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Aims and objectives To explore the prevalence of decreased appetite and factors associated with appetite among patients with stable heart failure. Background Decreased appetite is an important factor for the development of undernutrition among patients with heart failure, but there are knowledge gaps about prevalence and the factors related to appetite in this patient group. Design Observational, cross-sectional study. Methods A total of 186 patients with mild to severe heart failure were consecutively recruited from three heart failure outpatient clinics. Data were obtained from medical records (heart failure diagnosis, comorbidity and medical treatment) and self-rated questionnaires (demographics, appetite, self-perceived health, symptoms of depression and sleep). Blood samples were taken to determine myocardial stress and nutrition status. Heart failure symptoms and cognitive function were assessed by clinical examinations. The Council on Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire was used to assess self-reported appetite. Bivariate correlations and multivariate linear regression analyses were conducted to explore factors associated with appetite. Results Seventy-one patients (38%) experienced a loss of appetite with a significant risk of developing weight loss. The final multiple regression model showed that age, symptoms of depression, insomnia, cognitive function and pharmacological treatment were associated with appetite, explaining 27% of the total variance. Conclusion In this cross-sectional study, a large share of patients with heart failure was affected by decreased appetite, associated with demographic, psychosocial and medical factors. Relevance to clinical practice Loss of appetite is a prevalent problem among patients with heart failure that may lead to undernutrition. Health care professionals should routinely assess appetite and discuss patients' experiences of appetite, nutrition intake and body weight and give appropriate nutritional advice with respect to individual needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives To describe how the included items in three different scales, Downton Fall Risk Index, the short form of Mini Nutritional Assessment and the Modified Norton Scale are associated to severe outcomes as falls, weight loss and pressure ulcers. Background Falls, malnutrition and pressure ulcers are common adverse events among nursing home residents and risk scoring are common preventive activities, mainly focusing on single risks. In Sweden the three scales are routinely used together with the purpose to improve the quality of prevention. Design Longitudinal quantitative study. Methods Descriptive analyses and Cox regression analyses. Results Only 4% scored no risk for any of these serious events. Longitudinal risk scoring showed significant impaired mean scores indicating increased risks. This confirms the complexity of this population's status of general condition. There were no statistical significant differences between residents categorised at risk or not regarding events. Physical activity increased falls, but decreased pressure ulcers. For weight loss, cognitive decline and the status of general health were most important. Conclusions Risk tendencies for falls, malnutrition and pressure ulcers are high in nursing homes, and when measure them at the same time the majority will have several of these risks. Items assessing mobility or items affecting mobility were of most importance. Care processes can always be improved and this study can add to the topic. Relevance to clinical practice A more comprehensive view is needed and prevention can not only be based on total scores. Mobility is an important factor for falls and pressure ulcers, both as a risk factor and a protective factor. This involves a challenge for care - to keep the inmates physical active and at the same time prevent falls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives. The aim was to examine significant factors for work attractiveness and how these differ from the current work situation among operating department nurses. A second objective was to examine the associations between age, gender, length of employment, work engagement, work ability, self-rated health indicators and attractiveness of the current work situation. Background. The attractiveness of work is rarely taken into account in research on nurse retention. To expand this knowledge, it is relevant to examine factors that make work attractive and their associations with related concepts. Design. Correlational, cross-sectional survey using a convenience sample. Methods. Questionnaires were answered by 147 nurses in four operating departments in Sweden. Correlation and regression analyses were conducted. Results. The nurses rated the significance of all factors of work attractiveness higher than they rated those factors in their current work situation; salary, organisation and physical work environment had the largest differences. The most significant attractive factors were relationships, leadership and status. A statistically significant positive correlation between work engagement and attractive work was found. In the multiple regression model, the independent variables work engagement and older age significantly predicted work attractiveness. Conclusions. Several factors should be considered in the effort to increase work attractiveness in operating departments and thereby to encourage nurse retention. Positive aspects of work seem to unite work engagement and attractive work, while work ability and self-rated health indicators are other important dimensions in nurse retention. Relevance to clinical practice. The great discrepancies between the significance of attractive factors and the current work situation in salary, organisation and physical work environment suggest ways in which work attractiveness may be increased. To discover exactly what needs to be improved may require a deeper look into the construct of the examined factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives The aim of this study was to describe people's perceptions of needs to feel confident in self-care for minor illnesses as well as their perceptions about supporting and obstructing factors in the practice of self-care. Background Minor illness constitutes a large part of primary care, and patients' attendance to doctors' appointments for minor illness has been seen to increase future attendance for the same condition. Almost half of the consultations with telenurses result in the provision of self-care advice. Design A cross-sectional survey. Method Primary data were collected using a questionnaire, and the study participants ( n = 315) were randomly selected from the national Swedish address register. Results Having knowledge and receiving health care advice and reliable information were perceived to be needs in order for participants to feel confident in self-care. Having family or friends to consult with was perceived to be a positive factor influencing confidence in self-care, especially for persons under the age of 35. Health care services were perceived to support self-care practice by offering easy access to care, giving information about self-care, and offering increased follow-up after consultations. Lack of knowledge, along with difficulties being away from work, were obstructing factors in the practice of self-care. Conclusions Young age was the factor influencing people's perceptions of needs and supporting factors the most. Young age and low knowledge scores about minor illnesses were the two factors that had the most influence on perceived obstructing factors. Relevance to clinical practice Nurses play a major role in the promotion of self-care and in the dissemination of self-care advice. If health care services fail to meet the needs of care-seekers with minor illnesses, patients might turn to out-of-hours clinics and emergency departments for help. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim and objective To describe nurses' views of shortcomings in patient care encounters in one hospital in Sweden. Background Shortcomings in encounters in healthcare have increased during recent years. Dissatisfaction with encounters in healthcare can affect patients' experiences of dignity, health and well-being. Design A qualitative design was used in the study. Methods Three focus group discussions with 15 nurses were conducted. The nurses worked in five different wards. The focus group discussions were subjected to a thematic content analysis. Results The results are presented in two themes. The first theme, 'Disregard for the patient's unique nursing needs', describes that information without consideration of the patient's needs, and nurses not being completely present in the meeting with the patient affected healthcare encounters and experiences of quality of care. In the second theme, 'Difficulty managing obstacles', nurses described care situations over which they could not always prevail due to lack of time and/or lack of awareness of the patient's vulnerability. Conclusion The findings illustrate the importance of nurses and their approaches to patients. The nurse's attitude is important for the patient's experiences of participation, security, dignity, and well-being. The findings also illustrate the importance of routines in the healthcare organisation that support and facilitate positive encounters between patients, their close relatives and the healthcare staff. Relevance to clinical practice Nurses require understanding, presence and commitment in their relationships to every unique patient, and their goal should be to adopt interventions with regard to positive healthcare encounters based on each patient's experiences of good nursing care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives To explore the relationship between staff characteristics, perceived work environment and person-centred care in residential aged care units. Background Person-centred care is often described as the model of choice in residential aged care and in the care of persons with dementia. Few empirical studies have reported on the relationship between how staff experience different aspects of their work and person-centred care. Design The study had a cross-sectional quantitative design. Methods Staff in 151 residential aged care units in Sweden ( n = 1169) completed surveys which included questions about staff characteristics, valid and reliable measures of person-centred care, satisfaction with work and care, job strain, stress of conscience and psychosocial unit climate. Statistical analyses of correlations, group differences and multiple linear regression analysis estimated with generalised estimating equation were conducted. Results Higher levels of staff satisfaction, lower levels of job strain, lower levels of stress of conscience, higher levels of a supportive psychosocial unit climate and a higher proportion of staff with continuing education in dementia care were associated with higher levels of person-centred care. Job strain and a supportive psychosocial climate, explained most of the variation in person-centred care. Conclusions This study shows that the work environment as perceived by staff is associated with the extent to which staff perceive the care as being person-centred in residential aged care. These empirical findings support the theoretical postulation that the work environment is an important aspect of person-centred care. Relevance to clinical practice Promoting a positive and supportive psychosocial climate and a work environment where staff experience balance between demands and control in their work, to enable person-centred care practice, seems to be important implications for managers and leaders in residential aged care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives. To prospectively identify different coping strategies among newly diagnosed amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients and whether they change over time and to determine whether physical function, psychological well-being, age and gender correlated with the use of different coping strategies. Background. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a fatal disease with impact on both physical function and psychological well-being. Different coping strategies are used to manage symptoms and disease progression, but knowledge about coping in newly diagnosed amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients is scarce. Design. This was a prospective study with a longitudinal and descriptive design. Methods. A total of 33 patients were included and evaluation was made at two time points, one to three months and six months after diagnosis. Patients were asked to complete the Motor Neuron Disease Coping Scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Physical function was estimated using the revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale. Results. The most commonly used strategies were support and independence. Avoidance/venting and information seeking were seldom used at both time points. The use of information seeking decreased between the two time points. Men did not differ from women, but patients <64 years used positive action more often than older patients. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale was positively correlated with positive action at time point 1, but not at time point 2. Patients' psychological well-being was correlated with the use of different coping strategies. Conclusions. Support and independence were the most used coping strategies, and the use of different strategies changed over time. Psychological well-being was correlated with different coping strategies in newly diagnosed amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. Relevance to clinical practice. The knowledge about coping strategies in early stage of the disease may help the nurses to improve and develop the care and support for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives To evaluate the effectiveness of an individualised programme to promote self-care in sleep-activity in patients with coronary artery disease. Background Recent scientific findings have shown that low physical exercise and stress interfere with coronary artery disease patients' sleep quality and sleep efficiency independent of gender, age and co-morbidity. Design A randomised pretest-post-test control design. Methods Forty-seven patients who had undergone a coronary revascularisation procedure and/or pharmacological treatment three to seven weeks earlier at a general hospital were randomised to either an intervention group or a control group. Data collection was carried out by questionnaires, a study-specific sleep diary and actigraphy registration for 10 consecutive 24-hour periods, with a follow-up after three to four months. The intervention group underwent a nurse-led individualised education programme to promote self-care of sleep-activity. Sleep habits and sleep-related lifestyle together formed the basis for setting up individual goals together with the nurse. Individual advice on physical training, relaxation exercise and a CD-based relaxation programme was provided by a physiotherapist. Both groups received a brochure about sleep and stress. Results At a three- to four-month follow-up, the main improvements were seen in the intervention group regarding sleep quality, sleep duration and sleep efficiency in the sleep diary and sleep efficiency in actigraphy. Statistical improvements in health-related quality of life were revealed. This was not so obvious in the control group. Conclusions An individualised intervention programme to promote self-care of sleep-activity including relaxation in patients with coronary artery disease led by a nurse may improve sleep quality. However, a longitudinal study to promote self-care in sleep-activity should be performed using a larger sample and multiple sites with continuous follow-ups to determine whether any positive effects remain stable over time. Relevance to clinical practice Implementation of a multiprofessional individualised programme to promote self-care of sleep-activity including relaxation based on patients' needs, supported by a healthcare team and led by nurses, is important in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives To describe and explore how partners rate their intimate relationship before and after the patients' first myocardial infarction. A further aim was to investigate the association between partners' rating of their intimate relationship and self-rated health. Background To date, information on how partners experience the intimate relationship before and after a patient's myocardial infarction is sparse. Design A descriptive and exploratory design with longitudinal data collection. Methods The study comprised 127 partners, aged 34-87 years. Data collection included self-reported information on socio-demographic data, intimate relationship and self-rated health one year before and one year after patients' first myocardial infarction. Intimate relationship was assessed by the Swedish version of the Relationship Assessment Scale. Self-rated health was evaluated by the EuroQoL visual analogue scale. Results In general, partners reported high satisfaction with their intimate relationship both before and after the patients' myocardial infarction. Women reported somewhat lower ratings in their intimate relationship than men before the myocardial infarction. Women increased their ratings after one year, while men on average decreased their ratings. Partners with higher education reported lower ratings for intimate relationship after one year. Those with children living at home rated intimate relationship lower than those without children living at home after one year. Partners' self-rated health status was stable over time. No significant association between intimate relationship and self-rated health was found. Conclusions This study provides important insights regarding couples' relationships from the perspective of the partner. Socio-demographic factors such as sex, educational level, having children living at home and employment status may influence how the relationship, from the partners' perspective, is affected by a myocardial infarction event. Relevance to clinical practice This study provides insight into how partners rate their intimate relationship and self-rated health over time before and after patients' myocardial infarction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives To assess women's attitudes towards the mechanisms of action of birth control methods. Background When addressing women's knowledge of and attitudes towards birth control methods, researchers frequently focus on side effects, effectiveness or correct use. Women's opinions about mechanisms of action have been much less investigated, and research is usually concentrated on the EC pill. Design Cross-sectional study. Methods Women, aged 18-49, from Germany, France, the UK, Sweden and Romania were randomly selected ( n = 1137). They were asked whether they would use a method that may work after fertilisation or after implantation and whether they would continue using it after learning it may have such effects. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the influence of certain characteristics on women's attitudes. Results Almost half of women in Romania and Germany would not use methods with postfertilisation effects, while the lowest percentages were found in Sweden and in France. Regarding methods with postimplantation effects, higher percentages were found in all the countries. Highly educated women and those using a highly effective method were more likely to use methods with postfertilisation effects. On the contrary, married women, those who stated that human life begins at fertilisation and women with middle/high religiosity were less likely to consider using methods that may act after fertilisation. Conclusions One-third of European women reported that they would not consider using a method that may have postfertilisation effects. Relevance to clinical practice Given that postfertilisation effects may not be acceptable to some women, informing them of which methods may have these effects is essential to obtaining complete informed consent and to promoting women's autonomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims were to investigate potential effects of mode of administration on response rate, internal consistency, completeness of data, floor and ceiling effects and interaction effects of mode of administration, gender and age on self-reported health status and emotional distress among Swedish adolescents and young adults. A cross-sectional comparative study. Using a stratified quota sampling scheme, 840 adolescents and young adults (aged 13-23 years) were randomly chosen from the general population. Participants were randomised according to mode of administration, telephone interview or postal questionnaire. The telephone mode resulted in a higher response rate than the postal mode and fewer men than women participated in the postal mode. Mode of administration only had a small effect on self-reports. The youngest adolescents did, in some respects, respond to the modes in a reverse pattern than the older participants. The findings support the use of the SF-36 and the HADS among persons 16-23 years of age. The strengths and weaknesses of a telephone and a postal mode to collect self-report data are discussed. Nurses should consider the findings of this study, e.g. when using self-reports to screen for health status and emotional distress and when designing research studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives. To explore how a stroke or a transient ischemic attack affects quality of life and to identify gender differences. Background. The negative effect of a stroke on the patients' quality of life has previously been studied, while the effect on patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) is more unknown, especially in relation to gender. As poor quality of life may have a negative effect on rehabilitation it is important to investigate quality of life in this group. Design. A descriptive cross-sectional survey. Methods. All stroke and transient ischemic attack patients appointed to the out-patient stroke clinic between May 2008-August 2009 were asked to complete the Nottingham Health Profile. Results. Of 1048 patients, 379 (50%) of the stroke patients and 117 (40%) of the patients with transient ischemic attack completed the form within the first months after onset. Female stroke patients were significantly more negatively affected in all domains except the social domain than were male stroke patients. Female transient ischemic attack patients were significantly more negatively affected in all domains than were male transient ischemic attack patients. Male stroke patients had a significantly more negatively affected quality of life than male transient ischemic attack patients in the emotional, energy, social and total domains, while female stroke patients and female transient ischemic attack patients were equally negatively affected. Conclusions. This study shows that female stroke patients are more negatively affected in their quality of life than male stroke patients and that female transient ischemic attack patients are as affected as female stroke patients. This indicates that female patients with both stroke and TIA need more attention concerning their life situation. Relevance to clinical practice. Increased knowledge about how transient ischemic attack patients are affected, indicate that this group need support postdischarge to the same extension as stroke patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]