, and NPS.CONCLUSION: Our results could suggest that low levels of Ng may be associated with higher severity of NPS early in the AD continuum (age < 70). Furthermore, our data may indicate a potential relationship between the presence of NPS and synaptic as well as axonal degeneration in the setting of VaD pathology.
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