| 1. |
|
|
| 2. |
- Ahlander, Britt-Marie, 1954-, et al.
(author)
-
Development and validation of a questionnaire evaluating patient anxiety during Magnetic Resonance Imaging : the Magnetic Resonance Imaging- Anxiety Questionnaire (MRI-AQ)
- 2016
-
In: Journal of Advanced Nursing. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0309-2402 .- 1365-2648. ; 72:6, s. 1368-1380
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aim: To develop and validate a new instrument measuring patient anxiety during Magnetic Resonance Imaging examinations, Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Anxiety Questionnaire.Background: Questionnaires measuring patients’ anxiety during Magnetic Resonance Imaging examinations have been the same as used in a wide range of conditions. To learn about patients’ experience during examination and to evaluate interventions, a specific questionnaire measuring patient anxiety during Magnetic Resonance Imaging is needed.Design: Psychometric cross-sectional study with test-retest design.Methods: A new questionnaire, Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Anxiety Questionnaire, was designed from patient expressions of anxiety in Magnetic Resonance Imagingscanners. The sample was recruited between October 2012–October 2014. Factor structure was evaluated with exploratory factor analysis and internal consistency with Cronbach’s alpha. Criterion-related validity, known-group validity and test-retest was calculated.Results: Patients referred for Magnetic Resonance Imaging of either the spine or the heart, were invited to participate. The development and validation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Anxiety Questionnaire resulted in 15 items consisting of two factors. Cronbach’s alpha was found to be high. Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Anxiety Questionnaire correlated higher with instruments measuring anxiety than with depression scales. Known-group validity demonstrated a higher level of anxiety for patients undergoing Magnetic Resonance Imaging scan of the heart than for those examining the spine. Test-retest reliability demonstrated acceptable level for the scale.Conclusion: Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Anxiety Questionnaire bridges a gap among existing questionnaires, making it a simple and useful tool for measuring patient anxiety during Magnetic Resonance Imaging examinations.
|
|
| 3. |
- Alvariza, Anette, et al.
(author)
-
A person-centred approach in nursing: Validity and reliability of the Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool
- 2018
-
In: European Journal of Oncology Nursing. - : Elsevier BV. - 1462-3889 .- 1532-2122. ; 35, s. 1-8
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose: The Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (CSNAT) was developed for use among family caregivers in palliative care for assessment of their support needs. The purpose of this study was to translate and evaluate the validity and reliability of the CSNAT in a sample of Swedish family caregivers and nurses in a palliative care context. Methods: Data for this validation study was collected during 2016 in the context of palliative home care in two larger Swedish cities. The study was conducted in three stages to reach conceptual, semantic, operational and measurement equivalence between the original UK version and the Swedish version. Stage I consisted of translation to Swedish. In Stage II, cognitive interviews were performed with 8 family caregivers and 10 nurses. Data were analyzed based on relevance, clarity and sensitivity. In Stage III, the CSNAT and related self-rating measures (caregiver burden, preparedness for caregiving and quality of life) were completed by 118 family caregivers. Data quality, construct validity and test-retest reliability were evaluated. Results: The CSNAT items were considered relevant and useful to identify areas of support needs. The Swedish CSNAT showed sound psychometric properties with satisfactory data quality and few problems with missing data across items (1.8%-6.1%). All items except one correlated as expected (rho>0.3) with caregiver burden, supporting construct validity. All items had satisfactory test-retest reliability (κw=0.45-0.75). Conclusions: This study further adds to the validity of the CSNAT and shows in addition that it is reliable and stable for use among family caregivers in palliative care. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd
|
|
| 4. |
- Alvariza, Anette, et al.
(author)
-
Carer Support Needs and Quality of Life in Palliative Care: A Methodological and Empiri-cal Study
- 2019
-
In: 16th Word Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC). Berlin, May 23-25, Abstract P01-148..
-
Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background: The Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (CSNAT) was developed to identify support needs of family carers in the context of palliative care which aims to improve quality of life, not just of patients but also their families. Aims: This study aims to 1) evaluate validity and reliability of the CSNAT in a sample of Swedish family carers and nurses in a specialised palliative care context, 2) investigate associations between carer support needs and quality of life. Methods: The study was conducted in four stages I: translation of CSNAT to Swedish; II: cognitive interviews with 8 family carers and 10 nurses; III: completion of the CSNAT, Preparedness for Caregiving Scale, Caregiver Burden Scale, Quality of Life in Life Threatening Illness- Family Carer Version by 118 family carers (spouses/partners: mean age 68 years; 69 women and 45 men). Evaluation of data quality, construct validity and test-retest reliability; IV: Investigation of associations between carer support needs and qual- ity of life using linear regression analyses. Results: CSNAT items were considered relevant and useful to identify support needs and demonstrated sound psychometric properties with satisfactory data quality and few problems with missing data. All items had satisfactory test-retest reliability. Construct validity was supported, as CSNAT items correlated with caregiver burden and preparedness. Associations were found between CSNAT items and seven different domains that represent carer quality of life; carer state, patient wellbe- ing, quality of care, outlook, environment and finances. Having more support needs was associated with poorer quality of life. Conclusion: This study adds to the validity of the CSNAT and shows in addition that it is reliable and stable for use among family carers in pal- liative care. Associations between carer support needs and quality of life suggests that carers’ quality of life may be improved by acknowledging and addressing their needs for support.
|
|
| 5. |
- Alvariza, Anette, et al.
(author)
-
Family members' experiences of integrated palliative advanced home and heart failure care : a qualitative study of the PREFER intervention
- 2018
-
In: Palliative & Supportive Care. - New York : Cambridge University Press. - 1478-9515 .- 1478-9523. ; 16:3, s. 278-285
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Chronic heart failure is a disease with high morbidity and symptom burden for patients, and it also places great demands on family members. Patients with heart failure should have access to palliative care for the purpose of improving quality of life for both patients and their families. In the PREFER randomized controlled intervention, patients with New York Heart Association classes III-IV heart failure received person-centered care with a multidisciplinary approach involving collaboration between specialists in palliative and heart failure care. The aim of the present study was to describe family members' experiences of the intervention, which integrated palliative advanced home and heart failure care.METHOD: This study had a qualitative descriptive design based on family member interviews. Altogether, 14 family members participated in semistructured interviews for evaluation after intervention completion. The data were analyzed by means of content analysis.RESULTS: Family members expressed gratitude and happiness after witnessing the patient feeling better due to symptom relief and empowerment. They also felt relieved and less worried, as they were reassured that the patient was being cared for properly and that their own responsibility for care was shared with healthcare professionals. However, some family members also felt as though they were living in the shadow of severe illness, without receiving any support for themselves.SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Several benefits were found for family members from the PREFER intervention, and our results indicate the significance of integrated palliative advanced home and heart failure care. However, in order to improve this intervention, psychosocial professionals should be included on the intervention team and should contribute by paying closer attention and providing targeted support for family members.
|
|
| 6. |
- Andersson, Sofia, 1972-, et al.
(author)
-
Factors Associated With Symptom Relief in End-of-Life Care in Residential Care Homes: A National Register-Based Study
- 2018
-
In: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. - : Elsevier BV. - 0885-3924 .- 1873-6513. ; 55:5, s. 1304-1312
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. Residential care homes (RCHs) are a common place of death. Previous studies have reported a high prevalence of symptoms such as pain and shortness of breath among residents in the last week of life.& para;& para;Objectives. The aim of the study was to explore the presence of symptoms and symptom relief and identify factors associated with symptom relief of pain, nausea, anxiety, and shortness of breath among RCH residents in end-of-life care.& para;& para;Methods. The data consisted of all expected deaths at RCHs registered in the Swedish Register of Palliative Care (N 22,855). Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted.& para;& para;Results. Pain was reported as the most frequent symptom of the four symptoms (68.8%) and the one that most often had been totally relieved (84.7%) by care professionals. Factors associated with relief from at least one symptom were gender; age; time in the RCH; use of a validated pain or symptom assessment scale; documented end-of-life discussions with physicians for both the residents and family members; consultations with other units; diseases other than cancer as cause of death; presence of ulcers; assessment of oral health; and prescribed pro re nata injections for pain, nausea, and anxiety.& para;& para;Conclusion. Our results indicate that use of a validated pain assessment scale, assessment of oral health, and prescribed pro re nata injections for pain, nausea, and anxiety might offer a way to improve symptom relief. These clinical tools and medications should be implemented in the care of the dying in RCHs, and controlled trials should be undertaken to prove the effect. (C) 2017 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
|
|
| 7. |
- Andreae, Christina, 1969-
(author)
-
Appetite in patients with heart failure : Assessment, prevalence and related factors
- 2018
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background: Appetite is an important component in nutrition for maintaining the food intake needed by the body. Decreased appetite is a common clinical problem in patients with heart failure. It has a negative impact on food intake and possibly on malnutrition and health outcomes. There is a lack of evidence on how to assess appetite in heart failure. Furthermore, there are knowledge gaps about factors associated with appetite and which role appetite plays for health status in heart failure. Aim: The overall aim of the thesis was to investigate appetite in patients with heart failure. Four studies were conducted with the goal to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Council on Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire (CNAQ) (I) and to explore the prevalence of decreased appetite and related factors associated with appetite in patients with heart failure (II-IV). Methods: A multicenter study was conducted in three outpatient heart failure clinics in the center of Sweden during 2009-2012. Data were collected through a baseline measurement (I-IV) and an 18-month follow-up (IV). The first study was a psychometric evaluation study (I), while the other studies had an observational cross-sectional design (II-III) and an observational prospective design (IV). One hundred and eighty-six patients diagnosed with heart failure and experiencing heart failure symptoms participated at baseline. At the 18-month follow-up study (IV), one hundred and sixteen participants from the baseline participated. Data were collected from medical records (pharmacological treatment, comorbidity, left ventricle ejection fraction, time of diagnosis), self-reported questionnaires (demographic background data, appetite, symptoms of depression, health status, sleep, self-reported physical activity), objective measurements (anthropometric assessment of body size, blood samples, six minutes’ walk test, and physical activity measured with an actigraph) and clinical assessment (New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification, and cognitive assessment). The main outcome variables included appetite (I, II and IV) and health status (III). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in the studies (I-IV). Results: The majority of the participants had moderate heart failure symptoms, i.e., NYHA class II (n=114, 61%). Most of the participants were men (n=130, 70%). Mean age was 70,7 years, (SD=11,0), and mean BMI was 28.7 (SD=5.3). The CNAQ showed acceptable psychometric properties for assessing appetite in patients with heart failure (I). This thesis shows that 38% of the participants experienced an appetite level that put them at risk of weight loss (I). It was shown that factors such as biological, medical, psychological (II) and physical activity/exercise capacity (IV) are associated with appetite. Also, appetite was associated with impaired health status. However, this association was found to be moderated by symptoms of depression (III). Neither appetite nor physical activity changed during the 18-month follow-up (IV). Conclusion: Decreased appetite is a serious phenomenon that needs attention in the care of patients with heart failure. Health care professionals can now use a validated and simple appetite instrument to assess appetite in heart failure. In addition, attention should be paid to elderly patients and those who have symptoms of depression, sleep problems, impaired cognitive function and impaired physical activity, as well as to patients on suboptimal medical treatment. Higher appetite was shown to contribute to a better health status, but this was only evident in patients without symptoms of depression. Therefore, special attention should be paid to symptoms of depression, as this risk factor affected the association between appetite and health status. This thesis enhances the understanding of the magnitude of the problem with decreased appetite in heart failure both in numbers and factors. New priorities in nutrition care and new ideas can be established, both in practice and in research, in order to improve a nutrition care that is vital for patients with heart failure.
|
|
| 8. |
|
|
| 9. |
- Andreae, Christina, 1969-, et al.
(author)
-
Depressive symptoms as a moderator and mediator of the relationship between physical activity, appetite and perceived health among patients with heart failure
- 2015
-
Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Purpose: Depressive symptoms have been shown to directly influence perceived health among persons with heart failure (HF). Decreased physical activity and appetite may also be predictive of poor perceived health.The purposes of this study were to determine whether appetite and physical activity predicted perceived health, and to determine whether depressive symptoms mediated or moderated their relationship with perceived health. Methods: A total of 184 patients with mild to severe HF were included. Appetite, depressive symptoms and perceived health were measured by self-report questionnaires (Council on Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire and EuroQol 5D index). Physical activity was measured by SenceWearTM for 6 days. A separate series of multiple linear regression analyses were run to determine whether depressive symptoms mediated or moderated the relationship between physical activity and perceived health, and between appetite and perceived health. Results: Higher physical activity predicted better perceived health (ß=0.202, p=.006) but the strength of the association decreased (ß=0.13, p=.048) when depressive symptoms were included in the model. There was a significant mediation effect for depressive symptoms on perceived health (sobel=2.03, p=.041) (Fig 1). Appetite was a significant predictor of perceived health. Examination of this association among those with and without depressive symptoms, however showed positive association between appetite and perceived health remained only for patients without depressive symptoms demonstrating a moderating effect (p<.001) (Fig 2). Conclusion: Identifying and treating depression simultaneously while addressing appetite and physical activity may be key to improving perceived health among persons with HF.
|
|
| 10. |
- Andreae, Christina, 1969-, et al.
(author)
-
Depressive Symptoms Moderate the Association Between Appetite and Health Status in Patients With Heart Failure
- 2018
-
In: Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 0889-4655 .- 1550-5049. ; 33:2, s. E15-E20
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Decreased appetite and depressive symptoms are clinical problems in patients with heart failure. Both may result in impaired health status. Objective: The aims of this study were to investigate the association between appetite and health status in patients with heart failure and to explore whether depressive symptoms moderate this association. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, patients with heart failure (n = 186; mean age, 71 years), New York Heart Association class II to IV, participated. Data on appetite (Council of Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire), depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), and health status (EQ-5D 3-level scale [EQ-5D-3L] descriptive system, EQ-5D-3L index, and EQ Visual Analog Scale) were collected by self-rating questionnaires. Pearson correlation was used to investigate the association between appetite and health status. Multiple regression was performed to examine whether depressive symptoms moderate the association between appetite and health status. Results: There was a significant association between appetite and health status for EQ-5D-3L descriptive system, mobility (P < .001), pain/discomfort (P < .001), and anxiety/depression (P < .001). This association was also shown in EQ-5D-3L index (P < .001) and EQ Visual Analog Scale (P < .001). Simple slope analysis showed that the association between appetite and health status was only significant for patients without depressive symptoms (B = 0.32, t = 4.66, P < .001). Conclusions: Higher level of appetite was associated with better health status. In moderation analysis, the association was presented for patients without depressive symptoms. Decreased appetite is an important sign of poor health status. To improve health status, health professionals should have greater attention on appetite, as well on signs of depressive symptoms.
|
|
