Dying, death and bereavement: developing a national survey of bereaved relatives.

Background: Assessing and measuring the experience and quality of care provided is central to the improvement of care delivery of all healthcare systems. This paper reports on the development of a survey instrument to capture the experiences of care at end of life from the perspective of bereaved relatives in the Republic of Ireland.

Methods: A multi-method, multi-stakeholder, sequential approach was adopted for this study.

Generating actionable insights from free-text care experience survey data using qualitative and computational text analysis: A study protocol.

The National Care Experience Programme (NCEP) conducts national surveys that ask people about their experiences of care in order to improve the quality of health and social care services in Ireland. Each survey contains open-ended questions, which allow respondents to comment on their experiences. While these comments provide important and valuable information about what matters most to service users, there is to date no unified approach to the analysis and integration of this detailed feedback.

The Relationship Between Religious/Spiritual Beliefs and Subjective Well-Being: A Case-Based Comparative Cross-National Study.

The most unique aspect of religiosity/spirituality (R/S), supernatural beliefs, and their relationship with SWB has hardly been examined. This study explores the relationship between six R/S supernatural beliefs and SWB, in a case-based comparative cross-national design including two religious and two secular nations. Data were obtained from the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) Religion IV module from the religious countries of the USA (n = 1060) and Turkey (n = 1353) and the secular countries of Denmark (n = 1281) and Czech Republic (n = 1112).

The impact of stroke, cognitive function and post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) on healthcare utilisation in Ireland: a cross-sectional nationally representative study.

Background: Cognitive impairment after stroke is associated with poorer health outcomes and increased need for long-term care. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of stroke, cognitive function and post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) on healthcare utilisation in older adults in Ireland.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved secondary data analysis of 8,175 community-dwelling adults (50 + years), from wave 1 of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA).

Role dimensions of practice nurses and interest in introducing advanced nurse practitioners in general practice in Ireland.

Background: Internationally many countries have implemented strategies to enhance primary care, to strengthen their health systems to cope with an aging population, the rise of chronic conditions, and increased costs. Primary care has the potential to address these challenges, however, general practitioners are increasingly struggling to meet patient demand resulting from a growing and aging population. Expanding the role of general practice nurses to advanced nurse practitioner (ANP) level has worked internationally and could equally be a solution to the Irish context.

Women's experiences of initiating feeding shortly after birth in Ireland: A secondary analysis of quantitative and qualitative data from the National Maternity Experience Survey.

Objective: To explore women's experiences of initiating and continuing breast or formula feeding shortly after birth in Ireland's maternity hospitals and units, as well as at home after birth.

Design: Mixed methods secondary analysis of qualitative and quantitative data from the Irish National Maternity Experience Survey 2020.

Setting: All 19 maternity hospitals and units in the Republic of Ireland and the national home births service.

Care Experiences of Older People in the Emergency Department: A Concurrent Mixed-Methods Study.

The growing population of older people has increased demand to meet their complex healthcare needs, including in emergency departments (EDs). This study explored the experiences of people aged 65+ in Irish EDs, involving secondary analysis of quantitative and qualitative data from the 2019 National Inpatient Experience Survey (NIES). Experiences in the ED and overall hospital experiences were dichotomized as poor to fair or good to very good.

Co-Creating Descriptors and a Definition for Person-Centred Coordinated Health Care: An Action Research Study.

The aim of this study was to co-create a definition and generic descriptors for person-centred coordinated care for Ireland generated from service users' narratives. An overarching action research approach was used to engage and empower people to tangibly impact health policy and practice. Through focus groups and a qualitative survey, primary data were collected from a national sample of health services users, caregivers and health care service users' representative groups.

SARS-CoV-2 detection, viral load and infectivity over the course of an infection.

Objectives: To summarise the evidence on the detection pattern and viral load of SARS-CoV-2 over the course of an infection (including any asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic phase), and the duration of infectivity.

Methods: A systematic literature search was undertaken in PubMed, Europe PubMed Central and EMBASE from 30 December 2019 to 12 May 2020.

Results: We identified 113 studies conducted in 17 countries.

Cognitive impairment and medication adherence post-stroke: A five-year follow-up of the ASPIRE-S cohort.

Background: Control of vascular risk factors is essential for secondary stroke prevention. However, adherence to secondary prevention medications is often suboptimal, and may be affected by cognitive impairment. Few studies to date have examined associations between cognitive impairment and medication adherence post-stroke, and none have considered whether adherence to secondary prevention medications might affect subsequent cognitive function.

"Providing a complete episode of care": A survey of registered nurse and registered midwife prescribing behaviours and practices.

Aims And Objectives: To describe the prescribing behaviours and practices of registered nurse and midwife prescribers and to explore experiences of enablers and barriers to prescribing practices.

Background: The extension of prescriptive authority to nurses and midwives internationally has created new opportunities for them to expand their scope of practice and is of significant benefit to effective and efficient health service provision.

Design: Cross-sectional national survey of registered nurse and midwife prescribers.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the effects of cardiac rehabilitation interventions on cognitive impairment following stroke.

Purpose: The cardiac rehabilitation model has potential as an approach to providing rehabilitation following stroke. This review aims to identify evidence for the participation of stroke patients in cardiac/cardiovascular rehabilitation programs internationally, whether or not such programs offer a cognitive intervention as part of treatment, and the impact of rehabilitation on post-stroke cognitive function.

Method: Five electronic databases were searched from inception to 1 May 2019, namely: MEDLINE, PsycINFO, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the Web of Science.

The Impact of Cognitive Impairment on Poststroke Outcomes: A 5-Year Follow-Up.

Aim: To explore the impact of cognitive impairment poststroke on outcomes at 5 years.

Methods: Five-year follow-up of the Action on Secondary Prevention Interventions and Rehabilitation in Stroke (ASPIRE-S) prospective cohort. Two hundred twenty-six ischemic stroke survivors completed Montreal Cognitive Assessments at 6 months poststroke.

Stroke survivor cognitive decline and psychological wellbeing of family caregivers five years post-stroke: a cross-sectional analysis.

Background: Family members frequently provide long-term care for stroke survivors, which can lead to psychological strain, particularly in the presence of cognitive decline.

Objectives: To profile anxious and depressive symptoms of family caregivers at 5 years post-stroke, and to explore associations with stroke survivor cognitive decline.

Methods: As part of a 5-year follow-up of the Action on Secondary Prevention Interventions and Rehabilitation in Stroke (ASPIRE-S) cohort of stroke survivors, family members completed a self-report questionnaire.

Addressing cognitive impairment following stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis of non-randomised controlled studies of psychological interventions.

Objective: Cognitive impairment is a pervasive outcome of stroke, reported in over half of patients 6 months post-stroke and is associated with increased disability and a poorer quality of life. Despite the prevalence of post-stroke cognitive impairment, the efficacy of existing psychological interventions for the rehabilitation of cognitive impairment following stroke has yet to be established. The aim of this study is to identify psychological interventions from non-randomised studies that intended to improve post-stroke cognitive function and establish their efficacy.

Implementation of a Quit Smoking Programme in Community Adult Mental Health Services-A Qualitative Study.

Little is known about the experiences of people with severe mental health difficulties in smoking cessation interventions. This study aimed to review the implementation of a smoking cessation programme across 16 community mental health day services. The aim was to establish the experience from both service user and facilitator perspectives and refine implementation for future groups.

Cognitive Impairment, Vulnerability, and Mortality Post Ischemic Stroke: A Five-Year Follow-Up of the Action on Secondary Prevention Interventions and Rehabilitation in Stroke (ASPIRE-S) Cohort.

Background: The aim of this study was to examine predictors of mortality in patients 5 years after ischemic stroke, focusing on cognitive impairment, vulnerability, and vascular risk factors assessed at 6 months post stroke.

Materials And Methods: Patients from the Action on Secondary Prevention Interventions and Rehabilitation in Stroke (ASPIRE-S) cohort were followed up 5 years post ischemic stroke. Vascular risk factors, cognitive impairment, and vulnerability were assessed at 6 months post stroke.

Managing cognitive impairment following stroke: protocol for a systematic review of non-randomised controlled studies of psychological interventions.

Introduction: Stroke is one of the primary causes of death and disability worldwide, leaving a considerable proportion of survivors with persistent cognitive and functional deficits. Despite the prevalence of poststroke cognitive impairment, there is no established treatment aimed at improving cognitive function following a stroke. Therefore, the aims of this systematic review are to identify psychological interventions intended to improve poststroke cognitive function and establish their efficacy.

Does cognitive impairment impact adherence? A systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between cognitive impairment and medication non-adherence in stroke.

Background: While medication adherence is essential for the secondary prevention of stroke, it is often sub-optimal, and can be compromised by cognitive impairment. This study aimed to systematically review and meta-analyse the association between cognitive impairment and medication non-adherence in stroke.

Methods: A systematic literature search of longitudinal and cross-sectional studies of adults with any stroke type, which reported on the association between any measure of non-adherence and cognitive impairment, was carried out according to PRISMA guidelines.

Cognitive impairment and cardiovascular medication use: Results from wave 1 of The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing.

Aim: To explore the association between cardiovascular medication use and cognitive impairment in adults aged 50 years and over.

Method: This cross-sectional linked database study involved secondary quantitative analysis of 1903 participants from wave 1 of the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing with available pharmacy claims data. Cognitive impairment was assessed using a cut-off of ≤23 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment.

Secondary prevention and cognitive function after stroke: a study protocol for a 5-year follow-up of the ASPIRE-S cohort.

Introduction: Cognitive impairment is common following stroke and can increase disability and levels of dependency of patients, potentially leading to greater burden on carers and the healthcare system. Effective cardiovascular risk factor control through secondary preventive medications may reduce the risk of cognitive decline. However, adherence to medications is often poor and can be adversely affected by cognitive deficits.