1. |
- Hoekstra, Tialda, et al.
(author)
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Nurse-led interventions in heart failure care : Patient and nurse perspectives.
- 2010
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In: European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1474-5151 .- 1873-1953. ; 9:4, s. 226-32
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Perspectives of nurses and patients on the intensity and content of disease management programmes (DMPs) in heart failure are seldom addressed but are important in optimizing these programmes. AIM: To describe the perspectives of patients and nurses on delivered care in two DMPs. METHODS: In total 442 patients (62% male; age 68±12years; LVEF 33%±14), assigned to the intervention groups of the Coordinating Study Evaluating Outcomes of Advising and Counselling in HF (COACH), and 32 registered nurses, completed questionnaires on satisfaction with the intensity and components of the DMPs. RESULTS: In spite of large differences in intensity and components, patients were satisfied with the content of both DMPs. In patients (NYHA III-IV), treatment and educational goals were more often achieved in those who received intensive support, compared to patients who received basic support (85% vs. 70%). Patients and nurses perceived that most home visits were adding significant value to the HF care, while 12% of the home visits were perceived as unnecessary by the nurses. CONCLUSION: Patients and nurses did not perceive the intense DMP as an emotional and physical burden for themselves. Patients with severe HF might be in need of more support to achieve optimal treatment and educational goals.
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2. |
- Hoekstra, Tialda, et al.
(author)
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Perceived sexual difficulties and associated factors in patients with heart failure
- 2012
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In: American Heart Journal. - : Elsevier. - 0002-8703 .- 1097-6744. ; 163:2, s. 246-251
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Sexual dysfunction is a common problem of increasing incidence in patients with heart failure (HF). However, there is no knowledge on which demographic, clinical, and quality of life (QoL) aspects are related to difficulties in sexual activity nor on the course of sexual difficulties in patients with HF. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanMethods Data on sexual difficulties were collected at 1 and 18 months after an HF hospitalization (n = 792, mean age 69 +/- 12 years, 35% female, mean left ventricular ejection fraction 33% +/- 14%) by the question on sexuality of the Minnesota living with HF questionnaire. Demographic and clinical factors were assessed from medical records and QoL by Minnesota living with HF questionnaire, Medical Outcome Study 36-item General Health Survey, and Ladder of Life. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanResults In total, 48% (n = 380) of the patients perceive difficulties in sexual activity at 1 month after discharge, and 70% continued to perceive this at 18 months. Furthermore, 27% of the patients without difficulties at 1 month developed them during follow-up. Living with a partner (OR 3.76, 95% CI 2.58-5.48), younger age (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.94-0.97)), male gender (OR 3.08, 95% CI 2.10-4.43), overall well-being (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.00-1.27), and physical (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.06-1.08) and emotional (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.03-1.10) QoL were independently associated with perceived difficulties in sexual activity. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanConclusions Perceived difficulties in sexual activity are common in patients with HF, particularly in younger and male patients and continue over time. Patients who perceive difficulties in sexual activity report a significant lower QoL and overall well-being than those who do not.
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3. |
- Hoekstra, Tialda, et al.
(author)
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Quality of life and survival in patients with heart failure
- 2013
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In: European Journal of Heart Failure. - : Oxford University Press (OUP): Policy B. - 1388-9842 .- 1879-0844. ; 15:1, s. 94-102
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To examine whether self-rated disease-specific and generic quality of life predicts long-term mortality, independent of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels, and to explore factors related to low quality of life in a well-defined heart failure (HF) population. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanA cohort of 661 patients (62 male; age 71 years; left ventricular ejection fraction 34) was followed prospectively for 3 years. Quality of life questionnaires (Ladder of Life, RAND36, and Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire) and BNP levels were assessed at discharge after a hospital admission for HF. Three-year mortality was 42. After adjustment for demographic variables, clinical variables, and BNP levels, poor quality of life scores predicted higher mortality; per 10 units on the physical functioning [hazard ratio (HR) 1.08, 95 confidence interval (CI) 1.021.14] and general health (HR 1.08, 95 CI 1.011.16) dimensions of the RAND36. Patients with low scores on these dimensions were more likely to be in New York Heart Association class IIIIV, diagnosed with co-morbidities, have suffered longer from HF, have lower estimated glomerular filtration rates, and have fewer beta-blocker prescriptions. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanQuality of life was independently related to survival in a cohort of hospitalized patients with HF. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanNCT 98675639.
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4. |
- Hoekstra, Tialda, et al.
(author)
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Quality of life is impaired similarly in heart failure patients with preserved and reduced ejection fraction
- 2011
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In: European Journal of Heart Failure. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1388-9842 .- 1879-0844. ; 13:9, s. 1013-1018
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aims To compare quality of life (QoL) in heart failure (HF) patients with preserved ejection fraction (HF-PEF) and HF patients with reduced ejection fraction (HF-REF) in a well-defined HF population. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanMethods and results Patients with HF-PEF [left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) andgt;= 40%] were matched by age and gender to patients with HF-REF (LVEF,40%). In the current study, we only included HF patients with a B-type natriuretic peptide level (BNP) andgt; 100 pg/mL. Quality of life was assessed by Cantrils Ladder of Life, RAND-36, and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure questionnaire, and impairment of QoL was adjusted for by BNP as a marker for severity of HF. We examined a total of 290 HF patients, of whom 145 had HF-PEF (41% female; age 72 +/- 10; LVEF 51 +/- 8%) and 145 had HF-REF (41% female; age 73 +/- 10, LVEF 26 +/- 7%). All HF patients reported markedly low scores of QoL, both on the general and disease-specific QoL questionnaires. Quality of life between patients with HF-PEF and HF-REF did not differ significantly. When adjusting the QoL scores for BNP, an association between QoL and LVEF was not found, i.e. patients with HF-PEF and HF-REF with similar BNP levels had the same impairment in QoL. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanConclusion Quality of life is similarly impaired in patients with HF-PEF as in HF-REF. These findings further support the need for more pharmacological and non-pharmacological studies in patients with HF-PEF.
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5. |
- Hoekstra, Tialda, et al.
(author)
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Sexual problems in elderly male and female patients with heart failure
- 2012
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In: Heart. - : BMJ Publishing Group. - 1355-6037 .- 1468-201X. ; 98:22, s. 1647-1652
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives To investigate perceived sexual problems in a large group of younger and older patients with heart failure (HF), with and without a partner, focusing on a broad range of perceived sexual problems, and compare this with a sample of healthy community-dwelling elderly people. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanDesign Cross-sectional study. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanSetting 17 HF clinics and general practices in The Netherlands. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanParticipants 438 patients with HF and 459 healthy community-dwelling elderly people. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanMain Outcome Measures Differences in sexual functioning, related factors and perceived causes of sexual problems between patients with HF and healthy community controls. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanResults In total, 59% of HF patients reported sexual problems, mostly problems with erectile function. HF patients with a partner (67%) and younger patients (65%) reported significantly more sexual problems than healthy community controls (58%, p=0.011 and 53%, p=0.011, respectively). Multivariate analyses show that sexual problems in HF patients with a partner were more common in men (OR 2.73, 95% CI 1.572 to 4.753) and in those with a prescription of beta-blockers (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.10 to 3.586). In younger patients, sexual problems were independently associated with male gender (OR 3.21, 95% CI 2.099 to 4.908) and having a partner (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.283 to 3.110). HF patients mainly attribute their sexual problems to symptoms of HF. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanConclusion Sexual problems are common in patients with HF, particularly in younger patients and those with a partner. As patients attribute their sexual problems mostly to HF symptoms, adequate treatment and education of HF patients is needed.
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6. |
- Hoekstra, Tialda, et al.
(author)
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What keeps nurses from the sexual counseling of patients with heart failure?
- 2012
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In: Heart & Lung. - : Elsevier. - 0147-9563 .- 1527-3288. ; 41:5, s. 492-499
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: We sought to examine the current practice of discussing sexual health by heart failure (HF) nurses, and to explore which barriers prevent nurses from discussing sexuality. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanMETHODS: The Nurses Survey of Sexual Counseling of Myocardial Infarction Patients and a list of barriers were used to form a questionnaire, which was sent to all HF clinics (n = 122) in the Netherlands. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanRESULTS: The majority (75%) of nurses (n = 146) felt a certain responsibility to discuss patients sexual health. However, in practice, 61% of the nurses rarely or never addressed sexuality. Barriers that prevented nurses from addressing sexuality and that differed between nurses who do (n = 58) and do not (n = 88) discuss sexuality include a lack of organizational policy (49% vs. 79%, respectively; P andlt; .001) and lack of training (43% vs. 80%, respectively; P andlt; .001), and not knowing how to initiate the subject (24% vs. 72%, respectively; P andlt; .001). Nurses preferred to address sexuality during a follow-up visit or when discussing medication. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanCONCLUSIONS: Although HF nurses feel responsible for discussing sexuality, this topic is rarely addressed in clinics. Several barriers were identified, relating to personal, patient, and organizational factors.
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7. |
- Kraai, Imke H., et al.
(author)
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Preferences of heart failure patients in daily clinical practice : quality of life or longevity?
- 2013
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In: European Journal of Heart Failure. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1388-9842 .- 1879-0844. ; 15:10, s. 1113-1121
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- AIMS: Knowledge of patient preferences is vital for delivering optimal healthcare. This study uses utility measurement to assess the preferences of heart failure (HF) patients regarding quality of life or longevity. The utility approach represents the perspective of a patient; facilitates the combination of mortality, morbidity, and treatment regimen into a single score; and makes it possible to compare the effects of different interventions in healthcare.METHODS AND RESULTS: Patient preferences of 100 patients with HF were assessed in interviews using the time trade-off (TTO) approach. Health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) was assessed with the EQ-5D and the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ). Patients' own estimation of life expectancy was assessed with a visual analogue scale (VAS). Of the 100 patients (mean age 70 ± 9 years; 71% male), 61% attach more weight to quality of life over longevity; while 9% and 14% were willing to trade 6 and 12 months, respectively, for perfect health and attach more weight to quality of life. Patients willing to trade time had a significantly higher level of NT-proBNP and reported significantly more dyspnoea during exertion. Predictors of willingness to trade time were higher NT-proBNP and lower EQ VAS.CONCLUSION: The majority of HF patients attach more weight to quality of life over longevity. There was no difference between both groups with respect to life expectancy described by the patients. These insights enable open and personalized discussions of patients' preferences in treatment and care decisions, and could guide the future development of more patient-centred care.
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