Publications by authors named "Birgitte Schantz Laursen"

Introduction: Peyronie´s disease is the result of an acquired fibrotic plaque in the tunica albuginea. It remains unknown why the condition appears, but it seems to affect up to 9% of all men. It can result in a debilitating curvature of the erect penis, which has extensive impact on the quality of life for many men.

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Introduction: Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) is defined as disordered bowel function following rectal resection, which is detrimental to quality of life (QoL). A recent international consensus definition of LARS stresses the importance of focusing on both the symptoms and the consequences that the symptoms have for the individual patient as studies indicate that LARS has a negative impact on patients' QoL. However, an ongoing PROM study investigating late sequelae after rectal cancer finds that a minor proportion of patients scoring major LARS experience none or only little impact on quality of life.

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Approximately 7% of all dispatched ambulances in Denmark are for patients for whom breathing difficulties are the main cause for using ambulance services. Objective measurements are routinely carried out in the ambulances, but little is known of the patients' subjective experience of dyspnea. The purpose of this study was to investigate how patients with acute dyspnea, transported to hospital by ambulance, experience their situation, along with their experience of the use of a dyspnea scale.

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Aim: To evaluate the implementation, practicality and acceptability of camera-assisted observation of restless patients in the acute care ward.

Design: A multi-method feasibility study.

Methods: Data consisted of nurses' written records, a brief survey among all nurses and individual interviews with eight nurses.

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Background: Physical activity, a core intervention in cardiac rehabilitation, can reduce vascular erectile dysfunction (ED). ED is a common sensitive problem for men with cardiac diseases, decreasing their quality of life. Cardiac health professionals rarely provide information about ED or its relation to physical activity.

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Introduction: In the developing phase of the complex health intervention: Physical Activity to reduce Vascular Erectile Dysfunction (PAVED), it is crucial to explore whether men can accept the communicative component regarding information that regular aerobe Physical Activity can reduce Erectile Dysfunction (i-PAVED). This information is provided by health professionals (HPs) in cardiac rehabilitation, where sexuality issues such as erectile dysfunction (ED) are otherwise rarely addressed.

Aim: To explore how acceptance of cardiac HPs' address of sexuality, ED, and i-PAVED can be identified in men's narratives.

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Introduction: Danish health professional (HP) students' attitudes toward addressing sexual health are unknown.

Aim: To investigate Danish HP students' attitudes toward addressing sexual health in their future professions, and to assess differences in perceived competences and preparedness between professional programs.

Methods: A Danish national survey of nursing, occupational therapy, and physiotherapy students was conducted.

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Objective: To validate the discrimination and classification accuracy of a novel acute dyspnea scale for identifying outcomes of out-of-hospital patients with acute dyspnea.

Methods: Prospective observational population-based study in the North Denmark Region. We included patients from July 1, 2017 to September 24, 2019 assessed as having acute dyspnea by the emergency dispatcher or by emergency medical services (EMS) personnel.

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Background: Acute dyspnoea is common among ambulance patients, but little is known of the patients' experience of symptom. We aimed to investigate ambulance patients initial perceived intensity of acute dyspnoea, and whether they experienced relief during prehospital treatment. Furthermore, to investigate the validity and feasibility of using a subjective dyspnoea score in the ambulance, and its association with objectively measured vital signs.

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Little is known about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients experience with home-based health treatments, which are currently rapidly evolving. A previous randomized controlled trial investigated the use of long-term oxygen enriched high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) treatment at home. The aim of this study was to explore COPD patients' experience using home HFNC treatment.

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Background: Minimal sedation has made it possible to communicate and cooperate with intensive care patients and mobilisation can start earlier during their stay in the intensive care unit.

Purpose: To investigate the intensive care patient's reaction and interaction to mobilisation.

Method: This study used focused ethnography combining observations, interviews and four scores for evaluating awareness, and pain levels were included: Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale Confusion Assessment Method For The Intensive Care Unit, Numeric Rating Scale and Critical Pain Observation Tool.

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Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the incidence and severity of catheter-related bladder discomfort (CRBD) among nonurological adult patients in a postanesthesia care unit with catheter sizes of 10 to 18 Fr.

Design: Descriptive, prospective, and quantitative study.

Methods: In all, 401 patients were included.

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Introduction: Several studies have suggested that patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) frequently have symptoms of sexual dysfunction.

Aim: The current study aims to map the current knowledge about the burden of sexual dysfunction in patients with IBS.

Methods: A literature review was conducted on PubMed and EMBASE using the following search terms or combinations thereof: irritable bowel syndrome; functional colonic disease; sexual function; sexual health; sexual behavior; sexual dysfunction; dyspareunia; erectile dysfunction; quality of life; and questionnaire.

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Introduction: Approximately 25% of all deliveries in Denmark are medically induced, typically characterized by more intense uterine contractions. The aim of this paper is to investigate the differences in the administration of epidural analgesia and pain experience between spontaneous and medically induced labor in nulliparous and multiparous women.

Methods: This is a prospective case-controlled study of 100 participating women in labor.

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Background: Sexual dysfunction is common in patients diagnosed with cancer or chronic disease, having psychological, emotional and social ramifications. The consequences are ultimately significant impaired quality of life and reduced mental well-being, and it therefore requires professional attention. However, evidence suggests that sexuality is a taboo subject in the healthcare system, as healthcare professionals and patients rarely initiate conversations on this subject.

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Background: Literature indicates that using smartphone technology is a feasible way of empowering young adults recently diagnosed with schizophrenia to manage everyday living with their illness. The perspective of young adults on this matter, however, is unexplored.

Objective: This study aimed at exploring how young adults recently diagnosed with schizophrenia used and perceived a smartphone app (MindFrame) as a tool to foster power in the everyday management of living with their illness.

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Objectives: On an intensive care unit at a university hospital in Denmark patients are offered a nurse-led consultation three months post intensive care unit admission, to help them cope with Post Intensive Care Syndrome and identify opportunities for further intervention. The aim of the study was: 1) To describe former intensive care patients' experiences of the consultation, specifically regarding content and setting. 2) To explore the benefits of the consultation in regard to the individual patients' symptoms of Post Intensive Care Syndrome.

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Aims And Objectives: To evaluate an intervention developed to improve patient safety in posthospital medication management carried out by visiting nurses working in a municipality in Denmark. The intervention consisted of three elements: an initial interdisciplinary home visit by nurses, two subsequent scheduled visits and the use of an organising tool.

Background: As a consequence of specialised treatment plans and new treatment possibilities, patients with complex care needs can now be discharged from hospital more rapidly-and in greater numbers-than previously.

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Background: This study investigated the long-term effects of humidified high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in COPD patients with chronic hypoxemic respiratory failure treated with long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT).

Patients And Methods: A total of 200 patients were randomized into usual care ± HFNC. At inclusion, acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) and hospital admissions 1 year before inclusion, modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) score, St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV), 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO) were recorded.

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Purpose: To explore professional identity of registered nurse anesthetists (RNAs) and RNAs' expectations of their professional self and the expectations RNAs meet from interdisciplinary team members when preparing patients for general anesthesia.

Design: Focused ethnography was used for data collection.

Methods: Participant observations and interviews were conducted with patients scheduled for surgery and with RNAs in charge of the patients during the anesthetic procedures.

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Purpose: To explore the specific interactions between patients and nurse anesthetists in the highly technological environment of anesthesia nursing, focusing on the time interval between patient entrance into the operating room and induction of general anesthesia.

Design: Focused ethnography was used for data collection.

Methods: Participant observation and interview of 13 hospitalized patients being admitted for major or minor surgical procedures and 13 nurse anesthetists in charge of their patients and anesthetic procedures.

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Background: Medication management is the most challenging component of a successful transition from hospital to home, a challenge of growing complexity as the number of older persons living with chronic conditions grows, along with increasingly specialised and accelerated hospital treatment plans. Thus, many patients are discharged with complex medication regimen instructions, accentuating the risk of medication errors that may cause readmission, adverse drug events and a need for further health care.

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore visiting nurses' medication management in home health care after hospital discharge and to identify key elements in patient medication for improved patient safety.

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The objective of this review is to critically appraise, synthesize, and present the best available evidence to address the question: How do Scandinavian nurses experience discussing sexual issues with patients, residents and clients?

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The objective of this systematic review is to identify, appraise and synthesize the evidence on perceived factors affecting distress among women taking part in surgical continuity of care for breast cancer to provide evidence for improving support and care.The specific review question is: What are the perceived factors that contribute to an increase or a reduction in distress among women taking part in surgical continuity of care for breast cancer?

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Smartphone technology is being increasingly viewed as key to engaging young adults with schizophrenia in their own mental health care. In an attempt to use smartphones as an engagement tool, we conducted a participatory design process, where young adults with schizophrenia (n = 4), healthcare providers (n = 7), software designers (n = 3), graphic designer (n = 1), graphic recorder (n = 1), and team leader (n = 1) co-designed a smartphone application for use in early phase schizophrenia care. This paper reports the co-design process.

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