The publics’ perspective on cardiovascular risk information : Implications for practice

Lay people struggle to understand the implications of cardiovascular risk information. With new advanced testing techniques and the digitalization of personal health information, the communication of cardiovascular risk becomes a challenge.  The overall aim of the thesis was to investigate the publics’ perspective of cardiovascular risk information through a multi-method approach, including how individuals perceive risk, factors affecting an underestimation of risk, how cardiovascular risk communication affects individuals’ psychosocial health, and their preferences for risk communication.  In study I, research participants’ perceptions about risk information were explored in five focus group interviews. The participants’ (n=31) perceptions about cardiovascular risk were complex, where multifactorial aspects were disregarded. The communication of cardiovascular risk information did not meet the participants’ need for understanding, support, and guidance regarding what to do with this information.  Study II was a before-after investigation regarding the impact of cardiovascular risk information on research participants’ health-related quality of life and mental distress. Increased worry and anxiety were observed in individuals referred to hospital because of coronary artery stenosis.  Study III was a cross-sectional study, which found that individuals with a very good or excellent self-perceived general health and individuals without a family history of CVD were more likely to underestimate their cardiovascular risk compared to participants with poor or fairly good general health and without a family history.  Study IV was a cross-sectional study, investigating the preferences of the Swedish population for communication of cardiovascular risk information from a health checkup using a Discrete Choice Experiment. Besides cost, consultation time was the most important aspect when communicating cardiovascular risk.  The findings suggest that cardiovascular risk communication does not reach its fullest potential when it comes to recipients’ perspective of the benefits of CV risk communication. Improvements should aim at increasing the recipients’ personal control and health literacy and furthermore, acknowledge the fact that self-perceived risk is influenced by how a person feels in general and experiences of family history. https://doi.org/10.33063/diva-427327</p

Implementering av vårdprogram för hypertoni : Personalens upplevelser och erfarenheter av ett utvecklingsarbete på en vårdcentral

Bakgrund: Hypertoni är en av de vanligaste orsakerna till att besöka primärvården och en av de viktigaste modifierbara riskfaktorerna för hjärt- och kärlsjukdom. Livsstilsbehandling är grunden i all behandling av hypertoni. En stor andel av hypertonipatienter är obehandlade eller når ej behandlingsmål. Ett vårdprogram har därför tagits fram för att förbättra omhändertagandet av hypertonipatienter i primärvården. Syfte: Syftet är att undersöka personalens upplevelser och erfarenheter från implementeringen av vårdprogrammet för hypertoni på en vårdcentral. Metod: Studien är en explorativ intervjustudie. Datainsamlingsmetoden var enskilda semistrukturerade intervjuer. Urvalet bestod av nio personer som arbetade på Tierps vårdcentral. Materialet analyserades enligt kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultat: Informanterna var positiva till implementeringen av vårdprogrammet. De upplevde att implementeringen av vårdprogrammet för hypertoni skapade struktur och ökade kvaliteten på vårdcentralen. Vårdprogrammet förkortades och anpassades efter lokala förutsättningarna. Rutinerna dokumenterades i ett kvalitetsdokument. Samtliga yrkesgrupper som berördes av förändringarna fanns representerade i den arbetsgrupp som tog fram de lokala rutinerna, inklusive verksamhetschefen själv. En blodtrycksmottagning öppnades där en specialutbildad sjuksköterska arbetar. På så vis kunde utredning och uppföljning av hypertonipatienterna säkerställas, vilket förmodligen gynnar resurssvaga grupper. Implementeringen ledde till ett mer likriktat arbetssätt över hela verksamheten och medförde att livsstilsarbetet kunde utföras mer strukturerat. Utmaningar med att få patienterna till hälsosamtal kvarstår. Uppföljning planeras till hösten 2013. Slutsats: Informanternas upplevelse var att vårdprogrammet för hypertoni skapade struktur och ökade kvaliteten på vårdcentralen. Framgångsfaktorer var bl.a. att ha alla yrkesgrupper representerade arbetsgruppen, inklusive verksamhetschefen själv. Ett hinder för att implementera vårdprogram var att verksamheten är väldigt stor vilket försvårar att kommunicera ut tydlig information till alla enheter. Tidsbristen ses som ett hinder för att kunna följa upp implementeringsarbetet.Background: Hypertension is one of the most common reasons for visiting primary care and one of the most important modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Lifestyle change is the foundation of all treatment of hypertension. Many hypertensive patients are untreated or unsuccessful in reaching treatment goals. Regional guidelines have therefore been developed to improve the care of hypertensive patients in primary care. Purpose: The aim is to study the staff’s experiences of an implementation of regional guidelines for hypertension at a medical centre. Method: The study is an exploratory interview study. Method for data collection was individual semi-structured interviews. The study selection consisted of nine employees at a medical center. The material was analyzed according to qualitative content analysis. Results: The participants were positive to the implementation of the regional guidelines. They experienced that the guidelines created structure and improved the quality at the medical centre. The guidelines were shorted and adjusted to the local settings.  They were documented in a quality document. All involved occupational groups were represented in the workgroup the developed the local routines, including the manager of the medical centre. A nurse reception opened especially for blood pressure patients, led by a specially trained nurse.   Success factors were to have all the professions represented in the work group, including the manager. Guidelines were shortened and localized with the best of the patient in favor. A nurse led practice was created to ensure that the guidelines are followed. The work resulted in a more consistent way of work and a more standardized way to work with life style. Challenges in making patients come to lifestyle counseling persist. An evaluation of the implementation is planned to take place autumn 2013.  Conclusion: They experienced that the guidelines created structure and improved the quality at the medical centre. A success factor was to have all occupational groups represented in the work group, including the manager. An obstacle was that the medical centre is very big which obstruct clear communication.  Lack of time was an obstacle for ensuring evaluation.

Implementering av vårdprogram för hypertoni : Personalens upplevelser och erfarenheter av ett utvecklingsarbete på en vårdcentral

Bakgrund: Hypertoni är en av de vanligaste orsakerna till att besöka primärvården och en av de viktigaste modifierbara riskfaktorerna för hjärt- och kärlsjukdom. Livsstilsbehandling är grunden i all behandling av hypertoni. En stor andel av hypertonipatienter är obehandlade eller når ej behandlingsmål. Ett vårdprogram har därför tagits fram för att förbättra omhändertagandet av hypertonipatienter i primärvården. Syfte: Syftet är att undersöka personalens upplevelser och erfarenheter från implementeringen av vårdprogrammet för hypertoni på en vårdcentral. Metod: Studien är en explorativ intervjustudie. Datainsamlingsmetoden var enskilda semistrukturerade intervjuer. Urvalet bestod av nio personer som arbetade på Tierps vårdcentral. Materialet analyserades enligt kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultat: Informanterna var positiva till implementeringen av vårdprogrammet. De upplevde att implementeringen av vårdprogrammet för hypertoni skapade struktur och ökade kvaliteten på vårdcentralen. Vårdprogrammet förkortades och anpassades efter lokala förutsättningarna. Rutinerna dokumenterades i ett kvalitetsdokument. Samtliga yrkesgrupper som berördes av förändringarna fanns representerade i den arbetsgrupp som tog fram de lokala rutinerna, inklusive verksamhetschefen själv. En blodtrycksmottagning öppnades där en specialutbildad sjuksköterska arbetar. På så vis kunde utredning och uppföljning av hypertonipatienterna säkerställas, vilket förmodligen gynnar resurssvaga grupper. Implementeringen ledde till ett mer likriktat arbetssätt över hela verksamheten och medförde att livsstilsarbetet kunde utföras mer strukturerat. Utmaningar med att få patienterna till hälsosamtal kvarstår. Uppföljning planeras till hösten 2013. Slutsats: Informanternas upplevelse var att vårdprogrammet för hypertoni skapade struktur och ökade kvaliteten på vårdcentralen. Framgångsfaktorer var bl.a. att ha alla yrkesgrupper representerade arbetsgruppen, inklusive verksamhetschefen själv. Ett hinder för att implementera vårdprogram var att verksamheten är väldigt stor vilket försvårar att kommunicera ut tydlig information till alla enheter. Tidsbristen ses som ett hinder för att kunna följa upp implementeringsarbetet.Background: Hypertension is one of the most common reasons for visiting primary care and one of the most important modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Lifestyle change is the foundation of all treatment of hypertension. Many hypertensive patients are untreated or unsuccessful in reaching treatment goals. Regional guidelines have therefore been developed to improve the care of hypertensive patients in primary care. Purpose: The aim is to study the staff’s experiences of an implementation of regional guidelines for hypertension at a medical centre. Method: The study is an exploratory interview study. Method for data collection was individual semi-structured interviews. The study selection consisted of nine employees at a medical center. The material was analyzed according to qualitative content analysis. Results: The participants were positive to the implementation of the regional guidelines. They experienced that the guidelines created structure and improved the quality at the medical centre. The guidelines were shorted and adjusted to the local settings.  They were documented in a quality document. All involved occupational groups were represented in the workgroup the developed the local routines, including the manager of the medical centre. A nurse reception opened especially for blood pressure patients, led by a specially trained nurse.   Success factors were to have all the professions represented in the work group, including the manager. Guidelines were shortened and localized with the best of the patient in favor. A nurse led practice was created to ensure that the guidelines are followed. The work resulted in a more consistent way of work and a more standardized way to work with life style. Challenges in making patients come to lifestyle counseling persist. An evaluation of the implementation is planned to take place autumn 2013.  Conclusion: They experienced that the guidelines created structure and improved the quality at the medical centre. A success factor was to have all occupational groups represented in the work group, including the manager. An obstacle was that the medical centre is very big which obstruct clear communication.  Lack of time was an obstacle for ensuring evaluation.

Implementering av vårdprogram för hypertoni : Personalens upplevelser och erfarenheter av ett utvecklingsarbete på en vårdcentral

Bakgrund: Hypertoni är en av de vanligaste orsakerna till att besöka primärvården och en av de viktigaste modifierbara riskfaktorerna för hjärt- och kärlsjukdom. Livsstilsbehandling är grunden i all behandling av hypertoni. En stor andel av hypertonipatienter är obehandlade eller når ej behandlingsmål. Ett vårdprogram har därför tagits fram för att förbättra omhändertagandet av hypertonipatienter i primärvården. Syfte: Syftet är att undersöka personalens upplevelser och erfarenheter från implementeringen av vårdprogrammet för hypertoni på en vårdcentral. Metod: Studien är en explorativ intervjustudie. Datainsamlingsmetoden var enskilda semistrukturerade intervjuer. Urvalet bestod av nio personer som arbetade på Tierps vårdcentral. Materialet analyserades enligt kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Resultat: Informanterna var positiva till implementeringen av vårdprogrammet. De upplevde att implementeringen av vårdprogrammet för hypertoni skapade struktur och ökade kvaliteten på vårdcentralen. Vårdprogrammet förkortades och anpassades efter lokala förutsättningarna. Rutinerna dokumenterades i ett kvalitetsdokument. Samtliga yrkesgrupper som berördes av förändringarna fanns representerade i den arbetsgrupp som tog fram de lokala rutinerna, inklusive verksamhetschefen själv. En blodtrycksmottagning öppnades där en specialutbildad sjuksköterska arbetar. På så vis kunde utredning och uppföljning av hypertonipatienterna säkerställas, vilket förmodligen gynnar resurssvaga grupper. Implementeringen ledde till ett mer likriktat arbetssätt över hela verksamheten och medförde att livsstilsarbetet kunde utföras mer strukturerat. Utmaningar med att få patienterna till hälsosamtal kvarstår. Uppföljning planeras till hösten 2013. Slutsats: Informanternas upplevelse var att vårdprogrammet för hypertoni skapade struktur och ökade kvaliteten på vårdcentralen. Framgångsfaktorer var bl.a. att ha alla yrkesgrupper representerade arbetsgruppen, inklusive verksamhetschefen själv. Ett hinder för att implementera vårdprogram var att verksamheten är väldigt stor vilket försvårar att kommunicera ut tydlig information till alla enheter. Tidsbristen ses som ett hinder för att kunna följa upp implementeringsarbetet.Background: Hypertension is one of the most common reasons for visiting primary care and one of the most important modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Lifestyle change is the foundation of all treatment of hypertension. Many hypertensive patients are untreated or unsuccessful in reaching treatment goals. Regional guidelines have therefore been developed to improve the care of hypertensive patients in primary care. Purpose: The aim is to study the staff’s experiences of an implementation of regional guidelines for hypertension at a medical centre. Method: The study is an exploratory interview study. Method for data collection was individual semi-structured interviews. The study selection consisted of nine employees at a medical center. The material was analyzed according to qualitative content analysis. Results: The participants were positive to the implementation of the regional guidelines. They experienced that the guidelines created structure and improved the quality at the medical centre. The guidelines were shorted and adjusted to the local settings.  They were documented in a quality document. All involved occupational groups were represented in the workgroup the developed the local routines, including the manager of the medical centre. A nurse reception opened especially for blood pressure patients, led by a specially trained nurse.   Success factors were to have all the professions represented in the work group, including the manager. Guidelines were shortened and localized with the best of the patient in favor. A nurse led practice was created to ensure that the guidelines are followed. The work resulted in a more consistent way of work and a more standardized way to work with life style. Challenges in making patients come to lifestyle counseling persist. An evaluation of the implementation is planned to take place autumn 2013.  Conclusion: They experienced that the guidelines created structure and improved the quality at the medical centre. A success factor was to have all occupational groups represented in the work group, including the manager. An obstacle was that the medical centre is very big which obstruct clear communication.  Lack of time was an obstacle for ensuring evaluation.

Perceptions on using surplus embryos for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease among the Swedish population: a qualitative study

Background: Human embryonic stem cells are currently used for developing treatment against Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, the use of ES cells is surrounded with moral concerns. Research regarding the public's attitudes can form an important basis for policymaking. The aim was to explore the perceptions of the public on using donated human embryos for developing treatment of Parkinson’s Disease. Methods: Semi-structured individual qualitative interviews were conducted with 11 members of the general population in Sweden. Interviews were analyzed with thematic content analyses. Results: Four categories and additional sub-categories; Different views on the embryo requires delicacy, Using embryos to treat Parkinson’s disease, Doing things in the right way, and Communication, media, and public opinion. In general, respondents were positive towards the usage of embryotic stem cells to treat PD, but the usage were conditioned and specific terms were demanded. Informed consent from both donors were required and delicacy and sensitivity when working with embryos were needed. Conclusion: It was perceived better to use surplus embryos to treat PD increase is than to discard them, also among those who perceived the embryo as “a potential life.” The participants raised several conditions under usage for treatment should be allowed. Even if the embryos otherwise are going to be discarded, usage requires informed consent from the donating couples

Health literacy and digital health information-seeking behavior - a cross-sectional study among highly educated Swedes

BACKGROUND: The benefits of digital development in health care may be obscured by unequal opportunities to make use of digital resources. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of health literacy with I) accessing health check test results in the Patient Electronic Health Record (PAEHR), II) searching for information to better understand individual test results, and III) using the national health information online portal provided by the Swedish national health care system. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included data from 434 individuals, 50-64 years old, randomly selected from the Swedish population during the year 2017 to a cohort study including health examination and a web-based survey. Health literacy was assessed at baseline using the Swedish Communicative and Critical Health Literacy scale. Digital information outcomes were assessed after three months. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the separate outcomes were computed using logistic regression. Covariates included sex, age, education, country of birth, cardiovascular risk factors at baseline, general health, risk perception, referral, and new cardiovascular risk factors detected at health examination. RESULTS: About a third of the participants (35%) had limited health literacy, while 65% had sufficient health literacy. Sufficient health literacy was associated with accessing the PAEHR (adjusted OR 1.81 95% CI 1.07-3.06) and use of the online national health information portal provided by the Swedish national health care system (adjusted OR 2.91 95% CI 1.13-7.52) but not with searching information to better understand individual test results (adjusted OR 1.29 0.75-2.20). CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with limited health literacy do not access their personal health information nor search for health information on the online national health information portal provided by the Swedish national health care system to the same extent as individuals with sufficient health literacy. More research is needed about how the level of health literacy relates to differences in online health information-seeking behavior and how digital health information sources and e-health services can be designed to ensure that the entire population has equal access to trustworthy and quality-ensured health information

Public perceptions of myocardial infarction: Do illness perceptions predict preferences for health check results

Illness perceptions are associated with attitudes towards preventive behaviors and are therefore crucial to consider in the context of prevention of cardiovascular diseases. We investigated illness perceptions of the public about myocardial infarction, and whether they predict public preferences for health check test results. A randomly selected sample (N = 423) of the Swedish public aged 40–70 completed an online-survey. It included the brief illness perception questionnaire, items assessing sociodemographic, lifestyle and health factors and a discrete choice experiment incorporating six attributes of health checks (written results, notification method, consultation time, waiting time, lifestyle recommendation and cost). Associations between illness perceptions and sociodemographic- and cardiovascular risk factors were analyzed using multivariate linear regression. Preference data were analyzed with a mixed multinomial logit model. Presence of smoking, hypertension, obesity and lack of physical activity were associated with weaker causal beliefs for the relevant risk factor, while presence of a high stress level was associated with stronger causal beliefs for stress. Low control predicted unwillingness to receive lifestyle recommendations. Attributing family history as the most important personal cause of MI predicted unwillingness to participate in health checks. Illness perceptions differed due to presence of risk factors, age, sex and health literacy. Furthermore, illness perceptions influenced preferences for health check test results and willingness to participate in health checks. Illness perceptions should therefore be addressed when designing health communication and preventive interventions such as health checks, and methods for promoting accurate illness perceptions should be developed

What CVD risk factors predict self-perceived risk of having a myocardial infarction?: A cross-sectional study

Background: This study aims to identify predictors of self-perceived risk of myocardial infarction (MI). Methods: Among 564 men and women (50–65 years; randomly selected from the Swedish population), we assessed risk perception as relative self-perceived risk compared to others (lower, same, higher) and percentage ten-year absolute risk. Predictors (added blockwise) were identified using multinomial or linear regression, providing odds ratios (ORs) or β coefficients with their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: The mean of self-perceived 10-year MI risk was 12%. Lower BMI (AOR 0.57, 95% CI: 0.44–0.75), low stress (AOR 2.51, 95% CI: 1.39–4.52), high level of physical activity (AOR 1.66, 95% CI:1.01–2.74), hypertension (AOR 0.42, 95% CI: 0.23–0.76), family history (AOR 0.38, 95% CI: 0.21–0.69), and poor general health (AOR 0.41, 95% CI: 0.19–0.89) predicted if respondents perceived their MI risk as lower. Poor general health (AOR 1.94, 95% CI: 1.01–3.73), family history (AOR 2.72, 95% CI: 1.57–4.72), and high cholesterol (AOR 2.45, 95% CI: 1.18–5.09) predicted if respondents perceived their MI risk as higher. Low level of self-perceived CVD knowledge and low numeracy predicted if respondents perceived their MI risk as the same as others. High cholesterol (B 6.85, 95% CI: 2.47–11.32) and poor general health (B 8.75, 95% CI: 4.58–13.00) predicted a higher percentage of perceived ten-year risk. Conclusion: General health was a common predictor of self-perceived MI risk. Lifestyle factors (BMI, physical activity) and stress dominated the predictors for perceiving MI risk as lower than others, while high cholesterol predicted perception of high risk

What CVD risk factors predict self-perceived risk of having a myocardial infarction? : A cross-sectional study

Background: This study aims to identify predictors of self-perceived risk of myocardial infarction (MI). Methods: Among 564 men and women (50–65 years; randomly selected from the Swedish population), we assessed risk perception as relative self-perceived risk compared to others (lower, same, higher) and percentage ten-year absolute risk. Predictors (added blockwise) were identified using multinomial or linear regression, providing odds ratios (ORs) or β coefficients with their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: The mean of self-perceived 10-year MI risk was 12%. Lower BMI (AOR 0.57, 95% CI: 0.44–0.75), low stress (AOR 2.51, 95% CI: 1.39–4.52), high level of physical activity (AOR 1.66, 95% CI:1.01–2.74), hypertension (AOR 0.42, 95% CI: 0.23–0.76), family history (AOR 0.38, 95% CI: 0.21–0.69), and poor general health (AOR 0.41, 95% CI: 0.19–0.89) predicted if respondents perceived their MI risk as lower. Poor general health (AOR 1.94, 95% CI: 1.01–3.73), family history (AOR 2.72, 95% CI: 1.57–4.72), and high cholesterol (AOR 2.45, 95% CI: 1.18–5.09) predicted if respondents perceived their MI risk as higher. Low level of self-perceived CVD knowledge and low numeracy predicted if respondents perceived their MI risk as the same as others. High cholesterol (B 6.85, 95% CI: 2.47–11.32) and poor general health (B 8.75, 95% CI: 4.58–13.00) predicted a higher percentage of perceived ten-year risk. Conclusion: General health was a common predictor of self-perceived MI risk. Lifestyle factors (BMI, physical activity) and stress dominated the predictors for perceiving MI risk as lower than others, while high cholesterol predicted perception of high risk

Women’s perceptions and attitudes towards the use of AI in mammography in Sweden: a qualitative interview study

Background Understanding women’s perspectives can help to create an effective and acceptable artificial intelligence (AI) implementation for triaging mammograms, ensuring a high proportion of screening-detected cancer. This study aimed to explore Swedish women’s perceptions and attitudes towards the use of AI in mammography.Method Semistructured interviews were conducted with 16 women recruited in the spring of 2023 at Capio S:t Görans Hospital, Sweden, during an ongoing clinical trial of AI in screening (ScreenTrustCAD, NCT 04778670) with Philips equipment. The interview transcripts were analysed using inductive thematic content analysis.Results In general, women viewed AI as an excellent complementary tool to help radiologists in their decision-making, rather than a complete replacement of their expertise. To trust the AI, the women requested a thorough evaluation, transparency about AI usage in healthcare, and the involvement of a radiologist in the assessment. They would rather be more worried because of being called in more often for scans than risk having overlooked a sign of cancer. They expressed substantial trust in the healthcare system if the implementation of AI was to become a standard practice.Conclusion The findings suggest that the interviewed women, in general, hold a positive attitude towards the implementation of AI in mammography; nonetheless, they expect and demand more from an AI than a radiologist. Effective communication regarding the role and limitations of AI is crucial to ensure that patients understand the purpose and potential outcomes of AI-assisted healthcare