Fear of exercise and health-related quality of life in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator

Several studies have reported improved survival rates thanks to the use of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in the treatment of patients with life-threatening arrhythmia. However, the effects of the ICD on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) of these patients are not clear. The aim of this study is to describe HR-QoL and fear of exercise in ICD patients. Eighty-nine ICD patients from the University Hospital in Groningen, the Netherlands, participated in this study. HR-QoL was measured using the Rand-36 and the Quality of Life After Myocardial Infarction Dutch language version questionnaires. Fear of exercise was measured using the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia, Dutch version and the Fear Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire, Dutch version. Association between outcome variables was analysed by linear regression analyses. Study results show that the HR-QoL of patients with ICDs in our study population is significantly worse than that of normal healthy people. Furthermore, fear of exercise is negatively associated with HR-QoL corrected for sex, age and number of years living with an ICD. After implantation of the ICD, patients with a clear fear of exercise should be identified and interventions should be considered in order to increase their HR-QoL

The criterion-related validity of the Northwick Park Dependency Score as a generic nursing dependency instrument for different rehabilitation patient groups

Objective: To investigate the criterion or concurrent validity of the Northwick Park Dependency Score (NPDS) for determining nursing dependence in different rehabilitation groups, with the Barthel Index (BI) and the Care Dependency Scale (C D S).Design: Cross-sectional study.Setting: Centre for Rehabilitation of the University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands.Subjects: Patients after stroke, spinal cord injury, multitrauma, head injury, amputation, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus, lung diseases, tuberculosis and coronary artery disease. One hundred and fifty-four patients were included.Measures: The Northwick Park Dependency Score (NPDS), the Barthel Index (BI) and the Care Dependency Scale (CDS).Results: The correlation (rho) between the NPDS and the BI for all groups was - 0.87-1 R-2 = 0.76 (n = 154). Per patient group rho varied from - 0.70 (R-2 = 0.49) to - 0.93 (R-2 = 0.86). The overall correlation between the NPDS and CDS was larger than the criterion of rho = 0.60 (r=- 0.74; R-2 = 0.55) but was &lt;0.60 in the rheumatoid arthritis and tuberculosis group. The overall correlation between BI and CDS exceeded the criterion (r = 0.75; R-2 = 0.56).Conclusions: The NPDS is a generic nursing dependency instrument that can be used as a valid measure across various patient groups in rehabilitation.</p

Illuminazione a LED degli ambienti di lavoro: analisi tecnico-economica della sostituzione di lampade fluorescenti lineari con LED Tube in uffici e laboratori universitari

Analisi del rischio da Radiazioni Ottiche Artificiali dei LED, valutazione del rispetto dei parametrici illuminotecnici in ambienti di lavoro universitari e valutazione tecnico economica della sostituzione di lampade fluorescenti lineari con lampade LE

Professionals' perceptions of factors affecting implementation and continuation of a physical activity promotion programme in rehabilitation: A qualitative study

Objective: To describe professionals’ perceptions of factors that facilitate or hamper the implementation and continuation of a physical activity promotion programme in rehabilitation. Design: This study used a qualitative design. Methods: Semi-structured interviews (n = 22) were conducted with rehabilitation professionals (n = 28) involved in the implementation of a physical activity promotion programme. Two additional interviews were conducted with the programme coordinators (n = 2). The study involved 18 rehabilitation organizations implementing the programme that targets people with disabilities or chronic diseases. Organizations were supported in the implementation process by the programme coordinators. Results: Commonly perceived facilitating factors were: involvement of committed and enthusiastic professionals; agreement with their organizations’ vision/wishes; the perceived additional value of the programme; and opportunities to share knowledge and experience with professionals from other organizations. Commonly perceived hampering factors were: uncertainty about continuing the programme; limited flexibility; and lack of support from physicians and therapists to implement the programme. Conclusion: Professionals perceived a heterogeneous set of factors that facilitate and/or hamper the implementation and continuation of a physical activity promotion programme in rehabilitation. Based on these findings, recommendations were formulated to enhance embedding of physical activity promotion during and after rehabilitation

Inspirerende kolomstrategieën : lessen van buiten en binnen de agrarische sector

Vanwege de gewenste transitie naar duurzame landbouw zijn 6 inspirerende voorbeelden binnen en buiten de agrarische sector geanalyseerd op basis van eenzelfde theoretisch raamwerk. De resultaten van de analyse zijn vervolgens gebruikt in een workshop met primaire ondernemers die een trekkende rol vervullen in een aantal (over het algemeen nieuwe) agroketens. Dit heeft geleid tot een analyse van nog eens 7 casussen. Op basis van deze analyses worden aanbevelingen gedaan voor ondernemers en beleidsmaker