Coping, Psychiatric Morbidity and Perceived Care in Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Haemorrhage

Many patients with an aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) exhibit difficulties in rehabilitation, even in cases of a good prognosis. The present project investigates this using qualitative methods and standardised outcome measures. Patients with SAH treated at Uppsala University Hospital between 2002 and 2005 with an expected good prognosis were consecutively included. In addition, nurses working with such patients were interviewed. Outcome was assessed in terms of perception of care, psychiatric health, coping and health related quality of life (HRQoL). Qualitative content analyses revealed eight categories, which were divided into two patterns, Confident or Pessimistic perception of recovery, largely on the basis of the presence or absence of depression. Eighty-three patients were assessed by The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, Axis I (SCID-I). Forty-one percent fulfilled criteria for any psychiatric disorder seven months after SAH and 45 % presented with a history of lifetime psychiatric morbidity. Logistic regressions indicated that a psychiatric history was related to a higher risk of psychiatric problems seven months after SAH, as well as a lower return to work. SAH patients had lower HRQoL than the general Swedish population; almost entirely in the subgroup with a psychiatric history prior to the SAH. Those with a psychiatric history used more evasive, fatalistic, emotive and palliative coping strategies associated with inability to handle illness. Multiple regressions revealed that a psychiatric history and use of coping were independently associated with HRQoL, albeit more in the mental than the physical domains. Qualitative content analyses revealed that nurses viewed patients’ support needs as a process ranging from technological to emotional care. Shortcomings in the communication between nurses in acute and rehabilitation settings on the subject of support were acknowledged. The results underline the importance of early diagnosis of coexisting psychiatric illness and the need for an intact health care chain

Comparison of two instruments for measurement of quality of life in clinical practice - a qualitative study

Background: The study aimed to investigate the meaning patients assign to two measures of quality of life: the Schedule for Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life Direct Weighting (SEIQoL-DW) and the SEIQoL-DW Disease Related (DR) version, in a clinical oncology setting. Even though the use of quality of life assessments has increased during the past decades, uncertainty regarding how to choose the most suitable measure remains. SEIQoL-DW versions assesses the individual's perception of his or her present quality of life by allowing the individual to nominate the domains to be evaluated followed by a weighting procedure resulting in qualitative (domains) as well as quantitative outcomes (index score). Methods: The study applied a cross-sectional design with a qualitative approach and collected data from a purposeful sample of 40 patients with gastrointestinal cancer. Patients were asked to complete two measures, SEIQoL-DW and the SEIQoL-DR, to assess quality of life. This included nomination of the areas in life considered most important and rating of these areas; after completion patients participated in cognitive interviews around their selections of areas. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim which was followed by analysis using a phenomenographic approach. Results: The analyses of nominated areas of the two measures resulted in 11 domains reflecting what patients perceived had greatest impact on their quality of life. Analysis of the cognitive interviews resulted in 16 thematic categories explaining the nominated domains. How patients reflected around their quality of life appeared to differ by version (DW vs. DR). The DW version more often related to positive aspects in life while the DR version more often related to negative changes in life due to having cancer. Conclusions: The two SEIQoL versions tap into different concepts; health-related quality of life, addressing losses and problems related to having cancer and, quality of life, more associated with aspects perceived as positive in life. The SEIQoL-DR and the SEIQoL-DW are recommended in clinical practice to take both negative and positive aspects into account and acting on the problems of greatest importance to the patient