untitled

ABSTRAC

Awareness in research supervision : a single subject study

Theoretically, one part of supervision is the direct object i.e. what can be learnt, another part is the indirect object aiming at how the learning process is constituted and influenced by both the doctoral student and his/her supervisor. Emphasising both the what and the how object of learning as well as their interrelationship may be an important factor for the development of the role of supervisor in research. The aim of this study was to describe supervision of doctoral students from the perspective of a research supervisor. Interview data were analysed in accordance with content analysis. The result showed that research supervision had a latent content of awareness of underlying structures and the preconditions for learning that became visible through self-appraisal, orientation towards a goal, in the interaction and the performance of an art. Awareness was a cornerstone in research supervision that enabled both the what and the how aspect of learning

Stress and self-rated health : comparison between 26-year old Swedish women at intervals of twenty years

In society of today there are great demands on young women concerning education, work and social life and also concerning health and beauty expectations. The aim of this study was to compare 26-year old Swedish women studied at intervals of twenty years concerning stress in daily life and self-rated health. The participants in 2002 (n=386) answered the same questionnaire that was used twenty years ago in a prospective population study (n=85). The result showed no difference in self-rated health between the two groups. However, women in 2002 reported more stress and health complaints such as exhaustion, sleep disorders, restlessness and difficulty concentration. They also reported low energy level and bad appetite. This discomfort must be interpreted with caution and not necessarily as ill health. However, it is important to take the experience of stress in daily life and the increase in health complaints into consideration even if women today rate their health as good in order to avoid lasting imbalance and thereby future diseases

Endurance - integration of strength and vulnerability in relatives' response to open heart surgery as a lived experience

Open heart surgery is a threatening life event for patients and their relatives. The relatives' situation is especially complex since at the same time they both support the patient and suffer themselves. The purpose of the present study was to describe relatives' lived experiences of a family member's open-heart surgery in a lifeworld perspective. Nine relatives of patients who underwent coronary artery bypass and/or heart valve surgery were interviewed in depth using a phenomenological approach. Endurance was found to be the essential characteristic for this group and was derived from four constituents: unconditionality, uncertainty, mutuality and sadness. Unable to escape their changed lifeworld, they demonstrated endurance throughout the entire illness process, which implied a great sense of responsibility and the setting aside of their own needs and wishes. The endurance rendered them both strong and vulnerable, although the vulnerability was not immediately apparent. There is a risk that relatives in need for help to handle this threatening situation may be ignored by health care professionals because they seem so capable. A lifeworld perspective in health care including the entire family can prevent such a situation

Keeping the maintenance of daily life in spite of Chronic Heart Failure. A Qualitative study.

Background: Patients with CHF (Chronic Heart Failure) is an increasing group in the society. They often experience increasing powerlessness and depression in daily lifte as well as difficulties adhering to other physical symptoms. Many patients have difficulties to deal with daily demands. Aims: To describe how persons, living with CHF, perceived the maintenance of their daily life. Methods: This study was following a penomenographic method in order to describe variations of perceptions. Data was collected through taped interviews, taken from 17 patients. The sample was selected from patients attending a specialist Chronic Heart Failure day care unit. Results: Five main categories were identified from 345 statements describing variations in how patients with CHF kept maintenance in their daily lite. The categories include: dealing with the realities of life, dealing with thoughts about life's infinity, taking responsibility, dealing with the surrounding world and keeping up with values of life. Conclusion: The illness symptoms clearly affected daily routines but participants showed remarkable resolve and showed that values in life could be maintained albeit with a few adjustments. No patient expressed a desire to give up. Understanding patients' perceptions the specialist nurse can transfer these knowledge to other patients in similar situations. Keywords: Daily life, Chronic Heart Failure (CHF), Phenomenograph

Arterial baroreflex dysfunction after coronary artery bypass grafting

Although uncommon, the incidence of ventricular arrhythmia is high in certain subsets of patients after coronary artery bypass grafting. Arterial baroreflex dysfunction has been linked to increased risk of ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death. The aim of the current study was to explore arterial baroreflex function during the early recovery phase and up to five months after surgery. Electrocardiogram and beat-to-beat blood pressures were registered in patients (n=92) undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting five weeks and five months after surgery. Healthy subjects (n=31) were examined for comparison. The arterial baroreflex sensitivity and the baroreflex effectiveness index were calculated. The baroreflex sensitivity and the baroreflex effectiveness index were reduced by 36% and 64%, respectively (P<0.01 for both) in patients five weeks after coronary artery bypass grafting compared to healthy subjects (HS). Values increased during follow-up but the baroreflex effectiveness index remained reduced by 55% in patients compared to HS five months after cardiac surgery (P<0.01). Arterial baroreflex dysfunction prevails both early and long-term after coronary artery bypass grafting. Reduced modulation of cardiac parasympathetic nervous activity could contribute to the increased risk of ventricular arrhythmia observed during the early recovery phase after cardiac surgery

A masters programme in cardiovascular nursing : a two-year-follow-up

The aim of this study was to evaluate professional development and promotion as well as whether the new competence was requested after completion of a one-year master programme (MP) in Cardiovascular (CV) nursing. In Sweden the first one-year MP within the CV area took place between 2003 and 2005 at Halmstad University with a follow-up in 2007. The sample consisted of seventeen former students who had completed the MP. A questionnaire was developed comprising twenty items grouped into three main sections. Most of the nurses stated that their knowledge was requested and that they had developed their professional attitude, skills and knowledge. Seven of the nurses had a new position and five of them had advanced in terms of leadership. In three cases, the master exam was critical for the employers’ decision. Six of the nurses who had a new post had obtained an increase in salary. In conclusion, the MP led to increased competence as well as improved career prospects. Information about the MP should be available at clinics, and collaboration between clinical practice and education is necessary in order to ensure relevant use of master educated nurses’ competence

Health-related quality of life in European women following myocardial infarction: A cross-sectional study

Background:Coronary heart disease is a major contributor to women's health problems.Design:Self-perceived social support, well-being and health-related quality of life (HRQL) were documented in the cross-sectional HeartQoL survey of European women one and six months after a myocardial infarction.Methods:European women were recruited in 18 European countries and grouped into four geographical regions (Southern Europe, Northern Europe, Western Europe and Eastern Europe). Continuous socio-demographic variables and categorical variables were compared by age and region with ANOVA and χ(2), respectively; multiple regression models were used to identify predictors of social support, well-being and HRQL.Results:Women living in the Eastern European region rated social support, well-being and HRQL significantly lower than women in the other regions. Older women had lower physical HRQL scores than younger women. Eastern European women rated social support, well-being and HRQL significantly lower than women in the other regions. Prediction of the dependent variables (social support, well-being and HRQL) by socio-demographic factors varied by total group, in the older age group, and by region; body mass index and managerial responsibility were the most consistent significant predictors