The Cooperation Between Nurses and a New Digital Colleague “AI-Driven Lifestyle Monitoring” in Long-Term Care for Older Adults: Viewpoint

Technology has a major impact on the way nurses work. Data-driven technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), have particularly strong potential to support nurses in their work. However, their use also introduces ambiguities. An example of such a technology is AI-driven lifestyle monitoring in long-term care for older adults, based on data collected from ambient sensors in an older adult’s home. Designing and implementing this technology in such an intimate setting requires collaboration with nurses experienced in long-term and older adult care. This viewpoint paper emphasizes the need to incorporate nurses and the nursing perspective into every stage of designing, using, and implementing AI-driven lifestyle monitoring in long-term care settings. It is argued that the technology will not replace nurses, but rather act as a new digital colleague, complementing the humane qualities of nurses and seamlessly integrating into nursing workflows. Several advantages of such a collaboration between nurses and technology are highlighted, as are potential risks such as decreased patient empowerment, depersonalization, lack of transparency, and loss of human contact. Finally, practical suggestions are offered to move forward with integrating the digital colleague.</p

The Impact of Individualized Interaction on the Quality of Life of Elderly Dependent on Care as a Result of Dementia: A Study with a Pre-Post Design

The aim was to assess the impact of a one-to-one 30-min individualized interaction per day on the behavior and quality of life of care-dependent residents with dementia. Methods: In a pre-/post-test study, 15 care-dependent residents with dementia (mean age 88.8 years, 86.7% women) were included. Resident behavior was measured using video observation and quality of life using Qualidem. Health care professionals (n = 13) and direct relatives (n = 4) were interviewed about the effect of the intervention. The effect of the intervention was analyzed using the Friedman analysis of variance. Results: The video observation showed that maintaining eye contact, touching, responding to speaking, tracking observable stimuli and asking questions about the activity significantly increased during the intervention. These findings were supported by interviews with nurses who described experiences of making human-to-human contact with the residents. No significant overall changes were found in quality of life. These findings were partially supported by interviews with health care professionals and relatives as some perceived effects beyond the 30-min intervention. Conclusions: Interaction offered on a one-to-one basis tailored to individual preferences significantly improved positive interactive behavior of care-dependent residents with dementia during the intervention. Surveys revealed no significant overall effect of the intervention. The interviews indicated there might be effects beyond the intervention for some residents

Development of a memory application for structuring and supporting daily activities of clients with intellectual disabilities

BACKGROUND: Clients with intellectual disabilities benefit from a fixed daily structure due to difficulties in remembering appointments and in performing daily activities. OBJECTIVE: To develop a memory application to structure and support daily activities for clients with intellectual disabilities that contribute to independence and to provide a clear insight into the developmental process of the application. METHODS: A participatory design' (two development cycles) was used to understand users' needs, wishes, and abilities regarding structure and support of daily activities. Using a pre-A nd post-test design, two pilots (n= 14) took place in a real life setting' to evaluate usability of the application and gather data for further development using observations and interviews. RESULTS: The pilots showed that the application has the potential to contribute to the independence of clients, e.g. less control needed regarding daily structure offered by formal carers. This was most evident in the last pilot because of the improved ease of use, the added value perceived by clients and formal carers and the increased focus on the implementation of the application in the care process. CONCLUSIONS: For successful integration of the memory application in the care process, well-defined personal goals of clients in the care plan are needed and carers should act according to these goals. Further research is necessary to examine the generalisation of findings

Unravelling current sexual care in chronic kidney disease: perspective of social workers

Background: Fifty to eighty percent of patients suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD) experience a form of sexual dysfunction (SD), even after renal transplantation. Despite this, inquiring about SD is often not included in the daily practice of renal care providers. Objectives: This paper explores the perspectives of renal social workers regarding sexual care for patients and evaluates their practice,attitude towards responsibility and knowledge of SD. Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a 41-item online survey. Participants: Seventy-nine members of the Dutch Federation of Social Workers Nephrology. Results: It was revealed that 60% of respondents discussed SD with a fifth of their patients. Frequency of discussion was associated with experience (p&frac14;0.049), knowledge (p&frac14;0.001), supplementary education (p&frac14;0.006), and the availability of protocols on sexual care (p&frac14;0.007).Main barriers towards discussing SD consisted of &lsquo;culture and religion&rsquo; (51.9%), &lsquo;language and ethnicity&rsquo; (49.4%), and &lsquo;presence of a third person&rsquo; (45.6%). Sufficient knowledge of SD was present in 28% of respondents. The responsibility for discussion was 96% nephrologists and 81% social workers. Conclusion: This study provides evidence that a part of Dutch nephrology social workers do not provide sexual care regularly, due to insufficient experience and sexual knowledge, absence of privacy and protocols and barriers based on cultural diversity. According to the respondents the responsibility for this aspect of care should be multidisciplinary. Recommendations include a need for further education on the topic, private opportunities to discuss SD and multidisciplinary guidelines on sexual car

What is the role of nephrologists and nurses of the dialysis department in providing fertility care to CKD patients?: A questionnaire study among care providers.mong Dutch neurologists

Purpose This study evaluated current fertility care for CKD patients by assessing the perspectives of nephrolo- gists and nurses in the dialysis department. Methods Two different surveys were distributed for this cross-sectional study among Dutch nephrologists (N=312) and dialysis nurses (N=1211). &nbsp; Results Response rates were 50.9% (nephrologists) and 45.4% (nurses). Guidelines on fertility care were present in the departments of 9.0% of the nephrologists and 15.6% of the nurses. 61.7% of the nephrologists and 23.6% of the nurses informed &ge;50% of their patients on potential changes in fertility due to a decline in renal function. Fertility subjects discussed by nephrologists included &ldquo;wish to have children&rdquo; (91.2%), &ldquo;risk of pregnancy for patients&rsquo; health&rdquo; (85.8%), and &ldquo;inheritance of the disease&rdquo; (81.4%). Barriers withholding nurses from discussing FD were based on &ldquo;the age of the patient&rdquo; (62.6%), &ldquo;insufficient training&rdquo; (55.2%), and &ldquo;language and ethnicity&rdquo; (51.6%). 29.2% of the nurses felt competent in discussing fertility, 8.3% had sufficient knowledge about fertility, and 75.7% needed to expand their knowledge. More knowledge and competence were associated with providing fertility health care (p&lt; 0.01). &nbsp; Conclusions In most nephrology departments, the guide- lines to appoint which care provider should provide fertil- ity care to CKD patients are absent. Fertility counseling is routinely provided by most nephrologists, nurses often skip this part of care mainly due to insufficiencies in self- imposed competence and knowledge and barriers based on cultural diversity. The outcomes identified a need for fer- tility guidelines in the nephrology department and training and education for nurses on providing fertility care. &nbsp; CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

Suitable sexual health care according to men with prostate cancer and their partners

Purpose:To determine which health care provider and what timing is considered most suitable to discuss sexual and relationalchanges after prostate cancer treatment according to the point of view of men and their partners. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among men diagnosed with prostate cancer or treated after active surveillance, who received laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, brachytherapy, intensity-modulated radiotherapy, and/or hormonal therapy. If applicable, partners were included as well. Results In this survey, 253 men and 174 partners participated. Mean age of participating men was 69.3 years (SD 6.9, range 45&ndash;89). The majority (77.8%) was married and average length of relationship was 40.3 years (SD 14.1, range 2&ndash;64). Out of 250 men, 80.5% suffered from moderate to severe erectile dysfunction. Half of them(50.2%, n = 101) was treated for erectile dysfunction and great part was partially (30.7%, n = 31) up to not satisfied (25.7%, n = 26). Half of the partners (50.6%, n = 81) found it difficult to cope with sexual changes. A standard consultation with a urologist-sexologist to discuss altered sexuality is considered preferable by 74.7% (n = 183). Three months after treatment was the most suitable timing according to 47.6% (n = 49). Conclusions During follow-up consultations, little attention is paid to the impact of treatment-induced sexual dysfunction on the relationship of men with prostate cancer and their partners. A standard consultation with a urologistsexologist 3 months after treatment to discuss sexual and relational issues is considered as most preferable