Healthcare interventions for older people with dementia and family caregivers in Europe: A scoping review

AIM

This study aimed to examine the extent, range and variety of research in Europe describing healthcare interventions for older people with dementia (PwD) and family caregivers.

METHODS

This was a scoping review and followed the PRISMA Scoping Review guideline. MEDLINE, CINAHL and Cochrane library databases were searched for studies published between 2010 and 2020. Studies reporting healthcare interventions in Europe for PwD over 65 years and their family caregivers were included.

RESULTS

Twenty-one studies from six European countries were included. The types of healthcare intervention identified were categorized as follows: (1) family unit intervention (interventions for both PwD and their family caregiver), (2) individual intervention (separate interventions for PwD or family caregivers) and (3) family caregiver only intervention (interventions for family caregivers only but with outcomes for both PwD and family caregivers).

CONCLUSIONS

This review provides insight into healthcare interventions for older PwD and family caregivers in Europe. More studies are needed that focus on the family as a unit of care in dementia.

Nurses' attitudes towards family importance in nursing care across Europe

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE

To explore differences in nurses' attitudes regarding the importance of family in nursing care and factors associated with nurses' attitudes across 11 European countries.

BACKGROUND

Family involvement in healthcare has received attention in many European healthcare systems. Nurses have a unique opportunity to promote family involvement in healthcare; however, their attitudes and beliefs may facilitate or impede this practice.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional survey across European countries.

METHOD

A broad convenience sample of 8112 nurses across 11 European countries was recruited from October 2017 to December 2019. Data were collected using the Families' Importance in Nursing Care-Nurses' Attitudes (FINC-NA) questionnaire. We used the STROBE checklist to report the results.

RESULTS

There were significant differences in nurses' attitudes about families' importance in nursing care across Europe. Country was the factor with the strongest association with the total scores of the FINC-NA. Older age, higher level of education, increased years since graduation, having a strategy for the care of families in the workplace, and having experience of illness within one's own family were associated with a higher total FINC-NA score. Being male and working in a hospital or other clinical settings were associated with a lower total FINC-NA score.

CONCLUSION

Nurses' attitudes regarding the importance of family in nursing care vary across 11 European countries. This study highlights multiple factors associated with nurses' attitudes. Further research is necessary to gain a deeper understanding of the reasons for nurses' different attitudes and to develop a strong theoretical framework across Europe to support family involvement in patient care. The inclusion of family healthcare programs in the baccalaureate curriculum may improve nurses' attitudes.

RELEVANCE FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE

In clinical practice, the focus should be on identifying influencing factors on nurses' attitudes to enhance families' importance in nursing care across Europe.

Healthcare practices and interventions in Europe towards families of older patients with cardiovascular disease: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

In Europe, cardiovascular disease is one of the predominant causes of mortality and morbidity among older people over 65 years. The occurrence of cardiovascular disease can have a negative impact on the quality of life of older patients and their families and family health overall. Assuming that illness is a family affair shaped by culture and health care systems, we explored European health care practices and interventions toward families of older patients with cardiovascular disease and heart failure.

AIMS

This paper aimed to determine the extent, range, and variety of practices and interventions in Europe directed to families of older patients and to identify knowledge gaps.

MATERIALS & METHODS

A scoping review was conducted including studies published in Medline, CINHAL, or Cochrane library between 2009 and mid-2020.

RESULTS

A total of 22 articles from 17 studies were included, showing diverse practices and interventions. The interventions targeted the family as a unit (six studies), dyads (five studies), patients alone, but assessed family members' reactions (five studies) or the family member primarily, but assessed the reaction of the patient (one study). Target outcomes were family caregiver burden; health-related QoL; and perceived control in patients; and family functioning and changes in health behavior or knowledge in both, family members and patients. Most studies did not include an integral view of the family as the unit of care but rather had a disease-centered approach.

DISCUSSION

This scoping review provides insight into a variety of healthcare practices towards families of older patients with cardiovascular disease in Europe. Clarifying underlying assumptions to involve families is needed. More studies with family-focused approaches as integral models could lead to practices that improve families' well-being. Exploring integral models for their acceptance in health care and family systems appears pertinent to develop European policy to support and add to family health.

Health practices in Europe towards families of older patients with cancer: a scoping review

INTRODUCTION

In Europe, cancer is one of the predominant causes of mortality and morbidity among older people aged over 65. A diagnosis of cancer can imply a negative impact on the quality of life of the older patients and their families. Despite research examining the impact of cancer on the family, it is unclear what kind of information is available about the types of clinical practice towards older patients with cancer and their families. The aim is to determine the extent, range and variety of research in Europe describing health practices towards families of older patients with cancer and to identify any existing gaps in knowledge.

METHODS

Scoping review.

RESULTS

A total of 12 articles were included, showing that family interventions are generally based on end-of-life care. Most studies used a qualitative approach and involved different types of family member as participants. Most studies were conducted in the UK.

CONCLUSIONS

Review findings revealed limited knowledge about health practices in Europe towards families with an older patient with cancer. This review indicates a need to increase family-focused research that examines health practices that meet the needs of families of older patients with cancer. Seeing cancer as a chronic disease, there is an urgent need for the implementation of family-focused interventions.

[End-of-Life Care in Intensive Care Units: Nursing strategies of family involvement at the end of life]

Background: Family members of people dying in the intensive care unit (ICU) are exposed to many stress factors and they often do not experience involvement in End-of-Life (EoL) situations. For example, they criticize a low degree of participation in patients care, delayed or incomplete information and lack of privacy. Even nursing staff is facing various obstacles in EoL situations in ICUs. Aim: This study investigates strategies used by ICU nursing staff in German-speaking Switzerland to increase family members participation in situations at the end of life. Method: Data was collected by conducting 12 semi-structured interviews using an approach based on Grounded Theory. A model was developed to explain nursing strategies for family involvement in EoL situations in the ICU. Conclusions: Nurses provide personal space and tranquillity for family members and allow them to be present at any time. Against this background, they support family members and enable them to say goodbye consciously to a loved one. Subsequent work should examine the effectiveness of the strategies described, particularly in terms of stress reactions displayed by family members in the aftermath of EoL situations. In practice, family members should be provided space for privacy. The entire healthcare team is recommended to identify and pursue common values and objectives. Moreover, intradisciplinary exchange and mentoring need to be encouraged. In order to prepare future nursing staff for EoL situations in the ICU, recognizing and promoting their educational skills is mandatory.

Swiss S1 guideline for the treatment of rosacea

Rosacea (in German sometimes called 'Kupferfinne', in French 'Couperose' and in Italian 'Copparosa') is a chronic and frequently relapsing inflammatory skin disease primarily affecting the central areas of the face. Its geographic prevalence varies from 1% to 22%. The differential diagnosis is wide, and the treatment is sometimes difficult and varies by stage of rosacea. For erythematous lesions and telangiectasia, intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy and lasers are popular treatment option. In addition, a vasoconstrictor agent, brimonidine, has recently been developed. For papulopustular rosacea, topical antibiotics, topical and systemic retinoids, as well as systemic antibiotics are used. A topical acaricidal agent, ivermectin, has undergone clinical development and is now on the market. In the later stages, hyperplasia of the sebaceous glands develops, resulting in phymatous growths such as the frequently observed bulbous nose or rhinophyma. Ablative laser treatments have largely replaced classical abrasive tools. Here, we reviewed the current evidence on the treatment of rosacea, provide a guideline (S1 level) and discuss the differential diagnosis of rosacea.

Patient Characteristics Associated With a Successful Response to Nurse-Led Care Programs Targeting the Oldest-Old: A Comparison of Two RCTs

BACKGROUND

To improve the effectiveness of community-based care programs, especially those targeting the oldest-old population (80+), data are needed that elucidate those factors associated with a successful response to the intervention. Two comparable nurse-led care programs have been evaluated in two large randomized controlled trials (RCTs), one in Switzerland and one in the Netherlands.

AIMS

To identify common patient characteristics that are related to a successful response to proactive nurse-led care, we explored if and to what extent, identical factors were present in both study populations.

METHODS

A secondary data analysis using trial data from the intervention group of both RCTs was conducted. The study sample consisted 461 older adults, 230 from the U-PROFIT trial (the Netherlands) and 231 from the HPC trial (Switzerland). The mean age of the total sample was 85.1 years (SD 3.7). The UPROFIT intervention, delivered by registered nurses, included a frailty assessment and a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) at home followed by an individualized evidence-based care plan, care coordination, and follow-up. The HCP intervention was delivered by advanced practice nurses consisting of four home visits and three phone calls, and was guided by the principles of health promotion, empowerment, partnership, and family-centeredness. A successful response was defined as "stable" or "no decline" in daily functioning at follow-up. Daily functioning was measured with 13 items of activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. Multivariate logistic regression models were applied to calculate the association between individual characteristics and a successful response.

RESULTS

Almost half of the participants in the U-PROFIT trial (50.9%), and two-thirds (65.7%) of the participants in the HCP trial had a successful response at follow-up. Fewer comorbidities and a better self-rated health had the strongest predictive value for benefiting from the intervention (OR = 0.83 [95% CI 0.66-1.03], and OR = 1.5 [95% CI 0.92-2.45]), respectively.

LINKING EVIDENCE TO ACTION

Two large RCTs demonstrated that a preventive nurse-led care program can preserve daily functioning in the oldest-old population. Older people with few comorbidities and higher self-rated health had a higher likelihood of a positive outcome. Unraveling the characteristics associated with a successful response provides important information for further refining and targeting an intervention to obtain maximum effectiveness. More effort is needed to modify interventions for the oldest-old with multiple morbidities and low levels of education.

Variances in family carers' quality of life based on selected relationship and caregiving indicators: A quantitative secondary analysis

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To determine subgroups of family carers based on family relational and caregiving variables and to explore group differences in relation to selected carer outcomes.

BACKGROUND

Family caregiving in later life holds a myriad of positive and negative outcomes for family members' well-being. However, factors that constitute family carers' experience and explain variances are less well understood.

DESIGN

A secondary data analysis using cross-sectional data from a controlled randomised trial with community-dwelling people 80 years or older and their families.

METHODS

A total of 277 paired data sets of older persons and their family carers were included into the analysis. Data were collected via mailed questionnaires and a geriatric nursing assessment. A two-step cluster analysis was performed to determine subgroups. To discern group differences, appropriate tests for differences with Bonferroni correction were used.

RESULTS

Two family carer groups were identified. The low-intensity caregiver group (57% of carers) reported high relationship quality and self-perceived ease of caregiving. In contrast, the high-intensity caregiver group (43% of carers) experienced significantly lower relationship quality, felt less prepared and appraised caregiving as more difficult, time intensive and burdensome. The latter cared for older, frailer and more dependent octogenarians and had significantly lower levels of quality of life and self-perceived health compared to the low-intensity caregiver group.

CONCLUSIONS

A combination of family relational and caregiving variables differentiates those at risk for adverse outcomes. Family carers of frailer older people tend to experience higher strain, lower relationship quality and ability to work together as a family.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Nurses should explicitly assess family carer needs, in particular when older persons are frail. Family carer support interventions should address caregiving preparedness, demand and burden, as well as concerns situated in the relationship.

Constipation prophylaxis in children undergoing orthopedic surgery: A quasi-experimental study

PURPOSE

This study evaluated the effectiveness of constipation prophylaxis administered with the support of an advanced practice nurse.

DESIGN

A quasi-experimental study with a historical control group of 112 pediatric (age 1-18) orthopedic patients and an intervention group of 59 patients was conducted in a surgical ward in Switzerland.

RESULTS

The implementation of a standardized constipation prophylaxis led to an absolute risk reduction (27%) of constipation. Fisher's exact test showed a significant difference in the prevalence of constipation in the two samples, p = .001.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Constipation prophylaxis is a necessity in pediatric orthopedics.

Inclusion of the personal biography in daily care – a qualitative study / Einbezug der Biographie in den Pflegealltag – eine qualitative Studie

Introduction

In Switzerland, 39% of nursing home residents have a dementia related disease. Behavioral symptoms are increasingly observed as dementia progresses. These symptoms impair patients’ quality of life and are distressing to family caregivers and nurses. A person-centered approach, which includes the resident’s individual biography, reduces such symptoms. The most current literature describes how therapists include biographical information in designated therapies. However person-centered care takes place not only in specific activities. Nurses are responsible for their patients’ care 24 hours a day.

Aim

The goal of this study is to explore how nurses include biographical information in their daily care.

Method

Data were collected from qualitative interviews with registered nurses (n=10) in a nursing home and analysed according to the Charmaz Grounded Theory approach.

Results

The inclusion of the personal biography in daily care appears as a continuous, repetitive process with three main categories: “negotiating”, “connecting” and “being-in-good-hands”. Nurses in this study report that they can trigger positive reactions and reduce behavioral symptoms by means of meaningful interventions, when connected to the residents’ biography. Meaningful interventions can support residents in making contact to their current everyday life, acting independently and perceiving self-efficacy (= connecting). To initiate meaningful interventions, nurses need to connect biographical information to current experiences of the resident (= negotiating). This requires a thorough understanding of the residents’ situation. Nurses obtain an in-depth understanding through caring relationships, which are characterized by continuity of care and a mutual dialogue, where needs and experiences are shared, understood and evaluated (= being-in-good-hands).

Dying with dementia: most frequent symptoms. A review of the literature / Sterben mit Demenz: die häufigsten Symptome. Eine Literaturübersicht

Sensing, observing and interpreting the symptoms of persons suffering from dementia is very challenging. The difficulties lie in their restricted capacity to communicate and irregular transitions from a chronic-stable to an acute-critical condition both in the course of their symptoms and in the slow but continuous process of deterioration.

The aim of this integrative literature review was to identify the symptoms dementia patients present in the final twelve months of their lives and to identify instruments for symptom assessment. To this end, a comprehensive literature search within the electronic databases Medline® (PubMed), Cinahl® (EBSCO), PsycINFO® (OVID) and Cochrane Library for systematic reviews® and for clinical trials® in both German and English was performed including publications from January 2000 to July 2012.

Six symptoms were identified as frequent and common in the end-of-life phase of people with dementia: respiratory distress, pain, mood swings, restricted mobility, restricted food and fluid intake and behavioural and psychosocial symptoms. Knowledge of atypical symptom manifestation requires critical reflection about perceptions and observations, interpretation of these observations, development of assumptions and location within the context of everyday life in the meaning of clinical reasoning.

Umsorgt werden und umsorgen: Leben mit mehreren Langzeiterkrankungen (Leila) – Eine qualitative Studie zum Beitrag von APN in integrierter Versorgung

Hintergrund: Das Leben mit mehreren chronischen Krankheiten ist komplex und führt zu einer erhöhten Pflege- und Betreuungsbedürftigkeit. Zur Förderung der integrierten Versorgung wurde ein dreijähriges Projekt namens «Leben mit Langzeiterkrankung» (Leila) initiiert. Ziel: Das Projekt hatte zum Ziel, Leistungen von Pflegeexpertinnen in Advanced Practice Nursing (APN) für chronisch erkrankte Menschen in Zusammenarbeit mit Hausarztpraxen zu entwickeln. Folgende Fragestellungen wurden untersucht: 1. Wie erleben Patient(inn)en, Zuweisende und Pflegeexpertinnen APN das Leila-Dienstleistungsangebot? 2. Wie gestalten sich Zuweisungsprozesse? 3. Wie erleben die Beteiligten die Zusammenarbeit und die APN-Rollenausübung? Methode: Es wurde ein qualitativer Ansatz gemäß Grounded Theory nach Corbin und Strauss gewählt, um Erfahrungen mit Leila und Interaktionen der an Leila beteiligten Personen zu untersuchen. Dabei wurden 38 Interviews mit Patient(inn)en, die mit multiplen chronischen Krankheiten leben, deren betreuende Pflegeexpertinnen APN und zuweisenden Ärzt(inn)en durchgeführt und evaluiert. Ergebnisse: «Umsorgt werden und umsorgen» zeigte sich als zentrale Kategorie. Diese beschreibt wie auf die Patient(inn)en eingegangen wurde, sie einbezogen und ernst genommen wurden. Die Hauptkategorie «Den Alltag gestalten» zeigt, dass die Patient(inn)en lernten, mit den Folgen chronischer Erkrankungen im Alltag umzugehen. «Alle Ressourcen nutzen» legt dar, wie Potenziale und Stärken eingesetzt wurden. Schlussfolgerungen: Die Ergebnisse zu Zuweisungs- und Kooperationsprozessen ergaben, dass die APN-Rollenanerkennung und -ausübung noch ausgehandelt werden muss. Zukünftige APN-Angebote für diese Patient(inn)engruppe sollten nebst Ärztenetzwerken in weitere Dienstleistungen und die Spitex integriert werden.

Beratungsqualität von Pflegeexpertinnen-APN im spitalexternen Bereich (APN-BQ) – Psychometrische Testung des Instruments

Hintergrund: Patientenzentrierte und individuell ausgerichtete Angebote, wie die häusliche Beratung durch Pflegeexpertinnen-APN (Advanced Practice Nurses), eignen sich besonders, chronisch kranke alte Menschen in einer möglichst selbstständigen Lebensführung zu unterstützen. Methode: Um die Qualität einer patientenzentrierten Beratung zu evaluieren, wurde ein 23-Item Instrument entwickelt und seine psychometrischen Eigenschaften mit einer Stichprobe von 206 Personen, die 80 Jahre und älter waren getestet. Ziel: Ziel dieses Artikels ist es, die Entwicklung und Evaluation des APN-BQ zu beschreiben. Die psychometrische Testung des Instruments erfolgte anhand einer Hauptkomponentenanalyse mit Varimax-Rotation. Ergebnisse: Die Analyse ergab eine stabile vier Faktorenstruktur (FS = 0,91) mit 19 Items. Alle Faktoren hatten eine Faktorladung > 0,45. Die interne Konsistenz der Gesamtskala ergab einen Wert von Cronbachs alpha 0,86. Die hohe Rücklaufquote der Fragebogen und die Tatsache, dass 98,8 % der Fragen beantwortet wurden, bestätigten die Anwendungsfreundlichkeit und Akzeptanz des Instruments. Schlussfolgerungen: Das APN-BQ erwies sich als zuverlässiges und in Bezug auf Inhalt und Konstrukt valides Instrument, die Struktur-, Prozess- und Ergebnisqualität einer patientenzentrierten Beratungsintervention in der gemeindenahen Versorgung sowie das Ausmaß der Partizipation und Selbstbefähigung (Empowerment) der zu Beratenden zu messen.

Effects of an advanced practice nurse in-home health consultation program for community-dwelling persons aged 80 and older

Objectives

To evaluate the effects of an advanced practice nurse (APN) in-home health consultation program (HCP) on quality of life, health indicators (falls, acute events), and healthcare utilization.

Design

Randomized clinical trial.

Setting

One urban area in the German-speaking part of Switzerland.

Participants

Four hundred sixty-one community-dwelling individuals aged 80 and older (mean age 85, 72.7% female, all Caucasian) participated in the intervention (n = 231) and control (n = 230) groups.

Intervention

After a comprehensive geriatric assessment, participants were randomly assigned to the 9-month HCP with four in-home visits and three phone calls from APNs or to a control group with standard care with no intervention.

Measurements

The primary outcome was quality of life at 3, 6, and 9 months. Secondary outcomes were incidence of falls, acute events due to health problems, and healthcare utilization measured for 3-month periods at 3, 6, and 9 months.

Results

The intervention and control groups did not differ significantly on any dimension of the World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire but differed significantly over 9 months in self-reported acute events (116 vs 168, relative risk (RR) = 0.70, P = .001), falls (74 vs 101, RR = 0.71, P = .003), consequences of falls (63.1% vs 78.7%, chi-square = 7.39, P = .007), and hospitalizations (47 vs 68, RR = .70, P = .03).

Conclusion

The in-home HCP provided by APNs and guided by the principles of health promotion, empowerment, partnership, and family-centeredness, can be effective in reducing adverse health outcomes such as falls, acute events, and hospitalizations.

Content of health status reports of people seeking assisted suicide: a qualitative analysis

Two right-to-die organisations offer assisted suicide in Switzerland. The specific legal situation allows assistance to Swiss and foreign citizens. Both organisations require a report of the person's health status before considering assistance. This qualitative study explored these reports filed to legal authorities after the deaths of individuals in the area of Zurich. Health status reports in the legal medical dossiers of the deceased were analysed using content analysis and Grounded Theory. From 421 cases of assisted suicide (2001-2004), 350 reports on health status were filed. Many cases contained diagnosis lists only. Other reports had more elaborate reports revealing that some physicians were aware about the patient's death wish and the intention to solicit assisted suicide. Physicians' attitudes ranged from neutral to rather depreciative. Few physicians openly referred the patient to the organisations and supported the patient's request by highlighting a history of suffering as well as reporting understanding and agreement with the patient's wish to hasten death. In the health status reports five categories could be identified. Some files revealed that physicians were aware of the death wish. The knowledge and recognition of the patient's death wish varied from no apparent awareness to strongly supportive. This variety might be due to difficulties to discuss the death wish with patients, but might also reflect the challenge to avoid legal prosecution in the country of origin. To require comparable health status reports as requirements for the right-to-die organisations might be difficult to pursue.

[SpitexPlus: assessment of and specialised nursing care for elderly and their families living in the community]

Current demographic developments and the high prevalence of chronic conditions require new approaches to nursing care of the elderly population in Switzerland. New care models need to be developed that go beyond traditional nursing practice with its focus on the individual. Existing preventive home visit and case management programmes have mostly focussed on the young old with the goal to maintain functional health and prevent institutionalisation. Families, who play a crucial role in the care of the elderly at home, were not included. The purpose of this article is to describe the development of the SpitexPlus Project, which is directed at people 80 years and older and their families, irrespective of their health status and social situation. It aims to improve self-care capabilities and quality of life in people 80+ and their families and to enable them to manage the challenges of daily life at home. Evidence based nursing interventions, based on the principles of health promotion, empowerment, family centeredness, and partnership were developed. The development of the programme phases, interventions, and the role of the advanced practice nurses are described in detail. Potential benefits for nursing practice are delineated.

Do not attempt resuscitation: the importance of consensual decisions

AIMS

To describe the involvement and input of physicians and nurses in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR / do not attempt resuscitation (DNAR) decisions; to analyse decision patterns; and understand the practical implications.

DESIGN

A Qualitative Grounded Theory study using one-time open-ended interviews with 40 volunteer physicians and 52 nurses drawn from acute care wards with mixes of heterogeneous cases in seven different hospitals in German-speaking Switzerland.

RESULTS

Establishing DNAR orders in the best interests of patients was described as a challenging task requiring the leadership of senior physicians and nurses. Implicit decisions in favour of CPR predominated at the beginning of hospitalisation; depending on the context, they were relieved/superseded by explicit DNAR decisions. Explicit decisions were the result of hierarchical medical expertise, of multilateral interdisciplinary expertise, of patient autonomy and/or of negotiated patient autonomy. Each type of decision, implicit or explicit, potentially represented a team consensus. Non-consensual decisions were prone to precipitate personal or team conflicts, and, occasionally, led to non-compliance.

CONCLUSION

Establishing DNAR orders is a demanding task. Reaching a consensus is of crucial importance in guaranteeing teamwork and good patient care. Communication and negotiation skills, professional and personal life experience and empathy for patients and colleagues are pivotal. Therefore, leadership by experienced senior physicians and nurses is needed and great efforts should be made with regard to multidisciplinary education.

Assessment-guided therapy of urinary incontinence after stroke

Urinary incontinence (UI) frequently occurs after stroke and often remains an extensive problem for these patients and their relatives even after discharge from the hospital. Therapeutic interventions, such as behavioral training, can help manage UI. Recently, a multimodal application of nursing interventions was recommended (Wilbert-Herr, Hürlimann, Imhof & Wilbert, 2006). The primary goals of the study discussed in this article were to introduce therapeutic interventions of UI management into clinical rehabilitation practice based on a structured process of interdisciplinary caregiving and test the treatment effect. Forty-four patients who had suffered a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) were included in the study. Nursing interventions included distinction of stress or urge UI and the assessment of different forms of UI. The latter intervention was based on the functional independence measure (FIM Item G-bladder management), the protocol of micturition, urine dipstick, and ultrasound measurement of post-void residual urine (PVR). Interventions were applied according to the recommendations of the 3rd International Consultation on Incontinence. An algorithm of the interdisciplinary process was implemented, and the nursing staff received specific education regarding the interventions. Twenty-one (47%) of the patients in the study were diagnosed with UI; 67% of these patients achieved the targeted level of continence by individually tailored interventions, which consisted of a systematic nursing assessment and standards for prompted voiding, timed voiding, and habit training. Planned processes, including screening procedures, assessment, profile of continence, intervention, and education and evaluation, increase the likelihood of positive results of rehabilitation of patients after CVA. Additional intervention studies are suggested to investigate the effectiveness of the algorithm used in this study.

Reasons why people in Switzerland seek assisted suicide: the view of patients and physicians

BACKGROUND

Assisted suicide is permitted in Switzerland provided that assistance is not motivated by selfish reasons. Suicides are commonly performed with the assistance of right-to-die organisations and the use of a lethal dose of barbiturates prescribed by a participating physician. We examined the reasons physicians provided for writing the prescription and the reasons patients gave for requesting assistance in dying.

METHODS

We analysed all reported cases of assisted suicide that were facilitated by right-to-die organisations between 2001 and 2004 in the city of Zurich, and for which both the medical report and the optional letter written by the decedent providing information on their reasons for seeking assistance in suicide (N = 165).

RESULTS

The reasons most often reported by physicians (ph), as well as persons who sought help (p), were: pain (ph: 56% of all assisted suicides, p: 58%), need for long-term care (ph: 37%, p: 39%), neurological symptoms (ph: 35%, p: 32%), immobility (ph: 23%, p: 30%) and dyspnoea (ph: 23%, p: 23%). Control of circumstances over death (ph: 12%, p: 39%); loss of dignity (ph: 6%, p: 38%); weakness (ph: 13%, p: 26%); less able to engage in activities that make life enjoyable (ph: 6%, p: 18%); and insomnia and loss of concentration (ph: 4%, p: 13%) were significantly more often mentioned by decedents than by physicians.

CONCLUSIONS

Both prescribing physicians and;patients provided with assistance to die quite often mentioned pain and other concerns, many of which were objectively assessable and related to unbearable suffering or unreasonable disability. Concerns referable to autonomy and individual judgement were more often noted by people seeking help than by the prescribing physicians.

[The contribution of oncology nursing to the Swiss Research Agenda for Nursing - SRAN]

Worldwide, cancer remains the second most frequent cause of death in adults and children. A cancer diagnosis often marks the beginning of therapies that may continue over months and years. These therapies frequently consist in surgical interventions in combination with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. For all healthcare professionals involved, cancer also signifies a very complex illness with high demands. It is therefore important to identify research priorities in order to successfully and comprehensively address these demands and to provide high quality patient care. In order to identify research priorities in oncology care in Switzerland, a systematic review of literature was conducted. A total of 30 research priorities emerged from the literature. In accordance with SRAN guidelines, 25 were passed on to the SRAN. The systematic identification of research priorities in oncology nursing has, for the first time, resulted in a list of topics in need of investigation in Switzerland. Completing the list of research priorities for oncology nursing with an updated systematic review of literature and presenting it to a larger and more representative group of oncology nurses, experts, and nurse scientists with oncology nursing experience for assessment and valuation, will be crucial for any future revision of the SRAN. In the future, it will be indispensable to include patients and their families in the process.

[Research priorities and research topics for cardiovascular nursing: the Swiss Research Agenda for Nursing]

Cardiovascular diseases are worldwide a major challenge for the health care system and the number one reason for premature mortality and lost life years. Many accomplishments to reduce risk factors and improve treatment in acute and chronic disease and rehabilitation have been initiated by medical research but were also embraced by nursing research, which provided valuable knowledge about supporting risk factor modification and patients' self-management. Nursing research in the cardiovascular field has a long tradition in the US. In Europe cardiovascular nursing research also developed over the past decade, with increasing participation of Swiss nurse researchers. Efforts in this field of cardiovascular nursing have been made to convey projects in nursing research that help to enhance the health of the population sustainably and improve well-being in patients with acute and chronic courses of cardiovascular disease. Scientific knowledge is pivotal in developing evidence-based nursing interventions. Since both the German and the French speaking part of Switzerland have been lacking a literature-based and expert-supported agenda for nursing research, the aim of the Swiss Research Agenda for Nursing (SRAN) project was to develop an agenda providing researchers, funding agencies, and politics with orientation. This article takes the seven priorities of the SRAN project and links them to the topics of risk factor modification, rehabilitation programs, self-care, and patient education. The article presents the first agenda for cardiovascular nursing for the years 2007 to 2017. The agenda will serve to develop an action plan and to promote nursing research projects in the field of cardiovascular nursing in Switzerland.

Forschungsprioritäten der gerontologischen Pflege

In der Schweiz liegt die durchschnittliche Lebenserwartung für Frauen bei 84 Jahren und für Männer bei 79 Jahren. Bis ins Jahr 2030 wird die Zahl der über 80-jährigen Personen um 83% auf 625 000 zunehmen. Es wird angenommen, dass sich damit die Zahl der pflegebedürftigen Personen verdoppeln wird. Damit die Pflege ihre Aufgaben in Zukunft kompetent erfüllen kann, ist sie dringend auch auf Erkenntnisse aus der Pflegeforschung angewiesen. Im Rahmen eines nationalen Projekts wurde eine Agenda formuliert, die mittels Literaturrecherche, Expertenbefragung, einer nationalen Umfrage und einer Konsensuskonferenz die Schwerpunkte für die Pflegeforschung für die Jahre von 2007–2017 festlegt. Einundzwanzig Themen wurden für die gerontologische Pflegeforschung identifiziert. Diese Themen betreffen unter anderem Forschung zur Förderung der Selbstständigkeit und Unabhängigkeit zu Hause, zum Einfluss neuer Technologien auf die Versorgung älterer Menschen, zu Entlastungsangeboten für pflegende Angehörige von Demenzkranken. Im Altersbereich werden pflegewissenschaftliche Forschungen zu mobilitätsfördernden Maßnahmen, zu Delir-Management, zu Interventionen gegen Mangelernährung und zum Umgang mit Depression benötigt. Pflegewissenschaftliche Forschung soll die Kontinuität von Dienstleistungen über Institutions- und professionelle Grenzen hinweg sowie den Einfluss von alterspolitischen Entscheiden untersuchen, um Grundlagen zur Qualitätssicherung im stationären und ambulanten Bereich zu liefern. Mit diesem Artikel liegt erstmals eine Forschungsagenda für die gerontologische Pflege vor, die auf den sieben Schwerpunkten der Swiss Research Agenda for Nursing (SRAN) aufbaut und als Diskussionsgrundlage für strategische Ausrichtungen genutzt werden kann.

Swiss Research Agenda for Nursing (SRAN): Die Entwicklung einer Agenda für die klinische Pflegeforschung in der Schweiz

In den angelsächsischen und nordeuropäischen Ländern wurden Agenden für die Pflegeforschung entwickelt, um die Forschung auf gesundheitspolitische Zielsetzungen der Länder auszurichten. In der Schweiz erschwerte das Fehlen einer landesweiten gesundheitspolitischen Zielsetzung eine gemeinsame Ausrichtung der Pflegeforschung. Im Projekt «Swiss Research Agenda for Nursing (SRAN)» wurde deshalb zwischen 2005 und 2007 die erste nationale Agenda entwickelt. Basierend auf Literaturreviews, Expertenbefragungen und einer nationalen Umfrage entwickelte ein Projektteam die Agenda, die an einer Konsensuskonferenz verabschiedet wurde. Die Agenda beschreibt allgemeine forschungsleitende Grundsätze und definiert sieben inhaltliche Schwerpunkte für die Jahre 2007 bis 2017. Priorisiert werden soll Forschung 1) zur Wirkung pflegerischer Maßnahmen, 2) zur Anpassung von Dienstleistungen an ein sich veränderndes Gesundheitssystem, 3) zur Identifizierung pflegerelevanter Phänomene, 4) zum Einfluss der Arbeitsumgebung auf die Pflegequalität, 5) zum Funktionieren familialer Systeme und sozialer Netzwerke, 6) zur Integration der Vielfalt individueller Lebensumstände und 7) zur Umsetzung von ethischen Prinzipien in der Pflege. Mit der Swiss Research Agenda for Nursing liegt erstmals eine nationale Agenda in deutscher und französischer Sprache vor. Sie kann als Orientierung für die strategische Ausrichtung genutzt werden und dient zur Entwicklung eines Aktionsplans zur Förderung der Pflegeforschung in der Schweiz.

Suicide assisted by two Swiss right-to-die organisations

BACKGROUND

In Switzerland, non-medical right-to-die organisations such as Exit Deutsche Schweiz and Dignitas offer suicide assistance to members suffering from incurable diseases.

OBJECTIVES

First, to determine whether differences exist between the members who received assistance in suicide from Exit Deutsche Schweiz and Dignitas. Second, to investigate whether the practices of Exit Deutsche Schweiz have changed since the 1990s.

METHODS

This study analysed all cases of assisted suicide facilitated by Exit Deutsche Schweiz (E) and Dignitas (D) between 2001 and 2004 and investigated by the University of Zurich's Institute of Legal Medicine (E: n = 147; D: n = 274, total: 421). Furthermore, data from the Exit Deutsche Schweiz study which investigated all cases of assisted suicide during the period 1990-2000 (n = 149) were compared with the data of the present study.

RESULTS

More women than men were assisted in both organisations (D: 64%; E: 65%). Dignitas provided more assistance to non-residents (D: 91%; E: 3%; p = 0.000), younger persons (mean age in years (SD): D: 64.5 (14.1); E: 76.6 (13.3); p = 0.001), and people suffering from fatal diseases such as multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (D: 79%; E: 67%; p = 0.013). Lethal medications were more often taken orally in cases assisted by Dignitas (D: 91%; E: 76%; p = 0.000). The number of women and the proportion of older people suffering from non-fatal diseases among suicides assisted by Exit Deutsche Schweiz has increased since the 1990s (women: 52% to 65%, p = 0.031; mean age in years (SD): 69.3 (17.0) to 76.9 (13.3), p = 0.000), non-fatal diseases: 22% to 34%, p = 0.026).

CONCLUSIONS

Weariness of life rather than a fatal or hopeless medical condition may be a more common reason for older members of Exit Deutsche Schweiz to commit suicide. The strong over-representation of women in both Exit Deutsche Schweiz and Dignitas suicides is an important phenomenon so far largely overlooked and in need of further study.

Swiss Research Agenda for Nursing (SRAN) Die Entwicklung einer Agenda für die klinische Pflegeforschung in der Schweiz

In den angelsächsischen und nordeuropäischen Ländern wurden Agenden für die Pflegeforschung entwickelt, um die Forschung auf gesundheitspolitische Zielsetzungen der Länder auszurichten. In der Schweiz erschwerte das Fehlen einer landesweiten gesundheitspolitischen Zielsetzung eine gemeinsame Ausrichtung der Pflegeforschung. Im Projekt «Swiss Research Agenda for Nursing (SRAN)» wurde deshalb zwischen 2005 und 2007 die erste nationale Agenda entwickelt. Basierend auf Literaturreviews, Expertenbefragungen und einer nationalen Umfrage entwickelte ein Projektteam die Agenda, die an einer Konsensuskonferenz verabschiedet wurde. Die Agenda beschreibt allgemeine forschungsleitende Grundsätze und definiert sieben inhaltliche Schwerpunkte für die Jahre 2007 bis 2017. Priorisiert werden soll Forschung 1) zur Wirkung pflegerischer Maßnahmen, 2) zur Anpassung von Dienstleistungen an ein sich veränderndes Gesundheitssystem, 3) zur Identifizierung pflegerelevanter Phänomene, 4) zum Einfluss der Arbeitsumgebung auf die Pflegequalität, 5) zum Funktionieren familialer Systeme und sozialer Netzwerke, 6) zur Integration der Vielfalt individueller Lebensumstände und 7) zur Umsetzung von ethischen Prinzipien in der Pflege. Mit der Swiss Research Agenda for Nursing liegt erstmals eine nationale Agenda in deutscher und französischer Sprache vor. Sie kann als Orientierung für die strategische Ausrichtung genutzt werden und dient zur Entwicklung eines Aktionsplans zur Förderung der Pflegeforschung in der Schweiz.

Schmerzmanagement bei Patienten mit kognitiven Beeinträchtigungen: ein Forschungsanwendungsprojekt

Menschen mit kognitiven Beeinträchtigungen sind aufgrund ihrer Erkrankung und der damit verbundenen eingeschränkten Kommunikationsmöglichkeit eine vulnerable Patientengruppe. Sie sind besonders gefährdet, dass ihre Schmerzen nicht erkannt und somit häufig nicht adäquat behandelt werden. Ein inadäquates Schmerzmanagement hat Auswirkung auf die physische und psychische Verfassung sowie die Lebensqualität der Betroffenen. Ziel dieses Forschungsanwendungsprojektes war, dass Patienten mit kognitiver Beeinträchtigung auf der Bettenstation der Unfallchirurgie ein angemessenes systematisches Schmerzmanagement erhalten, welches auf die kognitive Beeinträchtigung abgestimmt ist. Nach einer Literaturreview wurden ein Qualitätsstandard und ein Algorithmus entwickelt und mit dem Fremdeinschätzungsinstrument «Beurteilung von Schmerzen bei Demenz» (BESD) auf einer unfallchirurgischen Station eines öffentlichen Zentrumsspitals eingeführt. Die Evaluation erfolgte mittels Pflegedokumentationsanalyse und Befragung der Pflegefachpersonen. Zehn Patienten konnten in das Projekt eingeschlossen werden. Die ersten Resultate zeigten, dass die Schmerzen bei den Patienten individuell nach Beeinträchtigung in jeder Arbeitsschicht eingestuft wurden und die Schmerzbehandlung medikamentös und nichtmedikamentös erfolgte. Pflegefachpersonen zeigten eine erhöhte Aufmerksamkeit für die Schmerzerfassung und erlangten Sicherheit mit einem strukturierten Assessment bei Patienten mit schwerer kognitiver Beeinträchtigung. Wir empfehlen daher, den Qualitätsstandard und das Einschätzungsinstrument BESD bei Patienten mit kognitiver Beeinträchtigung anzuwenden.

[Managing urinary incontinence in stroke rehabilitation--a review]

BACKGROUND

Urinary incontinence following stroke is an extensive problem for the patients and their relatives that influences the well-being and care in the future. There are a lot of therapeutic interventions available, their effectiveness, however, is not known in detail. For rehabilitation practice the ongoing question is how Urinary Incontinence (UI) can best be treated in a way that the patients daily life is not compromised.

METHOD

The search for clinical trials was carried out in PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library, restricted to German and English papers published between 1989 and April 2005. Medical, nursing and physiotherapeutic interventions for treating UI after stroke were described and analysed.

RESULTS

The clinical trials were divided into process-oriented trials and those looking at individual interventions. The process trials could be divided into three different groups with an overall success of 82-95 %, 50-56 % and 23-36 % respectively. Behavioral methods (caregiver-induced, patient-active and other interventions) and medical interventions are available. The studies of the most successful group include staff education and application of interventions based on an assessment procedure and a guideline. No clinical trial on individual interventions reached a result like the process-oriented studies.

CONCLUSION

For treating urinary incontinence a multimodal approach is necessary: special education of the nurses, applying and acting in a problem-solving process, for example in the Rehabilitation Cycle and delivering care based on an assessment procedure and guidelines. Development of a guideline for treating urinary incontinence after stroke can be recommended. Further research in the efficacy of individual interventions is needed.

Becoming forgetful: how elderly people deal with forgetfulness in everyday life

Studies show that complaints about being forgetful are weakly correlated with standardized measures of memory impairment. Little attention has been paid to those complaints in a healthy elderly population. Therefore, this qualitative, grounded-theory study investigated the experiences and consequences of becoming forgetful. In-depth interviews with 32 participants were conducted and analyzed. The findings show that forgetfulness became part of daily life through 3 strategies, conceptualized as doing forgetfulness: (1) reducing complexity; (2) creating and maintaining routines; and (3) dealing with feelings of embarrassment and shame. The well-being of people experiencing forgetfulness depended on how successfully they performed the strategies of doing forgetfulness. Gaining insight into this process allows health care professionals to assess the phenomenon early and to individualize counseling and further diagnostic procedures.

The butterbur extract petasin has no effect on skin test reactivity induced by different stimuli: a randomized, double-blind crossover study using histamine, codeine, methacholine, and aeroallergen solutions

BACKGROUND

Petasin (Ze 339) was recently introduced on the market as a potent herbal antiallergic drug for treatment of respiratory allergies such as hay fever. Few clinical studies have been performed so far addressing the clinical effectiveness of Ze 339.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the antiallergic properties of Ze 339 using skin prick tests with different stimuli, such as codeine, histamine, methacholine, and a relevant inhalant allergen.

METHODS

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was performed in which Ze 339 was compared to acrivastine, a short-acting antihistamine, in 8 patients with respiratory allergy and in 10 nonatopic, healthy volunteers. Antiallergic activity of Ze 339 was determined by analyzing inhibitory potency in skin prick tests with codeine, histamine, methacholine, and an inhalant allergen. Wheal-and-flare reactions were assessed 90 minutes after a double dose of Ze 339, acrivastine, or placebo. An interval of at least 3 days was left between the skin tests.

RESULTS

Acrivastine was identified as the only substance that significantly inhibited skin test reactivity to all solutions analyzed in all study subjects. In contrast, no significant inhibition could be demonstrated for Ze 339 with any test solution. Moreover, the results of Ze 339 did not differ significantly from placebo.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study we found no antiallergic, particularly antihistaminic, effect of Ze 339 in skin tests using a variety of stimuli often used to evaluate immediate skin test reactivity. The mechanism by which Ze 339 is effective in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis still needs to be elucidated.