The impact of implementing an educational intervention to enhance a family-oriented approach in specialised palliative home care: A quasi-experimental study

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Petursdottir, A. B., Haraldsdottir, E. & Svavarsdottir, E. K. (2018) The impact of implementing an educational intervention to enhance a family-oriented approach in specialised palliative home care: A quasi-experimental study. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/scs.12628. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.Erna Haraldsdottir - orcid: 0000-0002-6451-1374 https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6451-1374Rationale Healthcare providers’ beliefs, attitudes, experiences and knowledge, which guide the care they deliver, are the key factors influencing the quality of palliative care. Education and coaching innovation are needed to translate research outcomes and adopt evidence‐based nursing care into practice. Objectives To evaluate the impact of an advanced educational and coaching programme in a family systems’ nursing approach for palliative care nurses in a home‐care setting. Methods A quasi‐experimental study using qualitative data from open‐ended questions to augment the quantitative outcome study that included a single‐group, pre‐ and post‐test design. A total population sample of nurses was recruited from a specialised palliative home care unit at a university hospital. The study utilised two self‐reported questionnaires. Results There was a statistically significant increase in the nurses’ critical appraisal of clinical nursing practice related to family nursing after participation in the educational programme than before. No statistical difference was found in items related to nurses’ experience of the interaction and reciprocity in the nurse–family relationship after participation in the programme than compared to before or in nurses’ cancer‐related beliefs. However, there was an overall significant positive change found in attitudes towards families in the total score of the Family Practice Scale. Nurses were also more positive about the further development of their knowledge and skills in advanced family nursing evident in the qualitative data. Conclusion An advanced educational intervention programme was successful in improving the nurses’ knowledge, skills, satisfaction and confidence in relation to applied family nursing approach within the context of caring for families affected by advanced/final stage cancer. However, further refinement of the implementation process is needed to enhance family care improvement and the nurses’ professional development in advanced family nursing in specialised palliative care.The study was funded by grants from the Landspitali University Hospital Scientific Fund, the Scientific Fund of the Icelandic Nurses Association and the Research Fund of Ingibjorg R. Magnusdottir (no reference numbers on funding).33pubpub

Nursing students' perception of family importance in nursing care during the COVID-19 pandemic : A cross-sectional study

Funding Information: The authors would like to thank all the nursing students and midwives at the University of Iceland, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Nursing, for their participation in the study. The authors would also like to thank Gudny Bergthora Tryggvadottir for contributing to the data analyses. The study was funded by grants from the Research Fund of the Landspitali University Hospital in Iceland, from the Science Fund of the Icelandic Nurse Association and from the Research Fund at the University of Iceland. Funding Information: The study was funded by grants from the Research Fund of the Landspitali University Hospital in Iceland, from the Science Fund of the Icelandic Nurse Association and from the Research Fund at the University of Iceland . Publisher Copyright: © 2022 Elsevier Ltd Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Background: Little is known about nursing students' illness beliefs and attitudes towards the involvement of families in nursing care during the COVID-19 epidemic. Focusing on family nursing throughout an undergraduate nursing education is not only appropriate or critical but also essential for advancing family nursing practice. Objectives: To evaluate the differences in undergraduate and graduate nursing students' perceptions of illness beliefs and their family nursing practice skills at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Design: A cross-sectional study. Settings: The Faculty of Nursing at the University of Iceland. Participants: Of the nursing and midwifery students, 109 participated in 2020 from one university. Methods: Data was collected regarding illness beliefs and attitudes towards family involvement in nursing care, through questionnaires via the Red Cap software. Results: The main finding indicated that the graduate students reported more confidence or reassurance regarding their knowledge of the cause of an illness, control, effect, suffering and what is the most and the least helpful in coping with an illness/health disorder when compared to the undergraduate students (t-value = −2.50, p-value = 0.014). Additionally, graduate nursing students also reported higher positive attitudes towards family importance in nursing care than undergraduate students (t-value = −2.16, p-value = 0.033). Conclusion: Even though the graduate students reported higher illness beliefs than undergraduate students, the undergraduate students reported a reasonably high or over medium high score, on the illness beliefs scale. University nursing educators need to be aware that nursing students' knowledge, skills and attitudes towards family nursing practice at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic shape clinical competence in family nursing within health care settings.Peer reviewe

Portrait of Senator Russell Trood, National Library of Australia Council member, 2007, [1] [picture] /Loui Seselja

Title devised by cataloguer based on information from acquisition documentation.; Acquired in digital format; access copies available online for selected items.; Mode of access: Internet via World Wide Web.; Photographed by a staff member of the National Library of Australia, 2007

How Do Family Strengths-Oriented Therapeutic Conversations (FAM-SOTC) Advance Psychiatric Nursing Practice?

To access publisher's full text version of this article click on the hyperlink belowFamily nursing interventions, focusing on therapeutic conversations, have been found to benefit primary caregivers dealing with chronic and acute illnesses. Less is known, however, about the benefit of these interventions for partner caregivers. The aims of this study were to develop and test the Family Strengths-Oriented Therapeutic Conversation (FAM-SOTC) intervention for partner caregivers of young individuals with eating disorders (EDs). Eighteen partner caregivers of adolescents and young adults with ED participated in this quasi-experimental study. The FAM-SOTC intervention was offered over 4 months, during which time the focus was on establishing the therapeutic relationship and identification of the family relationships. The five key elements of the FAM-SOTC intervention are (a) drawing forward illness stories; (b) asking therapeutic questions; (c) identifying strength, resiliency, and resources; (d) offering evidence-based information and recommendations; and (e) strengthening helpful beliefs and challenging hindering beliefs. These elements provided the foundation for the study. Significantly higher family support and illness beliefs were reported after five sessions of the FAM-SOTC intervention and again after 3 follow-up booster sessions. The FAM-SOTC intervention demonstrated a positive benefit for participants. The FAM-SOTC intervention was found to benefit families, both in the short and long term, in psychiatry settings. After having participated in five sessions of the FAM-SOTC intervention and 3 booster sessions, partner caregivers of young individuals with ED experienced higher family support and reported better knowledge, more confidence, and more positive illness beliefs regarding the disorder.Landspitali-The National University Hospital Research Fund Science Fund of the Icelandic Nurses' Association Science Fund of Ingibjorg R. Magnusdottir and Birtan, a fund for children adolescents with mental health problems at BUG

The feasibility of offering a family level intervention to parents of children with cancer

To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links fieldThe purpose of the study was to determine the feasibility of conducting a family level intervention study in a clinical setting: (a) by evaluating nurses' and families' attitude towards the intervention and (b) assess the impact of the intervention on parents' wellbeing, coping behaviour, hardiness and adaptation. The research is descriptive-longitudinal and took place at the Children's Hospital of the Landspitali University Hospital in Reykjavik, Iceland. Eight nurses working at the Children's Hospital and 10 families of children and adolescents newly diagnosed with cancer participated in the study. Eligible families, nurse administrator and clinical nurses were invited to participate. The nurses and the families who agreed to participate were asked to answer questionnaires. The main research variables were willingness to participate in the study, number of families accepting the intervention, demographical information, number of nurses believing in the intervention and the effectiveness of the intervention. Majority of the families (83%) were willing to participate in this study and all the nurses (n = 8) indicated positive responses regarding the implementation of the intervention within a clinical setting. Both mothers and fathers scored significantly higher on wellbeing after the intervention than before, but no significant difference was found in coping, hardiness or adaptation. Offering an educational and support intervention in a clinical setting for families of children and adolescents newly diagnosed with cancer can be feasible. Researchers and clinicians may want to enhance the intervention, test it on a bigger sample and with a control group

The effectivness of a strengths-oriented therapeutic conversation intervention on perceived support, well-being and burden among family caregivers in palliative home-care.

To access publisher's full text version of this article click on the hyperlink belowAIMS: To evaluate the effectiveness of a two-session multicomponent family strengths- oriented therapeutic conversation intervention among family caregivers of an individual with advanced/final stage cancer during ongoing palliative home-care. BACKGROUND: Family caregivers of patients in the advanced/final phases of cancer, experience multifaceted psychological distress and morbidity. Psychosocial interventions improve the well-being of family members who are caring for their close relative. DESIGN: A pre-experimental design with a one-group pre-test/posttests measurements. METHODS: Forty-eight family caregivers were assigned to receive two 60-90 min sessions of the intervention. The primary outcome was perceived emotional and cognitive support and psychological well-being, measured at baseline (T1). Then the participants were offered the first session of the intervention. About 1 week later, the second session was administered. The participants answered the same questionnaires again (T2) and then 2-4 weeks later (T3). The guideline; Criteria for Reporting Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions 2, guided the reporting of the study. RESULTS: Family caregivers reported significantly higher emotional and cognitive support post-intervention (T2) and at (T3). They also reported significantly reduced stress symptoms at (T3) and reduced caregiver burden post-intervention (T2) and at (T3). CONCLUSION: The provision of the intervention contributed to extending knowledge about the usefulness of family conversations in the context of advanced/final stage cancer care. IMPACT: There is a lack of knowledge about the benefit of therapeutic conversation interventions for family caregivers. The therapeutic conversation intervention offered, resulted in perceived support, decreased stress, and decreased caregiving demands among caregivers in palliative home-care.LUH Scientific fund Scientific Fund of the Nurses Association in Icelan

Drawing forward family strengths in short therapeutic conversations from a psychiatric nursing perspective.

To access publisher's full text version of this article click on the hyperlink belowThe aim of the narrative is to describe the therapeutic process and experience from a psychiatric nursing perspective, in therapeutic communication, with a father and his son in acute psychiatry. In this case scenario, the Family Strength-Oriented Therapeutic Conversation Intervention (FAM-SOTC Intervention) was used. The FAM-SOTC Intervention was found to be beneficial for the father-son relationship. It is encouraging for nurses in acute psychiatry to know that three short therapeutic conversations can make a difference within the family system. FAM-SOTC seemed to offer cognitive and emotional support to the father-and-son dyad.Landspitali National University Hospital (LNUH) Scientific Fund Scientific Fund of the Nurses Association in Iceland Research Fund of Ingibjorg R. Magnusdotti

The fire in Chicago [cartographic material] : (From the New York daily tribune, Wednesday, July 15).

Map of Chicago showing blocks and streets affected by the fire of 1871 and 1874.; "In the above map the shaded portions represent the ground traversed by the fire of 1871 ; the white portion the burnt district of yerterday".; Also available in an electronic version via the Internet at: http://nla.gov.au/nla.map-rm1552.New-York tribune (New York, N.Y. : 1866 : Daily

Does a therapeutic conversation intervention in an acute paediatric setting make a difference for families of children with bronchiolitis caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)?

To access publisher's full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field.AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To measure the benefit of a short-family therapeutic conversation (STC) intervention in an acute paediatric unit. BACKGROUND: Studies of children with bronchiolitis caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) have shown that this virus may have an impact on their respiratory system in the form of a wheezing disorder, asthma and even allergy during their childhood. Studies of the parents of these children indicate that they experience distress, vulnerability and anxiety through the illness period and therefore need support from healthcare professionals. However, little is known about what intervention is of most benefit for these parents. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental. METHOD: Data were collected from a convenience sample from February throughout April 2009 at an acute unit at a children's hospital in Iceland. Parents of infants diagnosed with bronchiolitis caused by RSV were invited to attend. In total, there are 41 participants: 21 in the intervention group (n = 21) and 20 in the control group (n = 20). Parents in both groups answered questionnaires about perceived support and family expressive functioning both before the intervention and on an average of 11 days after the intervention. RESULTS: The main findings showed that mothers in the intervention group perceive significantly higher support after the intervention compared with the control group. The findings also showed a significant difference between the genders (mothers and fathers) in the intervention group. The mothers perceived higher cognitive support than the fathers. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the often chaotic environment in an acute care setting, the research findings give paediatric nurses reason to conclude that a STC intervention benefits mothers of infants with bronchiolitis caused by RSV. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: A STC intervention offered by a nurse within an acute paediatric unit can support families in handling the illness experience.Research and Science fund of the Icelandic Nurse's Associatio

Predictors of quality of life for families of children and adolescents with severe physical illnesses who are receiving hospital-based care.

To access publisher's full text version of this article click on the hyperlink belowAIM: There is strong evidence regarding the impact of medical treatments on hospitalised children and their families after being diagnosed with a serious illness. Even though survival rates have increased for children and adolescents with illnesses such as cancer, kidney, liver and gastrointestinal diseases, lengthy medical procedures and symptom management may have an impact on the well-being and quality of life for families. Little is known, however, about promoting family quality of life in hospital-based paediatric settings. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the predictors of quality of life (QOL) across physical health conditions among families of children and adolescents with cancer, kidney, liver and gastrointestinal diseases. Further, to evaluate the difference in perception on QOL among families of children with cancer compared to families of children with kidney, liver and gastrointestinal diseases. METHOD: The study design was cross-sectional. Thirty-eight families of children with cancer, kidney, liver or gastrointestinal diseases participated at a University Hospital. Data were collected using valid and reliable instruments to measure the study variables from March 2015 to May 2016. FINDINGS: The main result from the stepwise regression analysis indicated perceived family support and illness beliefs, significantly predicted quality of life of the family; approximately 41% of the variance in the families' perception of their quality of life was explained by the model. CONCLUSIONS: The findings emphasise the importance of supporting and maintaining quality of life for families of children with physical illnesses. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Family level interventions within the healthcare system are needed for families of children with severe physical illnesses, since that can result in better outcomes for the child or adolescent and their family. Such an intervention would need to emphasise therapeutic conversations within a relational context, highlighting illness management, illness beliefs, and cognitive and emotional family support.Icelandic Nursing Association scientific fund at Landspitali University Hospita