Life After a Stroke Event : With Special Reference to Aspects on Prognosis, Health and Municipality Care Utilization, and Life Satisfaction Among Patients and Their Informal Caregivers

Objectives. The aim of this thesis was to study the prognosis, health care utilization and health situation in stroke patients, and informal caregiver burden during the first post-stroke year. Material and methods. 390 patients, 65 years or older, discharged from hospital after a stroke, were followed with repeated patient interviews, patient record and register data, and hospital staff and informal caregiver questionnaires. Results. Prognosis assessments performed by hospital staff at discharge regarding the course of events during the following year were highly accurate and were mainly influenced by the patient’s pre- and post-morbid state. The risk of dying or having a new stroke decreased rapidly during the early post-morbid phase. Health care utilization, in hospitals as well as in primary health care, and municipal social service support was considerably higher after the stroke than before, but the utilization of services was lower than previously reported. Health problem prevalence according to interview and record scrutiny was modest, peaked early after discharge and then declined. Support from informal caregivers increased significantly after discharge and remained high during the first post-stroke year. The support given was mainly determined by patient functional ability, distance to patient, relation to patient, municipal social service support provided, and patient sex. The informal caregivers reported considerable strain and burden, with significantly higher levels of anxiety and depression than the stroke patients. Moreover, there was a parallel between the patient’s and the caregiver’s situation regarding anxiety, emotional and social situation, and home, social and outdoor activities. Conclusion. Hospital staff prognosis assessments of patient outcomes during the next year were highly accurate. Risk of recurrence and mortality, and health problem prevalence was high in the early post-stroke period, and than declined. Health care utilization and municipality social support increased over time. Informal caregivers reported considerable strain and burden

Health problems in elderly patients during the first post-stroke year Health problems in elderly patients during the first post-stroke year

Abstract Background. A wide range of health problems has been reported in elderly post-stroke patients. Aim. The aim of this study was to analyse the prevalence and timing of health problems identified by patient interviews and scrutiny of primary health care and municipality elderly health care records during the first post-stroke year. Methods. A total of 390 consecutive patients, ‡65 years, discharged alive from hospital after a stroke event, were followed for 1 year post-admission. Information on the health care situation during the first post-stroke year was obtained from primary health care and municipal elderly health care records and through interviews with the stroke survivors, at 1 week after discharge, and 3 and 12 months after hospital admission. Results. More than 90% had some health problem at some time during the year, while based on patient record data only 4-8% had problems during a given week. The prevalence of interview-based health problems was generally higher than recordbased prevalence, and the ranking order was moderately different. The most frequently interview-reported problems were associated with perception, activity, and tiredness, while the most common record-based findings indicated pain, bladder and bowel function, and breathing and circulation problems. There was co-occurrence between some problems, such as those relating to cognition, activity, and tiredness. Conclusions. Almost all patients had a health problem during the year, but few occurred in a given week. Cognitive and communication problems were more common in interview data than record data. Co-occurrence may be used to identify subtle health problems

Enabling and inhibitory factors that influenced implementation of evidence-based practice for urinary incontinence in a nursing home

The aim of the present follow-up study was to describe staff perceptions of enabling and inhibitory factors that influenced implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP) for urinary incontinence in a nursing home. Focus group interviews were carried out and the text was deductively analyzed using the PARIHS framework and qualitative content analysis.  Factors believed to be most enabling for implementation were the EBP being considered as relevant and as a social process and visiting the lavatory being considered as a right for all. One determinant of successful implementation was having clear and involved leaders who had a continuous positive attitude toward the EBP and demanded results. Staffs who were given the role of continence agents were important facilitators. The factor believed to inhibit implementation most was staff having to carry out pad-weight tests before prescribing individual incontinence aids. The EBP offers a successful concept for caring for older persons with urinary incontinence in nursing homes. The EBP should be spread, both local and more widely

Utvärdering av Hemsjukvården i Dalarna 2014 : Slutrapport

Åsa Bergman Bruhn och Lena Olai, mars 2015. Reviderad maj 2015.</p

Utvärdering av Hemsjukvården i Dalarna 2014 : Slutrapport

Åsa Bergman Bruhn och Lena Olai, mars 2015. Reviderad maj 2015.</p

Health problems in elderly patients during the first post-stroke year

BACKGROUND: A wide range of health problems has been reported in elderly post-stroke patients. AIM: The aim of this study was to analyse the prevalence and timing of health problems identified by patient interviews and scrutiny of primary health care and municipality elderly health care records during the first post-stroke year. METHODS: A total of 390 consecutive patients, ≥65 years, discharged alive from hospital after a stroke event, were followed for 1 year post-admission. Information on the health care situation during the first post-stroke year was obtained from primary health care and municipal elderly health care records and through interviews with the stroke survivors, at 1 week after discharge, and 3 and 12 months after hospital admission. RESULTS: More than 90% had some health problem at some time during the year, while based on patient record data only 4-8% had problems during a given week. The prevalence of interview-based health problems was generally higher than record-based prevalence, and the ranking order was moderately different. The most frequently interview-reported problems were associated with perception, activity, and tiredness, while the most common record-based findings indicated pain, bladder and bowel function, and breathing and circulation problems. There was co-occurrence between some problems, such as those relating to cognition, activity, and tiredness. CONCLUSIONS: Almost all patients had a health problem during the year, but few occurred in a given week. Cognitive and communication problems were more common in interview data than record data. Co-occurrence may be used to identify subtle health problems

Factors associated with malnutrition among older people in Swedish short-term care : Poor oral health, dysphagia and mortality

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between malnutrition and potential contributing factors such as poor oral health, dysphagia and mortality among older people in short-term care. Methods: This cross-sectional study is a part of the multidisciplinary multicentre project SOFIA (Swallowing function, Oral health and Food Intake in old Age), which includes older people (≥65 years) in 36 short-term care units in five regions of Sweden. Nutritional status was measured with version II of the Minimal Eating Observation and Nutrition Form (MEONF-II), oral health with the Revised Oral Assessment Guide (ROAG), dysphagia with a water swallow test, and the mortality rate was followed for 1 year. Data were analysed using descriptive analysis and logistic regression models to calculate odds ratios for the association between malnutrition and these factors. Results: Among the 391 participants, the median age was 84 years and 53.3% were women. Mortality rate was 25.1% within 1 year in the total group, and was higher among malnourished participants than among their well-nourished counterparts. Severe dysphagia (OR: 6.51, 95% CI: 2.40–17.68), poor oral health (OR: 5.73, 95% CI: 2.33–14.09) and female gender (OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.24–3.93) were independently associated with malnutrition. Conclusion: Mortality rate was higher among malnourished people than those who were well nourished. Severe dysphagia, poor oral health and female gender was predictors of malnutrition among older people in short-term care. These health risks should be given more attention in short-term care with early identification

Life situations and the care burden for stroke pa­tients and their informal caregivers in a prospective cohort study

Background. The purpose of this study was to analyse whether the parallel life situation between stroke patients and their informal caregivers (dyads) shown in cross-sectional studies prevails also in a longitudinal perspective. Methods. A total of 377 Swedish stroke patients, aged ‡65 years, and their 268 informal caregivers were followed from hospital admission and one year on. Analyses were based on patient interviews, functional ability (MMSE) score, Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) score, Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) score, self-rated health score, and the Gothenburg Quality of Life (GQL) activity score. Similar information was obtained by postal questionnaires from informal caregivers, also including information on the nature and amount of assistance provided and on Caregiver Burden (CB) score. Results. Before index admission informal caregivers provided care on average 5 h per week and after discharge 11 h per week (P &lt; 0.0001). Support volume was associated with patient sex (more for men), low patient’s functional ability, low received municipal social service support, closeness of patient–caregiver relation, and short distance to patient’s home. Significant positive associations within the dyads were found for HAD anxiety score (P &lt; 0.0001), total NHP score (P &lt; 0.0001), and GQL activity score (P &lt; 0.0001) after adjustment for patient’s age, sex, functional ability, and patient–caregiver relationship. CB score increased with amount of informal caregiver support, patient’s age, and with low functional ability and low amount of municipal social service support. All these associations were constant across time. Conclusions. There was an association within the dyads regarding anxiety score, NHP score, and activity score. CB score was generally high

Older people's experiences of oral health and assisted daily oral care in short-term facilities.

BACKGROUND: Older people's oral health has improved, and many retain their natural teeth throughout their life. However, their daily oral care can be more difficult because of compromised general health and the reduced capacity for self-care that often comes with old age. More knowledge is needed about how older people view their oral health and oral care. The aim of this study was to describe how older people in short-term care experience their oral health and daily oral care. METHOD: A descriptive, qualitative study was performed through interviews with 14 older people (74-95 years) recruited from short-term care units in two Swedish regions. Data were analysed using inductive content analysis. RESULTS: The findings are described in one main category, three categories and nine sub-categories. The main category was Adapting to a changed oral condition while striving to retain independence. The first category, Wanting to manage daily oral care independently, contained three subcategories: Having always brushed my teeth without help, Being satisfied with my mouth and teeth, and Having to accept help if necessary. The second category, Acceptance of changes in oral condition, had three subcategories: Difficulty in chewing and swallowing, Difficulty with tooth brushing, and Not considering a dentist visit to be worth the cost. The third category, Barriers to receiving assistance from staff, had three subcategories: Staff lacking the time to help, Not wanting to be a burden, and Lack of confidence in staff's knowledge. CONCLUSIONS: The participants were generally satisfied with their oral health despite an expressed need for dental treatment. Daily oral care was something they wanted to manage themselves, and they had a strong desire to stay independent for as long as possible. Closer collaboration between dental and health care staff is necessary in order to implement clinical practice guidelines for oral health care and increase nursing staff's attention towards older peoples' oral health

Nurses' and patients' communication in smoking cessation at nurse-led COPD clinics in primary health care

Background: Smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have high nicotine dependence making it difficult to quit smoking. Motivational interviewing (MI) is a method that is used in stimulating motivation and behavioral changes. Objective: To describe smoking cessation communication between patients and registered nurses trained in MI in COPD nurse-led clinics in Swedish primary health care. Methods: A prospective observational study with structured quantitative content analyses of the communication between six nurses with basic education in MI and 13 patients in non-smoking consultations. Results: Only to a small extent did nurses’ evoke patients’ reasons for change, stimulate collaboration, and support patients’ autonomy. Nurses provided information, asked closed questions, and made simple reflections. Patients’ communication was mainly neutral and focusing on reasons for and against smoking. It was uncommon for patients to be committed and take steps toward smoking cessation. Conclusion: The nurses did not adhere to the principles of MI in smoking cessation, and the patients focused to a limited extent on how to quit smoking. Practice implications: To make patients more active, the nurses need more education and continuous training in motivational communication